The Fallible Study Bible

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Job29:1–25

Job’s Former Blessings

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Job 29:1–25 — Job’s Former Blessings. Each verse below carries the full apparatus: the Berean Standard Bible, the vocalized original (tap any word), and a parsed breakdown of every term transcribed from the interlinear. Synthesized commentary, canonical threads, and the reading of Christ gather at the end, over the whole unit.

1

And Job continued his discourse:

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’î·yō·wḇ śə·’êṯ way·yō·sep̄ mə·šā·lōw way·yō·mar

Word by word5 · parsed
אִ֭יּוֹב’î·yō·wḇAnd JobH347
√ ʼÎyôwb — Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patienceNounpropermasculine singular
שְׂאֵ֥תśə·’êṯ. . .H5375
√ nâsâʼ — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relativeVerbQalInfinitive construct
nâsâʼ: to lift The infinitive is the object of the verb “added”: Job adds to lifting. Balaam “took up his mashal” with the same pairing (Numbers 23:7), so the phrase belongs to solemn, oracular speech.
וַיֹּ֣סֶףway·yō·sep̄continuedH3254
√ yâçaph — to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)Conjunctive wawVerbHifilConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
yâçaph: to add, continue (Hiphil) Barnes and Gill both infer a pause: Job waited to see if any friend would reply, and when none did, he added. The silence of the three is itself part of the scene.
מְשָׁל֗וֹmə·šā·lōwhis discourseH4912
√ mâshâl — properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical natureNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine singular
mâshâl: a pithy maxim, parable The wisdom word (cognate with mâshal, to be like, to compare). Job’s closing defence in chapters 29 to 31 is shaped as a comparison: what he was set beside what he is (Pulpit).
וַיֹּאמַֽר׃way·yō·mar. . .H559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singular
2

“How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

mî- yit·tə·nê·nî ḵə·yar·ḥê- qe·ḏem kî·mê ’ĕ·lō·w·ah yiš·mə·rê·nî

Word by word7 · parsed
מִֽי־mî-How I longH4310
√ mîy — who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things)Interrogative
mî: who? The interrogative used as a wish. Job does not ask God directly here; the longing has no addressee.
יִתְּנֵ֥נִיyit·tə·nê·nî. . .H5414
√ nâthan — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etcVerbQalImperfectthird person masculine singularfirst person common singular
כְיַרְחֵי־ḵə·yar·ḥê-for the monthsH3391
√ yerach — a lunation, iPreposition-kNounmasculine plural construct
yerach: lunation, month Job counts the good time by moons, the poetic unit of a calendar of seasons; compare his curse on the months of his birth (Job 3:6).
קֶ֑דֶםqe·ḏemgone byH6924
√ qedem — the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity)Nounmasculine singular
כִּ֝ימֵ֗יkî·mêfor the daysH3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)Preposition-kNounmasculine plural construct
אֱל֣וֹהַּ’ĕ·lō·w·ahwhen GodH433
√ ʼĕlôwahh — a deity or the DeityNounmasculine singular
ʼĕlôwahh: God Eloah, the singular divine name characteristic of the poetry of Job. The whole golden age is defined by a divine act, not by Job’s possessions: Cambridge, “His former happiness was due to God’s preserving.”
יִשְׁמְרֵֽנִי׃yiš·mə·rê·nîwatched over meH8104
√ shâmar — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), iVerbQalImperfectthird person masculine singularfirst person common singular
shâmar: to hedge about, guard Strong’s gives the root sense “to hedge about (as with thorns).” The prologue’s accusation was that God had made a hedge about Job (Job 1:10, a different verb, śûk); the conceptual echo is real, the lexical one is not. Aaron’s blessing uses this verb: “The LORD bless you and keep you” (Numbers 6:24).
3

when His lamp shone above my head, and by His light I walked through the darkness,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

nê·rōw bə·hil·lōw ‘ă·lê rō·šî lə·’ō·w·rōw ’ê·leḵ ḥō·šeḵ

Word by word7 · parsed
נֵ֭רוֹnê·rōwwhen His lampH5216
√ nîyr — a lamp (iNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine singular
nîyr: lamp In Job the lamp is the life and fortune of a house: Bildad said “the lamp of the wicked is put out” (Job 18:6), and Job asked how often that happens (Job 21:17). Here the lamp is His. Compare Psalm 18:28, “You light my lamp; the LORD my God lights up my darkness.”
בְּהִלּ֣וֹbə·hil·lōwshoneH1984
√ hâlal — to be clear (origPreposition-bVerbHifilInfinitive constructthird person masculine singular
hâlal: to shine (also to praise) The same root as hallelujah; its base sense is to be bright, clear. The parse is disputed (see divergences); the theology is not: the light is God’s, and it shone above, not from, Job.
עֲלֵ֣י‘ă·lêaboveH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
רֹאשִׁ֑יrō·šîmy headH7218
√ rôʼsh — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itcNounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
לְ֝אוֹרוֹlə·’ō·w·rōwand by His lightH216
√ ʼôwr — illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etcPreposition-lNouncommon singular constructthird person masculine singular
ʼôwr: light Job 28 ended by locating wisdom in the fear of the LORD; chapter 29 opens by locating the good life in God’s light. Psalm 119:105 uses the same pair: lamp (nêr) and light (ʼôr).
אֵ֣לֶךְ’ê·leḵI walkedH1980
√ hâlak — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)VerbQalImperfectfirst person common singular
חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ḥō·šeḵthrough the darknessH2822
√ chôshek — the darkNounmasculine singular
chôshek: darkness Darkness is a leading word of Job’s complaint (Job 3:4 to 6; 10:21 to 22; 19:8). Here, remembered, it was once passable.
4

when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God rested on my tent,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

ka·’ă·šer hā·yî·ṯî bî·mê ḥā·rə·pî bə·sō·wḏ ’ĕ·lō·w·ah ‘ă·lê ’ā·ho·lî

Word by word8 · parsed
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka·’ă·šerwhenH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPreposition-kPronounrelative
הָ֭יִיתִיhā·yî·ṯîI wasH1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iVerbQalPerfectfirst person common singular
בִּימֵ֣יbî·mêvvvH3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)Preposition-bNounmasculine plural construct
חָרְפִּ֑יḥā·rə·pîin my primeH2779
√ chôreph — properly, the crop gathered, iNounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
chôreph: autumn, harvest-time A harvest image, not an age. Cambridge: Job compares his prosperity “to the season of the year, the autumn, the time of fruit-gathering.” It is ripeness, the moment just before winter, which is where he now stands (Ellicott).
בְּס֥וֹדbə·sō·wḏwhen the friendshipH5475
√ çôwd — a session, iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular construct
çôwd: a session, intimate council The word for the inner circle where counsel is shared. Psalm 25:14: “the sôd of the LORD is with those who fear Him”; Proverbs 3:32: “His sôd is with the upright”; Amos 3:7: He reveals His sôd to His servants the prophets. Job remembers being inside that circle. Eliphaz had taunted him with the same word: “Do you listen in the council of God?” (Job 15:8).
אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַּ’ĕ·lō·w·ahof GodH433
√ ʼĕlôwahh — a deity or the DeityNounmasculine singular
עֲלֵ֣י‘ă·lêrested onH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
אָהֳלִֽי׃’ā·ho·lîmy tentH168
√ ʼôhel — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)Nounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
ʼôhel: tent The household as a whole; God’s intimacy rested over its roof as the lamp hung over Job’s head (v. 3).
5

when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šad·dai bə·‘ō·wḏ ‘im·mā·ḏî nə·‘ā·rāy sə·ḇî·ḇō·w·ṯay

