Job16
English Standard Version
1Then and :
2I have ; are you all.
3Shall have an ? Or what you that you ?
4I also could as you do, place; I could together against you and my you.
5I you my , and the of my would your pain.
6If I , my is not , and if I , how much of it me?
7Surely now God has worn me ; he has made all my .
8And he has shriveled me , which is a against me, and my has risen against me; it to my .
9He has and me; he has his at me; my his against me.
10Men have at me with their ; they have me on the ; they themselves against me.
11 gives me to the and of the .
12I was at , he me apart; he seized me by the and dashed me to ; he set me as his ;
13his me. He my and does not ; he pours my on the .
14He me with ; he upon me like a .
15I have upon my and have laid my in the .
16My is with , and on my is ,
17although there is no in my , and my is .
18O , not my , and let my find no resting .
19Even now, behold, my is in , and he who testifies for is on .
20My me; my tears to ,
21that he would of a with , as a of does with his .
22For when a have I shall the from which I shall not .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Job reproves his friends. (1–5). He represents his case as deplorable. (6–16). Job maintains his innocency. (17–22).
vv1-5
Eliphaz had represented Job's discourses as unprofitable, and nothing to the purpose; Job here gives his the same character. Those who pass censures, must expect to have them retorted; it is easy, it is endless, but what good does it do? Angry answers stir up men's passions, but never convince their judgments, nor set truth in a clear light. What Job says of his friends is true of all creatures, in comparison with God; one time or other we shall be made to see and own that miserable comforters are they all. When under convictions of sin, terrors of conscience, or the arrests of death, only the blessed Spirit can comfort effectually; all others, without him, do it miserably, and to no purpose. Whatever our brethren's sorrows are, we ought by sympathy to make them our own; they may soon be so.
vv6-16
Here is a doleful representation of Job's grievances. What reason we have to bless God, that we are not making such complaints! Even good men, when in great troubles, have much ado not to entertain hard thoughts of God. Eliphaz had represented Job as unhumbled under his affliction: No, says Job, I know better things; the dust is now the fittest place for me. In this he reminds us of Christ, who was a man of sorrows, and pronounced those blessed that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
vv17-22
Job's condition was very deplorable; but he had the testimony of his conscience for him, that he never allowed himself in any gross sin. No one was ever more ready to acknowledge sins of infirmity. Eliphaz had charged him with hypocrisy in religion, but he specifies prayer, the great act of religion, and professes that in this he was pure, though not from all infirmity. He had a God to go to, who he doubted not took full notice of all his sorrows. Those who pour out tears before God, though they cannot plead for themselves, by reason of their defects, have a Friend to plead for them, even the Son of man, and on him we must ground all our hopes of acceptance with God. To die, is to go the way whence we shall not return. We must all of us, very certainly, and very shortly, go this journey. Should not then the Saviour be precious to our souls? And ought we not to be ready to obey and to suffer for his sake? If our consciences are sprinkled with his atoning blood, and testify that we are not living in sin or hypocrisy, when we go the way whence we shall not return, it will be a release from prison, and an entrance into everlasting happiness.
Key Words
אִיּוֹב: Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience
עָנָה: properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
רַב: abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
עָמָל: toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. of body or mind
נָחַם: properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself)
רוּחַ: wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
קֵץ: an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
Cross References
Job 16Shaking the head as a specific gesture of mock-triumph and derision over a sufferer.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Smiting on the cheek as a supreme gesture of contemptuous abuse during affliction.
Supported by JFB
Enemies gaping with wide mouths, typifying the demonic/human mockery also faced by Christ.
Supported by JFB
The cry of innocent blood rising from the earth demanding justice and refusing coverage.
Supported by JFB
The wicked gnashing with their teeth in implacable wrath against the righteous.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God targeting His suffering servant like a warrior setting up a target for arrows.
Supported by JFB
Hearty counsel that strengthens is contrasted here with Job's empty, mock lip-comfort.
Supported by JFB
God treating Job as an enemy, casting hostile, sharp-eyed glances at him.
Supported by JFB
The pouring out of vital organs (gall/liver) as a metaphor for deep grief.
Supported by JFB
Job's suffering despite his pure prayer and lack of violence typifies Christ's innocence.
Supported by JFB
Job previously denounced his friends as physicians of no value, matching 'miserable comforters'.
Supported by JFB
Job retorts Eliphaz's accusation of speaking windy words back onto his friends.
Supported by JFB
The utter humiliation of a leader depicted as throwing one's horn and honor in dust.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Job explicitly denies the presence of injustice in his hands, answering Zophar's charge.
Supported by JFB
Job's consciousness of his impending death, going a way from which he cannot return.
Supported by Matthew Henry