Job6
English Standard Version
1Then and :
2Oh my were , and all my the !
3 it would be the of the ; my have been .
4For the of the are me; my their ; the of are against me.
5Does the when he , or the his ?
6Can that which is be , is any in the of the ?
7My to them; they are as that is to me.
8 that I my , and that would my ,
9that it would to me, that he would let his and cut me !
10 be my ; I would even in , for I have the of the .
11 is my , that I should ? And is my , that I should be ?
12 my the of , or my ?
13 I any in me, when is from me?
14He who from a the of the .
15My are a , as that pass ,
16which are , and where the .
17 they , they ; when it is , they from their .
18The from their ; they go into the and .
19The of , the of .
20They are they were ; they and are .
21 you have become ; you my and are .
22 I , me a gift? Or, From your offer a me?
23Or, me from the ? Or, me from the of the ?
24 me, and will be ; make me I have gone .
25 are ! But does from you ?
26Do you that you can , when the of a man is ?
27You would the , and your .
28But , be to me, for I will to your .
29 ; let be done. now; my is at .
30Is any on my ? my the cause of ?
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Job justifies his complaints. (1–7). He wishes for death. (8–13). Job reproves his friends as unkind. (14–30).
vv1-7
Job still justifies himself in his complaints. In addition to outward troubles, the inward sense of God's wrath took away all his courage and resolution. The feeling sense of the wrath of God is harder to bear than any outward afflictions. What then did the Saviour endure in the garden and on the cross, when he bare our sins, and his soul was made a sacrifice to Divine justice for us! Whatever burden of affliction, in body or estate, God is pleased to lay upon us, we may well submit to it as long as he continues to us the use of our reason, and the peace of our conscience; but if either of these is disturbed, our case is very pitiable. Job reflects upon his friends for their censures. He complains he had nothing offered for his relief, but what was in itself tasteless, loathsome, and burdensome.
vv8-13
Job had desired death as the happy end of his miseries. For this, Eliphaz had reproved him, but he asks for it again with more vehemence than before. It was very rash to speak thus of God destroying him. Who, for one hour, could endure the wrath of the Almighty, if he let loose his hand against him? Let us rather say with David, O spare me a little. Job grounds his comfort upon the testimony of his conscience, that he had been, in some degree, serviceable to the glory of God. Those who have grace in them, who have the evidence of it, and have it in exercise, have wisdom in them, which will be their help in the worst of times.
vv14-30
In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the time of need, Heb 4:16. Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is very close; “for now ye are nothing.” It were well for us, if we had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every upright believer shall have praise of God.
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)
לוּא: a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that!
כַּעַס: vexation
הַוָּה: by implication, of falling); desire; also ruin
נָשָׂא: to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
יַחַד: properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly
מֹאזֵן: (only in the dual) a pair of scales
עַתָּה: at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive
Cross References
Job 6Proverbs explicitly matches Job's comparison of heavy grief or wrath to the weight of sand.
Supported by JFB
David uses the same poetic image of God's piercing arrows representing divine wrath and affliction.
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Jeremiah describes the wild ass gasping/braying in distress due to lack of grass, mirroring Job's metaphor.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Psalmist, like Job, describes his deep sorrow using the metaphor of ashes or tears as meat.
Supported by JFB
Reflects the term 'the Holy One' used by Job, highlighting man's reciprocal obligation to be holy.
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Job elsewhere directly appeals to his friends for pity, noting the hand of God has touched him.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Hezekiah uses the identical weaving metaphor of being 'cut off' from the loom by God.
Supported by JFB
Paul's resolve not to keep back/conceal profitable truth parallels Job's claim to have not concealed God's words.
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Contrasts Eliphaz's harshness with the proverbial expectation that a friend loves at all times.
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To deny mercy or pity to an afflicted brother demonstrates a lack of the fear of God.
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Repeats the proverb of physical taste discerning food to illustrate moral and verbal discernment.
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The ear trieth words as the mouth or taste discerneth meat, reinforcing Job's claim here.
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The Hebrew term for 'the white of an egg' literally matches the word for spittle in 1 Samuel.
Supported by JFB
Job consistently maintains his righteousness and refuses to let go of his integrity before his friends.
Supported by Matthew Henry