Word by word5 · parsed
שַׁ֭דַּיšad·daiwhen the AlmightyH7706
√ Shadday — the AlmightyNounpropermasculine singular
Shadday: the Almighty The name of God most frequent in Job. Elsewhere Job says “the arrows of Shaddai are in me” (Job 6:4); here he remembers Shaddai at his side. The same name, two experiences.
בְּע֣וֹדbə·‘ō·wḏwas stillH5750
√ ʻôwd — properly, iteration or continuancePreposition-bAdverb
עִמָּדִ֑י‘im·mā·ḏîwith meH5978
√ ʻimmâd — along withPrepositionfirst person common singular
ʻimmâd: along with A poetic form of “with” that recurs in vv. 6 and 20 (“beside me,” “within me”): the chapter’s quiet refrain of presence.
נְעָרָֽי׃nə·‘ā·rāyand my childrenH5288
√ naʻar — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescenceNounmasculine plural constructfirst person common singular
naʻar: lad, servant, youth Placed immediately after God’s presence: first God with him, then his household around him. The ordering is Job’s own theology of blessing.
סְבִ֖יבוֹתַ֣יsə·ḇî·ḇō·w·ṯaywere around meH5439
√ çâbîyb — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environsAdverbfirst person common singular
çâbîyb: round about The image of a circle: the lads encircle Job as the hedge once did (Job 1:10).
6

when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

hă·lî·ḵay bir·ḥōṣ bə·ḥê·māh wə·ṣūr yā·ṣūq ‘im·mā·ḏî pal·ḡê- šā·men

Word by word8 · parsed
הֲלִיכַ֣יhă·lî·ḵaywhen my stepsH1978
√ hâlîyk — a walk, iNounmasculine plural constructfirst person common singular
בִּרְחֹ֣ץbir·ḥōṣwere bathedH7364
√ râchats — to lave (the whole or a part of a thing)Preposition-bVerbQalInfinitive construct
râchats: to wash, bathe Hyperbole of abundance, like Asher who will “dip his foot in oil” (Deuteronomy 33:24). Gill and Barnes both judge it figurative, not a literal custom.
בְּחֵמָ֑הbə·ḥê·māhin creamH2529
√ chemʼâh — curdled milk or cheesePreposition-bNounfeminine singular
וְצ֥וּרwə·ṣūrand the rockH6697
√ tsûwr — properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
tsûwr: rock, cliff The rock that yields what rock cannot is a Torah image: “He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag” (Deuteronomy 32:13), cited by Benson, Barnes, JFB and Gill. Pulpit and Barnes offer the natural explanation that olives thrive on stony ground; Cambridge: “his blessings were so abundant that they came unsought and seemed above nature.”
יָצ֥וּקyā·ṣūqpoured outH6694
√ tsûwq — to pour out, iVerbQalImperfectthird person masculine singular
tsûwq: to pour out, melt A rare verb (in 3 verses). At Job 28:2 human skill pours copper from stone, and wisdom is still not found (28:12). Here the rock pours for Job unasked. The adjacency looks deliberate, though the book never comments on it.
עִ֝מָּדִ֗י‘im·mā·ḏîfor meH5978
√ ʻimmâd — along withPrepositionfirst person common singular
פַּלְגֵי־pal·ḡê-streamsH6388
√ peleg — a rill (iNounmasculine plural construct
שָֽׁמֶן׃šā·menof oilH8081
√ shemen — grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed)Nounmasculine singular
shemen: oil Food, light, medicine and anointing in one substance (Barnes). Oil is also the sign of gladness and honour (Psalm 23:5; 45:7).
7

When I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

bə·ṣê·ṯî qā·reṯ ša·‘ar ‘ă·lê- ’ā·ḵîn mō·wō·šā·ḇî bā·rə·ḥō·wḇ

Word by word7 · parsed
בְּצֵ֣אתִיbə·ṣê·ṯîWhen I went outH3318
√ yâtsâʼ — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proximPreposition-bVerbQalInfinitive constructfirst person common singular
קָ֑רֶתqā·reṯto the cityH7176
√ qereth — a cityNounfeminine singular
שַׁ֣עַרša·‘argateH8179
√ shaʻar — an opening, iNounmasculine singular
shaʻar: gate The gate is court, council and market in one (Ruth 4:1 to 11; Proverbs 31:23). To sit there is to judge. Ellicott compares the later “Sublime Porte.”
עֲלֵי־‘ă·lê-. . .H5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPreposition
אָכִ֥ין’ā·ḵînand tookH3559
√ kûwn — properly, to be erect (iVerbHifilImperfectfirst person common singular
kûwn: to be erect, establish The verb used of God establishing His throne (Psalm 103:19; “has established His throne in the heavens”). Job’s seat is set up as a small image of that order.
מוֹשָׁבִֽי׃mō·wō·šā·ḇîmy seatH4186
√ môwshâb — a seatNounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
môwshâb: seat The place of sitting as judge. Its counterpart in Job’s present is the ash heap (Job 2:8); the contrast is completed in chapter 30.
בָּ֝רְח֗וֹבbā·rə·ḥō·wḇin the public squareH7339
√ rᵉchôb — a width, iPreposition-b, ArticleNounfeminine singular
rᵉchôb: broad place The forum where Ezra later read the Law (Nehemiah 8:1, 3, cited by K&D and Pulpit).
8

the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

nə·‘ā·rîm rā·’ū·nî wə·neḥ·bā·’ū wî·šî·šîm qā·mū ‘ā·mā·ḏū

Word by word6 · parsed
נְעָרִ֣יםnə·‘ā·rîmthe young menH5288
√ naʻar — (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescenceNounmasculine plural
רָא֣וּנִיrā·’ū·nîsaw meH7200
√ râʼâh — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)VerbQalPerfectthird person common pluralfirst person common singular
וְנֶחְבָּ֑אוּwə·neḥ·bā·’ūand withdrewH2244
√ châbâʼ — to secreteConjunctive wawVerbNifalConjunctive perfectthird person common plural
châbâʼ: to secrete, hide (Niphal) The young withdraw rather than presume to greet a superior; K&D cites a Talmudic report of exactly this etiquette. The verb ties v. 8 to v. 10: first the young hide their persons, then the nobles hide their voices.
וִֽ֝ישִׁישִׁיםwî·šî·šîmand the old menH3453
√ yâshîysh — an old manConjunctive wawAdjectivemasculine plural
yâshîysh: an old man In 4 verses, all in Job (12:12; 15:10; 29:8; 32:6). Job himself said “Is not wisdom with the aged?” (12:12), and Eliphaz claimed “the gray-haired and the aged are on our side” (15:10). Here the aged rise for Job.
קָ֣מוּqā·mūroseH6965
√ qûwm — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)VerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
qûwm: to rise Leviticus 19:32 commands rising before the hoary head; here the hoary rise before Job (Poole and Gill cite the law). The reversal shows his standing.
עָמָֽדוּ׃‘ā·mā·ḏūto their feetH5975
√ ʻâmad — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)VerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
ʻâmad: to stand Asyndeton (K&D: “ἀσυνδέτως”): the second verb prolongs the first; they did not sit until he sat.
9

The princes refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

śā·rîm ‘ā·ṣə·rū ḇə·mil·lîm yā·śî·mū lə·p̄î·hem wə·ḵap̄

Word by word6 · parsed
שָׂ֭רִיםśā·rîmThe princesH8269
√ sar — a head person (of any rank or class)Nounmasculine plural
sar: head person, prince The magnates of the city (K&D: “proceres”). Pulpit reads them as the other headmen of the tribe, who deferred to Job’s rank.
עָצְר֣וּ‘ā·ṣə·rūrefrainedH6113
√ ʻâtsâr — to incloseVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
ʻâtsar: to inclose, restrain Eliphaz used it at the start of the dialogue: “who can withhold words?” (Job 4:2; K&D cites the construction). In the gate, men of rank could hold their words; the friends, by contrast, could not.
בְמִלִּ֑יםḇə·mil·lîmfrom speakingH4405
√ millâh — a wordPreposition-bNounfeminine plural
יָשִׂ֥ימוּyā·śî·mūand coveredH7760
√ sûwm — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)VerbQalImperfectthird person masculine plural
לְפִיהֶֽם׃lə·p̄î·hemtheir mouthsH6310
√ peh — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech)Preposition-lNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine plural
וְ֝כַ֗ףwə·ḵap̄with their handsH3709
√ kaph — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree)Conjunctive wawNounfeminine singular
kaph: the hollow hand, palm The gesture will return at the end of the book in Job’s own mouth: “I put my hand over my mouth” (Job 40:4). The silence Job once received from princes he will give to God.
10

The voices of the nobles were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roofs of their mouths.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

qō·wl- nə·ḡî·ḏîm neḥ·bā·’ū ū·lə·šō·w·nām dā·ḇê·qāh lə·ḥik·kām

Word by word6 · parsed
קוֹל־qō·wl-The voicesH6963
√ qôwl — a voice or soundNounmasculine singular construct
qôwl: voice, sound The voice is treated as an agent that can hide; the silence is personified.
נְגִידִ֥יםnə·ḡî·ḏîmof the noblesH5057
√ nâgîyd — a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religiousNounmasculine plural
nâgîyd: commander, leader A word of public office (civil, military, religious per Strong’s). Even the officials of the city yielded the floor.
נֶחְבָּ֑אוּneḥ·bā·’ūwere hushedH2244
√ châbâʼ — to secreteVerbNifalPerfectthird person common plural
וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗םū·lə·šō·w·nāmand their tonguesH3956
√ lâshôwn — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame, a cove of water)Conjunctive wawNouncommon singular constructthird person masculine plural
דָּבֵֽקָה׃dā·ḇê·qāhstuckH1692
√ dâbaq — properly, to impinge, iVerbQalPerfectthird person feminine singular
dâbaq: to cling, adhere Ezekiel 3:26 uses this verb when God makes the prophet’s tongue cling to his palate (cited by JFB and Gill). There it is divine restraint; here it is awe before a righteous man. Poole: “It lay as still as if it had done so.”
לְחִכָּ֥םlə·ḥik·kāmto the roofs of their mouthsH2441
√ chêk — properly, the palate or inside of the mouthPreposition-lNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine plural
chêk: palate Physical idiom for being unable to speak; Gill: “it was as if they had none.”
11

For those who heard me called me blessed, and those who saw me commended me,

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

kî ’ō·zen šā·mə·ʿāh wat·tə·’aš·šə·rê·nî wə·‘a·yin rā·’ă·ṯāh wat·tə·‘î·ḏê·nî

Word by word7 · parsed
כִּ֤יkîForH3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
kîy: for Explanatory: this is why the leaders fell silent (K&D: “כּי explic.”).
אֹ֣זֶן’ō·zenthoseH241
√ ʼôzen — broadnessNounfeminine singular
שָׁ֭מְעָהšā·mə·ʿāhwho heard meH8085
√ shâmaʻ — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcVerbQalPerfectthird person feminine singular
וַֽתְּאַשְּׁרֵ֑נִיwat·tə·’aš·šə·rê·nîcalled me blessedH833
√ ʼâshar — to be straight (used in the widest sense, especially to be level, right, happy)Conjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectthird person feminine singularfirst person common singular
ʼâshar: to be level, right, happy (Piel: call happy) Leah uses it at Asher’s birth: “women will call me happy” (Genesis 30:13); Proverbs 31:28: her children “call her blessed.” Public recognition of a well-ordered life, not a priestly blessing.
וְעַ֥יִןwə·‘a·yinand those whoH5869
√ ʻayin — an eye (literally or figuratively)Conjunctive wawNouncommon singular
רָ֝אֲתָ֗הrā·’ă·ṯāhsaw meH7200
√ râʼâh — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)VerbQalPerfectthird person feminine singular
וַתְּעִידֵֽנִי׃wat·tə·‘î·ḏê·nîcommended meH5749
√ ʻûwd — to duplicate or repeatConjunctive wawVerbHifilConsecutive imperfectthird person feminine singularfirst person common singular
ʻûwd: to repeat, testify (Hiphil) The legal vocabulary matters: in a book that is a lawsuit, Job calls his community as witness. Eliphaz’s charges (Job 22:6 to 9) meet a crowd of eyewitnesses (Ellicott).
12

because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

kî- ’ă·mal·lêṭ ‘ā·nî mə·šaw·wê·a‘ wə·yā·ṯō·wm wə·lō- ‘ō·zêr lōw

Word by word8 · parsed
כִּֽי־kî-becauseH3588
√ kîy — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below)Conjunction
אֲ֭מַלֵּט’ă·mal·lêṭI rescuedH4422
√ mâlaṭ — properly, to be smooth, iVerbPielImperfectfirst person common singular
mâlaṭ: to slip away; Piel: to deliver The verb of rescue by snatching out of danger (Psalm 41:1 to 2 in sense). Job does not say he gave alms here; he says he got people out.
עָנִ֣י‘ā·nîthe poorH6041
√ ʻânîy — depressed, in mind or circumstancesAdjectivemasculine singular
ʻânîy: afflicted, depressed The class God champions throughout the Psalms and Prophets (Psalm 72:2, 4, 12; Isaiah 11:4).
מְשַׁוֵּ֑עַmə·šaw·wê·a‘who cried outH7768
√ shâvaʻ — properly, to be freeVerbPielParticiplemasculine singular
shâvaʻ: to cry for help The cry that God hears (Psalm 18:6; Jonah 2:2). Job heard it as judge, as Gill notes: “in these instances Job imitated God.”
וְ֝יָת֗וֹםwə·yā·ṯō·wmand the fatherlessH3490
√ yâthôwm — a bereaved personConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
yâthôwm: the bereaved, orphan Eliphaz accused Job of crushing the arms of the fatherless (Job 22:9); here is the rebuttal. Job will swear to it again in 31:17, 21.
וְֽלֹא־wə·lō-who had noH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absConjunctive wawAdverbNegative particle
עֹזֵ֥ר‘ō·zêrhelperH5826
√ ʻâzar — to surround, iVerbQalParticiplemasculine singular
ʻâzar: to surround, help “No helper” is the condition God Himself answers: “You are the helper of the fatherless” (Psalm 10:14).
לֽוֹ׃lōw
Prepositionthird person masculine singular
13

The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’ō·ḇêḏ ‘ā·lay tā·ḇō bir·kaṯ ’al·mā·nāh wə·lêḇ ’ar·nin

Word by word7 · parsed
אֹ֭בֵד’ō·ḇêḏThe dying manH6
√ ʼâbad — properly, to wander away, iVerbQalParticiplemasculine singular
ʼâbad: to wander away, perish The word of lostness: the lost sheep (Psalm 119:176), the perishing in Proverbs 31:6. Job’s rescues reached those already going under.
עָלַ֣י‘ā·lay. . .H5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsPrepositionfirst person common singular
תָּבֹ֑אtā·ḇō. . .H935
√ bôwʼ — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)VerbQalImperfectthird person feminine singular
בִּרְכַּ֣תbir·kaṯblessed meH1293
√ Bᵉrâkâh — benedictionNounfeminine singular construct
Bᵉrâkâh: benediction The blessing of the rescued is the only “wage” Job claims. Proverbs 11:26 has blessing on the head of one who sells grain in famine.
אַלְמָנָ֣ה’al·mā·nāhand I made the widow’sH490
√ ʼalmânâh — a widowNounfeminine singular
ʼalmânâh: widow With the orphan and stranger, the protected class of the Torah (Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 10:18). Eliphaz said “you sent widows away empty” (Job 22:9); Job says the widow left singing.
וְלֵ֖בwə·lêḇheartH3820
√ lêb — the heartConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular construct
אַרְנִֽן׃’ar·ninsing for joyH7442
√ rânan — properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), iVerbHifilImperfectfirst person common singular
rânan: to ring out, shout for joy (Hiphil: cause to) The verb of temple praise (Psalm 95:1). Pulpit: Job “so actively and effectually relieved distress that affliction was turned into happiness, and lamentation into rejoicing.”
14

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

lā·ḇaš·tî ṣe·ḏeq way·yil·bā·šê·nî miš·pā·ṭî kim·‘îl wə·ṣā·nîp̄

Word by word6 · parsed
לָ֭בַשְׁתִּיlā·ḇaš·tîI put onH3847
√ lâbash — properly, wrap around, iVerbQalPerfectfirst person common singular
lâbash: to wrap around, clothe Clothing language for character runs through Scripture: Psalm 132:9, “May Your priests be clothed with righteousness”; Isaiah 11:5; 59:17. K&D notes Arabic poets also speak of noble attributes as garments.
צֶ֣דֶקṣe·ḏeqrighteousnessH6664
√ tsedeq — the right (natural, moral or legal)Nounmasculine singular
tsedeq: the right K&D defines it here as “a holding fast to the will of God, which before everything else calls for sympathizing love.” In this chapter righteousness is not private piety; it is rescue of the needy.
וַיִּלְבָּשֵׁ֑נִיway·yil·bā·šê·nîand it clothed meH3847
√ lâbash — properly, wrap around, iConjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectthird person masculine singularfirst person common singular
lâbash (with suffix): it clothed itself with me The rare reversal: K&D compares Judges 6:34, where the Spirit of the LORD “clothed Himself with” Gideon (same verb). Righteousness wore Job so that his whole appearance showed it. Cambridge: “he on the other hand was justice become a person.”
מִשְׁפָּטִֽי׃miš·pā·ṭîjusticeH4941
√ mishpâṭ — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, individual or collective), including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penaltyNounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
mishpâṭ: verdict, justice Paired with tsedeq as in Psalm 89:14 (“righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne”). Job claims the pair that founds God’s throne as the pattern of his own seat (v. 7).
כִּֽמְעִ֥ילkim·‘îlwas my robeH4598
√ mᵉʻîyl — a robe (iPreposition-kNounmasculine singular
mᵉʻîyl: robe, mantle The outer robe of rank: the high priest’s robe (Exodus 28:31), Samuel’s robe (1 Samuel 15:27). Barnes: “the most elegant part of his dress.”
וְ֝צָנִ֗יףwə·ṣā·nîp̄and my turbanH6797
√ tsânîyph — a head-dress (iConjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
tsânîyph: headdress, turban Rare (in 4 verses): Isaiah 3:23; 62:3; Zechariah 3:5. In Zechariah God gives the clean turban; here Job wears justice as one. See the thread on the high priest re-clothed.
15

I served as eyes to the blind and as feet to the lame.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

hā·yî·ṯî ‘ê·na·yim la·‘iw·wêr ’ā·nî wə·raḡ·la·yim lap·pis·sê·aḥ

Word by word6 · parsed
הָ֭יִיתִיhā·yî·ṯîI [served as]H1961
√ hâyâh — to exist, iVerbQalPerfectfirst person common singular
עֵינַ֣יִם‘ê·na·yimeyesH5869
√ ʻayin — an eye (literally or figuratively)Nouncd
ʻayin: eye The Torah curses the one who misleads the blind (Deuteronomy 27:18, cited by JFB). Job did the positive counterpart. Pulpit: “He was kind and helpful to his fellow-men, not only in great, but also in little matters.”
לַֽעִוֵּ֑רla·‘iw·wêrto the blindH5787
√ ʻivvêr — blind (literally or figuratively)Preposition-l, ArticleAdjectivemasculine singular
ʻivvêr: blind JFB extends it figuratively to “the spiritual support which the more enlightened gives to those less so” (compare Eliphaz’s concession in Job 4:3).
אָֽנִי׃’ā·nî[and]H589
√ ʼănîy — IPronounfirst person common singular
ʼănîy: I The repeated “I” of chapter 29 is the grammar of a defence speech; Barnes later admits the self-commendation cannot be vindicated “altogether.”
וְרַגְלַ֖יִםwə·raḡ·la·yimas feetH7272
√ regel — a foot (as used in walking)Conjunctive wawNounfd
לַפִּסֵּ֣חַlap·pis·sê·aḥto the lameH6455
√ piççêach — lamePreposition-l, ArticleAdjectivemasculine singular
piççêach: lame Mephibosheth was “lame in both feet” and ate at David’s table (2 Samuel 9:13, cited by JFB and Gill): the same kind of royal kindness.
16

I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’ā·nō·ḵî ’āḇ lā·’eḇ·yō·w·nîm ’eḥ·qə·rê·hū wə·riḇ lō- yā·ḏa‘·tî

Word by word7 · parsed
אָ֭נֹכִֽי’ā·nō·ḵîIH595
√ ʼânôkîy — IPronounfirst person common singular
ʼânôkîy: I The longer, emphatic pronoun opens the verse.
אָ֣ב’āḇwas a fatherH1
√ ʼâb — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote applicationNounmasculine singular
ʼâb: father God calls Himself “a father to the fatherless” (Psalm 68:5). Job, who lost all his children, recalls being a father to those who had none.
לָֽאֶבְיוֹנִ֑יםlā·’eḇ·yō·w·nîmto the needyH34
√ ʼebyôwn — destitutePreposition-l, ArticleNounmasculine plural
ʼebyôwn: destitute, needy K&D offers (tentatively, from Wetzstein) a root sense “one who needs protection.” The word recurs in the Psalter’s laments of the poor (Psalm 72:13; 109:16).
אֶחְקְרֵֽהוּ׃’eḥ·qə·rê·hūand I took upH2713
√ châqar — properly, to penetrateVerbQalImperfectfirst person common singularthird person masculine singular
châqar: to penetrate, search Zophar used the noun of this root to ask “Can you fathom the deep things of God?” (Job 11:7). Job searched out the case of the unknown; he cannot search out God’s case against him.
וְרִ֖בwə·riḇthe caseH7379
√ rîyb — a contest (personal or legal)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
rîyb: contest, lawsuit The key word of the whole book’s lawsuit (Job 13:6; 31:35). Job knows how to hear a rîb; he is now the plaintiff without a hearing.
לֹא־lō-of the strangerH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absAdverbNegative particle
יָדַ֣עְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tî. . .H3045
√ yâdaʻ — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing)VerbQalPerfectfirst person common singular
17

I shattered the fangs of the unjust and snatched the prey from his teeth.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wā·’ă·šab·bə·rāh mə·ṯal·lə·‘ō·wṯ ‘aw·wāl ’aš·lîḵ ṭā·rep̄ ū·miš·šin·nāw

Word by word6 · parsed
וָֽ֭אֲשַׁבְּרָהwā·’ă·šab·bə·rāhI shatteredH7665
√ shâbar — to burst (literally or figuratively)Conjunctive wawVerbPielConsecutive imperfectfirst person common singularthird person feminine singular
shâbar: to burst, break (Piel: shatter) The intensive stem. Psalm 3:7, “You break the teeth of the wicked” (cited by JFB and Poole), uses the same verb of God; Job did as judge what the psalmist asks God to do.
מְתַלְּע֣וֹתmə·ṯal·lə·‘ō·wṯthe fangsH4973
√ mᵉthallᵉʻâh — properly, a biter, iNounfeminine plural construct
mᵉthallᵉʻâh: biter, tooth In 3 verses only. Joel 1:6 describes an invading nation with “the fangs of a lioness”; Psalm 58:6 asks God to break the young lions’ fangs (Pulpit, by sense; the Verifier did not list that pair).
עַוָּ֑ל‘aw·wālof the unjustH5767
√ ʻavvâl — evil (morally)Nounmasculine singular
ʻavvâl: evil (morally), unjust In Job the word sets the contrast between the righteous judge and the wrongdoer (Job 18:21; 27:7). Job wishes his enemy to be “as the unjust” (27:7).
אַשְׁלִ֥יךְ’aš·lîḵand snatchedH7993
√ shâlak — to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)VerbHifilImperfectfirst person common singular
shâlak: to throw out The force of the image: the prey is made to drop from the jaws. Cambridge: “even when the unjust oppressor seemed already to have triumphed … it was torn from his jaws.”
טָֽרֶף׃ṭā·rep̄the preyH2964
√ ṭereph — something torn, iNounmasculine singular
ṭereph: something torn, prey The predator’s word (Genesis 49:9; Psalm 104:21). Barnes: Job rescued the helpless “as he would a lamb from a lion or wolf”; compare David with the lion and bear (1 Samuel 17:34 to 35), cited by Gill.
וּ֝מִשִּׁנָּ֗יוū·miš·šin·nāwfrom his teethH8127
√ shên — a tooth (as sharp)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-mNouncdcthird person masculine singular
18

So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wā·’ō·mar ’eḡ·wā‘ ‘im- qin·nî ’ar·beh yā·mîm wə·ḵa·ḥō·wl

Word by word7 · parsed
וָ֭אֹמַרwā·’ō·marSo I thoughtH559
√ ʼâmar — to say (used with great latitude)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConsecutive imperfectfirst person common singular
ʼâmar: to say Here “I said (in my heart)” (JFB, citing Psalm 30:6: “In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved”). The verse reports a former expectation, now broken.
אֶגְוָ֑ע’eḡ·wā‘I will dieH1478
√ gâvaʻ — to breathe out, iVerbQalImperfectfirst person common singular
gâvaʻ: to breathe out, expire The death of Abraham “in a good old age … full of years” (Genesis 25:8) uses this verb. Job hoped for that kind of end; the epilogue grants it after all (Job 42:17), as JFB and Gill note.
עִם־‘im-inH5973
√ ʻim — adverb or preposition, with (iPreposition
קִנִּ֣יqin·nîmy nestH7064
√ qên — a nest (as fixed), sometimes including the nestlingsNounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
qên: nest The image of a settled home (Numbers 24:21; Obadiah 4, cited by Pulpit and JFB). It also hints at fragility: Balaam told the Kenites their nest was set in the rock, yet they would be wasted (Numbers 24:21 to 22).
אַרְבֶּ֥ה’ar·behand multiplyH7235
√ râbâh — to increase (in whatever respect)VerbHifilImperfectfirst person common singular
יָמִֽים׃yā·mîmmy daysH3117
√ yôwm — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)Nounmasculine plural
וְ֝כַח֗וֹלwə·ḵa·ḥō·wlas the sandH2344
√ chôwl — sand (as round or whirling particles)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, ArticleNounmasculine singular
chôwl: sand Sand is the patriarchal promise-image (Genesis 22:17). If “phoenix” is right, the bird fabled to rise from its nest would pair with “nest” in the first line (K&D, Cambridge). Either way, the hope is long life, and Benson’s warning stands: “See how apt even good men are to set death at a distance from them!”
19

My roots will spread out to the waters, and the dew will rest nightly on my branches.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šā·rə·šî p̄ā·ṯū·aḥ ’ĕ·lê- mā·yim wə·ṭal yā·lîn biq·ṣî·rî

Word by word7 · parsed
שָׁרְשִׁ֣יšā·rə·šîMy rootsH8328
√ sheresh — a root (literally or figuratively)Nounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
sheresh: root Bildad said of the wicked: “His roots dry up below, and his branches wither above” (Job 18:16). JFB: v. 19 is “Opposed to Job 18:16.” Job once had the opposite: a root watered below, a branch wet with dew above.
פָת֣וּחַp̄ā·ṯū·aḥ[will] spread outH6605
√ pâthach — to open wide (literally or figuratively)VerbQalQalPassParticiplemasculine singular
pâthach: to open wide The tree by water is the image of Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:8 (both cited by Pulpit). Jeremiah’s tree “sends out its roots by the stream” because its trust is in the LORD.
אֱלֵי־’ĕ·lê-toH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPreposition
מָ֑יִםmā·yimthe watersH4325
√ mayim — waterNounmasculine plural
וְ֝טַ֗לwə·ṭaland the dewH2919
√ ṭal — dew (as covering vegetation)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular
ṭal: dew In dry lands dew is the night-time water of life (Barnes, quoting Volney and Shaw). Dew is God’s gift in Isaac’s blessing (Genesis 27:28) and in Hosea 14:5, “I will be like the dew to Israel.”
יָלִ֥יןyā·lînwill rest nightlyH3885
√ lûwn — to stop (usually over night)VerbQalImperfectthird person masculine singular
lûwn: to stop overnight The same verb as Psalm 30:5: “weeping may lodge for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
בִּקְצִירִֽי׃biq·ṣî·rîon my branchesH7105
√ qâtsîyr — severed, iPreposition-bNounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
qâtsîyr: harvest, bough The double sense fits the chapter: a branch that bears, and the harvest of the autumn Job named in v. 4.
20

My glory is ever new within me, and my bow is renewed in my hand.’

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

kə·ḇō·w·ḏî ḥā·ḏāš ‘im·mā·ḏî wə·qaš·tî ṯa·ḥă·lîp̄ bə·yā·ḏî

Word by word6 · parsed
כְּ֭בוֹדִיkə·ḇō·w·ḏîMy gloryH3519
√ kâbôwd — properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousnessNounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
kâbôwd: weight, splendor Job will say in the next chapter that his honour is pursued like the wind (Job 30:15, using a different word) and earlier: “He has stripped me of my glory (kâbôd)” (Job 19:9). The glory he thought was always new was taken.
חָדָ֣שׁḥā·ḏāšis [ever] newH2319
√ châdâsh — newAdjectivemasculine singular
châdâsh: new In this chapter the new thing is Job’s honour. The book will end with a new household and doubled possessions (Job 42:10 to 17), but given, not self-renewing.
עִמָּדִ֑י‘im·mā·ḏîwithin meH5978
√ ʻimmâd — along withPrepositionfirst person common singular
וְ֝קַשְׁתִּ֗יwə·qaš·tîand my bowH7198
√ qesheth — a bow, forshooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the irisConjunctive wawNounfeminine singular constructfirst person common singular
qesheth: bow The bow is strength and vigour (Genesis 49:24, Joseph’s bow “stayed steady,” cited by Barnes, Ellicott, Poole; 1 Samuel 2:4, “The bows of the mighty are broken”). In Hannah’s song it is God who breaks and gives strength.
תַחֲלִֽיף׃ṯa·ḥă·lîp̄is renewedH2498
√ châlaph — properly, to slide by, iVerbHifilImperfectthird person feminine singular
châlaph: to slide by, change, renew The verb of Job’s hope for a tree: “there is hope for a tree: if it is cut down, it will sprout again” (Job 14:7). In Job 14 he denied that hope to man; here he once claimed it for himself. Isaiah 40:31 locates true renewal in waiting on the LORD.
בְּיָדִ֥יbə·yā·ḏîin my handH3027
√ yâd — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etcPreposition-bNounfeminine singular constructfirst person common singular
21

Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

šā·mə·‘ū lî- wə·yi·ḥêl·lū wə·yid·də·mū lə·mōw ‘ă·ṣā·ṯî

Word by word6 · parsed
שָׁמְע֥וּšā·mə·‘ūMen listenedH8085
√ shâmaʻ — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etcVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
לִֽי־lî-to me
Prepositionfirst person common singular
וְיִחֵ֑לּוּwə·yi·ḥêl·lūwith expectationH3176
√ yâchal — to waitConjunctive wawVerbPielConjunctive perfectthird person common plural
yâchal: to wait, hope Men waited on Job’s word with the posture Scripture reserves for waiting on God; Job himself uses this verb in 13:15 (“though He slay me, I will hope in Him,” per the common reading). Gill compares Ahithophel’s counsel, which was received like an inquiry of the word of God (2 Samuel 16:23), a comparison that carries its own warning.
וְ֝יִדְּמ֗וּwə·yid·də·mūwaiting silentlyH1826
√ dâmam — to be dumbConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive imperfectthird person masculine plural
dâmam: to be dumb, still Third mention of silence in the chapter (vv. 9, 10, 21). Pulpit distinguishes this scene of counsel from the court scene of vv. 7 to 10.
לְמ֣וֹlə·mōwforH3926
√ lᵉmôw — to or forPreposition
lᵉmôw: to, for A poetic preposition (in 4 verses); K&D: “למו, poetic for ל, refers the silence to its outward cause.”
עֲצָתִֽי׃‘ă·ṣā·ṯîmy counselH6098
√ ʻêtsâh — adviceNounfeminine singular constructfirst person common singular
ʻêtsâh: advice, counsel In the book’s design, Job’s counsel once ended debate; at the climax the LORD will question whether any human counsel can stand before His (Job 38:2; 42:3).
22

After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’a·ḥă·rê ḏə·ḇā·rî yiš·nū lō mil·lā·ṯî tiṭ·ṭōp̄ wə·‘ā·lê·mōw

Word by word7 · parsed
אַחֲרֵ֣י’a·ḥă·rêAfterH310
√ ʼachar — properly, the hind partPreposition
דְ֭בָרִיḏə·ḇā·rîmy wordsH1697
√ dâbâr — a wordNounmasculine singular constructfirst person common singular
dâbâr: word His word ended the matter. In the book’s present tense, Job’s words provoke endless reply; this memory measures the loss.
יִשְׁנ֑וּyiš·nūthey spokeH8138
√ shânâh — to fold, iVerbQalImperfectthird person masculine plural
shânâh: to fold, repeat No one needed a second word after his. Barnes: “The highest proof which could be given of deference.”
לֹ֣אlōno moreH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absAdverbNegative particle
מִלָּתִֽי׃mil·lā·ṯîmy speechH4405
√ millâh — a wordNounfeminine singular constructfirst person common singular
millâh: word, speech The poetic word for speech, found mostly in Job. Elihu will claim to be “full of millîm” (Job 32:18).
תִּטֹּ֥ףtiṭ·ṭōp̄settledH5197
√ nâṭaph — to ooze, iVerbQalImperfectthird person feminine singular
nâṭaph: to ooze, drip Speech as gentle rain: Deuteronomy 32:2 (in sense), Song of Songs 4:11 (“your lips drip sweetness”), cited by JFB and Gill. Pulpit: “The silent, penetrating influence of wise counsel is glanced at.”
וְ֝עָלֵ֗ימוֹwə·‘ā·lê·mōwon them like dewH5921
√ ʻal — above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsConjunctive wawPrepositionthird person masculine plural
23

They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.

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Hebrew — tap a word ↓

wə·yi·ḥă·lū ḵam·mā·ṭār lî pā·‘ă·rū ū·p̄î·hem lə·mal·qō·wōš

Word by word6 · parsed
וְיִֽחֲל֣וּwə·yi·ḥă·lūThey waitedH3176
√ yâchal — to waitConjunctive wawVerbPielConjunctive perfectthird person common plural
yâchal: to wait, hope (Piel) The same verb as v. 21. Barnes: “his counsel was as necessary in the assemblies of people as the rain was to give growth to the seed.”
כַמָּטָ֣רḵam·mā·ṭārfor me as for rainH4306
√ mâṭar — rainPreposition-k, ArticleNounmasculine singular
mâṭâr: rain The Song of Moses: “Let my teaching drop as the rain (mâṭâr)” (Deuteronomy 32:2). K&D says Job’s figure is expanded “after Deuteronomy 32:2”; the Verifier confirms the shared noun.
לִ֑יlî
Prepositionfirst person common singular
פָּעֲר֥וּpā·‘ă·rūand drank in my wordsH6473
√ pâʻar — to yawn, iVerbQalPerfectthird person common plural
pâʻar: to yawn, open wide Rare (in 4 verses). In Job 16:10 Job’s mockers “gape at me with their mouth”: the same verb, now in hostility. The gaping for counsel became gaping in scorn.
וּ֝פִיהֶ֗םū·p̄î·hem. . .H6310
√ peh — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech)Conjunctive wawNounmasculine singular constructthird person masculine plural
לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃lə·mal·qō·wōšlike spring showersH4456
√ malqôwsh — the spring rainPreposition-lNounmasculine singular
malqôwsh: the spring rain The rain that ripens the harvest and often fails (K&D). Proverbs 16:15: the king’s favour is “like a cloud of the latter rain,” and the next verse’s “light of the countenance” follows the same proverb.
24

If I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’eś·ḥaq ’ă·lê·hem lō ya·’ă·mî·nū wə·’ō·wr pā·nay lō yap·pî·lūn

Word by word8 · parsed
אֶשְׂחַ֣ק’eś·ḥaqIf I smiledH7832
√ sâchaq — to laugh (in pleasure or detraction)VerbQalImperfectfirst person common singular
sâchaq: to laugh (in pleasure or derision) The next chapter opens with the reversal: “But now they laugh at me, men younger than I” (Job 30:1, same verb). Job’s smile once lifted the downcast; now he is the object of laughter.
אֲ֭לֵהֶם’ă·lê·hemat themH413
√ ʼêl — near, with or amongPrepositionthird person masculine plural
לֹ֣אlōthey did notH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absAdverbNegative particle
יַאֲמִ֑ינוּya·’ă·mî·nūbelieve itH539
√ ʼâman — properly, to build up or supportVerbHifilImperfectthird person masculine plural
ʼâman: to be firm; Hiphil: believe, trust The verb of Abraham’s faith (Genesis 15:6). Here it describes either the people’s disbelief at Job’s graciousness (Ellicott, Benson) or their lack of confidence in hard times (Cambridge). Both readings are recorded; the tool does not choose.
וְא֥וֹרwə·’ō·wrthe lightH216
√ ʼôwr — illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etcConjunctive wawNouncommon singular construct
ʼôwr: light “The light of my face” deliberately recalls God’s lamp and light in v. 3. Job’s face shone on others as God’s light had shone on him; Aaron’s blessing asks the LORD to make His face shine (Numbers 6:25). Proverbs 16:15: “In the light of the king’s face is life.”
פָּ֝נַ֗יpā·nayof my countenanceH6440
√ pânîym — the face (as the part that turns)Nounmasculine plural constructfirst person common singular
לֹ֣אlōvvvH3808
√ lôʼ — not (the simple or absAdverbNegative particle
יַפִּילֽוּן׃yap·pî·lūnwas preciousH5307
√ nâphal — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)VerbHifilImperfectthird person masculine pluralParagogic nun
nâphal: to fall (Hiphil: cause to fall) Genesis 4:5 to 6: “Why has your face fallen?” JFB: “The opposite phrase (Ge 4:5, 6).” Their despondency could not make Job’s face fall.
25

I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.

Berean Standard Bible · CC0

Hebrew — tap a word ↓

’e·ḇă·ḥar dar·kām wə·’ê·šêḇ rōš wə·’eš·kō·wn kə·me·leḵ bag·gə·ḏūḏ ka·’ă·šer yə·na·ḥêm ’ă·ḇê·lîm

Word by word10 · parsed
אֶֽבֲחַ֣ר’e·ḇă·ḥarI choseH977
√ bâchar — properly, to try, iVerbQalImperfectfirst person common singular
bâchar: to try, choose The verb of election (Deuteronomy 7:6). Job chose for others; in his present he can choose nothing (Job 7:15, “I would choose strangling,” same verb).
דַּרְכָּם֮dar·kāmtheir courseH1870
√ derek — a road (as trodden)Nouncommon singular constructthird person masculine plural
וְאֵשֵׁ֪בwə·’ê·šêḇand presidedH3427
√ yâshab — properly, to sit down (specifically as judgeConjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive imperfectfirst person common singular
רֹ֥אשׁrōšas chiefH7218
√ rôʼsh — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itcNounmasculine singular
rôʼsh: head “Sat head”: presiding. The word closes the circle with v. 3, where God’s lamp shone over Job’s head. The head that sat as chief was itself under God’s light.
וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹןwə·’eš·kō·wnSo I dweltH7931
√ shâkan — to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)Conjunctive wawVerbQalConjunctive imperfectfirst person common singular
shâkan: to reside, dwell A word for settled, lasting presence. Job’s “dwelling” among his people is the human shadow of the divine dwelling the Torah promises; it did not last.
כְּמֶ֣לֶךְkə·me·leḵas a kingH4428
√ melek — a kingPreposition-kNounmasculine singular
melek: king Barnes and Gill both caution that this is a simile, not proof that Job was a king. Pulpit: “Though not an absolute monarch, but only a patriarchal head.”
בַּגְּד֑וּדbag·gə·ḏūḏamong his troopsH1416
√ gᵉdûwd — a crowd (especially of soldiers)Preposition-b, ArticleNounmasculine singular
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka·’ă·šeras a comforterH834
√ ʼăsher — who, which, what, thatPreposition-kPronounrelative
יְנַחֵֽם׃yə·na·ḥêm. . .H5162
√ nâcham — properly, to sigh, iVerbPielImperfectthird person masculine singular
nâcham: to sigh, comfort (Piel) The word Job’s friends came to do (Job 2:11, “to comfort him”) and failed at (16:2, “miserable comforters”; 21:34). Job once did for others what no one now does for him. Isaiah 40:1, “Comfort, comfort My people,” uses the same Piel.
אֲבֵלִ֣ים’ă·ḇê·lîmof the mournersH57
√ ʼâbêl — lamentingAdjectivemasculine plural
ʼâbêl: lamenting, mourner A rare adjective (in 8 verses). Isaiah 61:2 to 3 sends the Anointed One “to comfort all who mourn,” with the same pair of words (Verifier confirmed). The chapter ends on comfort, and the next begins, “But now” (Job 30:1).

The verse-by-verse work is done. What follows gathers the whole unit. All three layers below are machine-generated (⚙). Weigh them; they have no authority.

⚙

Grand Commentary — the unit, read whole

synthesis · verify

AI synthesis — woven from the public-domain voices above and the original text; generated and fallible.

i. The lamp over the tent — 29:1 to 6

Job וַיֹּסֶף “added” to his מָשָׁל, and the added word is a memory. Pulpit frames chapters 29 and 30 as one long contrast “between what he was and what he is.” Before any honour, any wealth, any office, Job names God: “when Eloah kept me” (v. 2), “when His lamp shone over my head” (v. 3), “when the counsel of Eloah was upon my tent” (v. 4), “when Shaddai was still with me” (v. 5). Cambridge puts it exactly: “His former happiness was due to God’s preserving.” Children come next (v. 5), abundance last (v. 6), where curds and a rock that pours oil echo Deuteronomy 32:13 (Benson, Barnes, JFB, Gill).

The word סוֹד (v. 4) carries the deepest ache: the inner council of God, the place of the friend (Psalm 25:14; Proverbs 3:32). Barnes: God “came into his tent or dwelling as a friend.” Ellicott notes the season word חֹרֶף: “my autumn,” the ripeness just before the winter in which Job now sits. Henry’s gloss is the pastoral counterweight: “the sensible comfort of this state is often withdrawn for a season,” sometimes as “a trial of a man’s faith and grace.”

ii. The gate and the hush — 29:7 to 10

Job moves from tent to gate. K&D pictures him as a landowner who rides up to the city forum (רְחוֹב); Barnes, Benson and Poole infer from the scene that he sat as judge. Each rank responds: the young נֶחְבָּאוּ “hid themselves,” the hoary יְשִׁישִׁים “rose, stood,” the princes held their words, and the nobles’ voices were themselves “hidden” (the same verb, v. 10). K&D explains the grammar of v. 10 as an attraction of the verb to the second noun, so that it is the voice that hides. Cambridge: Job’s arrival “put a stop to speech and discussion already going on.” Silence is the chapter’s measure of honour; ironically, the friends have just fallen silent too (Barnes on v. 1), but not from reverence.

iii. Righteousness worn as a garment — 29:11 to 17

The כִּי of v. 12 gives the ground of all that praise: “because I rescued the poor who cried out.” Ellicott says v. 11 is “a direct negative to the charges of Eliphaz” (Job 22:6 to 9), and K&D and JFB read vv. 12 to 16 the same way, point by point: Eliphaz said Job sent widows away empty; Job says he made the widow’s heart אַרְנִן “sing.” Pulpit sets Job beside Egyptian royal inscriptions and finds him warmer: “How cold are the words of Ameni, ‘No widow have I oppressed,’ compared with these!” K&D and Pulpit both point to the royal ideal of Psalm 72:12, where the same three words recur (the Verifier confirms shared shâvaʻ, ʻânîy, ʻâzar).

At the centre stands v. 14: לָבַשְׁתִּי … וַיִּלְבָּשֵׁנִי, “I put on righteousness, and it put me on.” K&D: righteousness “made me so its own, that my whole appearance was the representation of itself,” comparing Judges 6:34, where the Spirit “clothes Himself with” Gideon. Cambridge: “he on the other hand was justice become a person.” Gill is careful to say this is the righteousness of a judge’s office, not the imputed righteousness of the Redeemer; Ellicott, by contrast, moves straight to the Gospel exchange. The section closes with violence in the service of mercy: Job broke the מְתַלְּעוֹת, the “biters” of the unjust (v. 17), and tore the prey from the teeth. Henry: “Good magistrates must thus be a restraint to evil-doers.”

iv. The nest and the root — 29:18 to 20

“So I said” (v. 18): this is the confidence Job once held. He would die עִם־קִנִּי “with my nest” and multiply days כַחוֹל. Whether that last word means “as the sand” or “as the phoenix” is a real crux. K&D, following a Masoretic note and rabbinic tradition, prefers the phoenix; Pulpit calls that “a mere rabbinical tradition … unsupported by etymology”; Cambridge leans to the phoenix; Barnes and BSB keep “sand.” Then the tree (v. 19): a root open to the waters, dew lodging in the branches (Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8, cited by Pulpit), and a bow that תַחֲלִיף “renews itself.” Benson’s comment is honest about the danger: “See how apt even good men are to set death at a distance from them!” Henry draws the line between expectation grounded in God’s promise and expectation grounded in “changeable, earthly things.”

v. Rain on the assembly, a king among mourners — 29:21 to 25

Job returns to the council. His word תִּטֹּף “dripped” on them (v. 22); they waited כַמָּטָר “as for rain” and opened their mouths for the מַלְקוֹשׁ, the latter rain (v. 23). K&D says the figure “is expanded … after Deuteronomy 32:2,” the Song of Moses, and Pulpit and Barnes cite the same text. The verb פָּעֲרוּ, “they gaped,” is rare and links to Psalm 119:131, where the psalmist pants for God’s commandments (K&D, Barnes, JFB). V. 24 is disputed: Ellicott and Benson read “they could hardly believe I smiled on them”; Cambridge and JFB (after Umbreit) read “I smiled on them when they had no confidence.” The final line gathers it up: Job sat רֹאשׁ “as head,” dwelt “as a king among his troops,” and was כַּאֲשֶׁר אֲבֵלִים יְנַחֵם “as one who comforts mourners.” Now Job is the mourner, and his three comforters have not comforted. JFB: “Here again Job unconsciously foreshadows Jesus Christ (Isa 61:2, 3).” Barnes is candid that the chapter’s self-commendation cannot be vindicated “altogether,” but sets it inside a legal defence against charges of hypocrisy.

Read under Sola Scriptura — this tool’s own fallible reading (⚙)

⚙ Read under Sola Scriptura and in the order the book itself gives, Job 29 is true testimony and incomplete theology. True, because the narrator and God Himself call Job blameless (Job 1:1, 8; 42:7), so the deeds of vv. 12 to 17 should not be dismissed as boasting. The friends accused him of oppressing widows and orphans (Job 22:9); the text answers with a record of rescue. Incomplete, because the chapter is full of “I” and “me,” and its hope in vv. 18 to 20 rests on the continuance of a blessed state rather than on God alone. The opening verses already contain the correction Job will need: the lamp was His lamp, the counsel was His counsel, the keeping was His keeping. When the LORD answers from the whirlwind (chapters 38 to 41), He does not dispute Job’s charity; He relocates Job’s confidence. This tool’s fallible conclusion: the good life Job remembers was real and was God’s gift, not Job’s wage. Its loss is not proof of guilt, and its memory is not yet the answer. The answer is the Giver. The pull-quote below is this tool’s line, not a verse of Scripture; test it against the text.

The lamp was His before the seat was mine.

⚙

Canonical Threads — out to the whole of Scripture

cross-refs · verify

AI-generated connections. Each carries a verification badge with a recorded basis; contested links are flagged.

“The fangs of the unjust”: the rare biter-teeth of Joel’s invader verbal / quotation: confirmed

The noun מְתַלְּעוֹת (mᵉthallᵉʻâh, H4973), “biters, fangs, jaw-teeth,” occurs in only three verses. In v. 17 Job broke them in the mouth of the unjust man; in Joel 1:6 a nation invades with “the teeth of a lion and the fangs of a lioness.” Barnes explains the word as “the biters”; Benson glosses “the grinders.” The shared image is the predator whose teeth already hold the prey. In Joel the land is helpless before the fangs; in Job the righteous judge breaks them. Psalm 58:6 (cited by Pulpit) prays for God to do the same; the Verifier did not record that link, so it is noted here only as a commentator’s cross-reference.

Joel 1:6

basis: Verifier: shared Hebrew lexeme H4973 mᵉthallᵉʻâh (in 3 vv, rare) plus H8127 shên (in 48 vv); a real verbal link of image, not a quotation

The rock that pours: Job 28’s smelter and Job 29’s olive rock verbal / quotation: confirmed

The rare verb יָצוּק (tsûwq, H6694, in 3 verses) appears at Job 28:2, “copper is smelted from ore,” literally poured out of stone, and again in v. 6, where “the rock poured out for me streams of oil.” Chapter 28 shows human ingenuity extracting treasure from rock and failing to find wisdom (28:12 to 13). Chapter 29 shows a rock that yielded richness to Job unasked. ⚙ The juxtaposition suggests that what Job enjoyed was gift, not extraction; the commentators in this brief do not note the link, so it is offered as the tool’s observation on a confirmed lexical tie. Isaiah 26:16 uses the same verb for prayer “poured out” in distress.

Job 28:2 · Isaiah 26:16

basis: Verifier: shared Hebrew lexeme H6694 tsûwq (in 3 vv, rare); the interpretive contrast is ⚙ synthesis, not drawn by the cited commentators

Robe and turban: the high priest re-clothed verbal / quotation: confirmed

V. 14 pairs the verb לָבַשׁ “clothe” with the rare noun צָנִיף (tsânîyph, H6797, in 4 verses), “turban.” Barnes notes the word “is applied to the mitre of the high priest Zechariah 3:5,” and JFB cites the same text. In Zechariah 3:4 to 5 the LORD strips Joshua the high priest of filthy garments and has a clean turban set on his head: righteousness given, not achieved. In Isaiah 62:3 Zion becomes “a royal diadem” (tsânîyph) in the hand of God. Job wore justice as a turban by practice; Zechariah’s priest receives one by grace. The contrast is the tool’s, but the lexical link is real.

Zechariah 3:5 · Isaiah 62:3

basis: Verifier: shared Hebrew lexeme H6797 tsânîyph (in 4 vv, rare); with Zechariah 3:5 also H3847 lâbash (in 102 vv); with Isaiah 62:3 also H3709 kaph. A verbal link, no quotation claimed

Mouths opened wide: for rain, for the commandments, and in Sheol verbal / quotation: confirmed

The verb פָּעֲרוּ (pâʻar, H6473, in 4 verses), “to gape, open wide,” is used in v. 23 of hearers who open their mouths for Job’s words as for the latter rain. K&D says the phrase “is to be understood according to Psalm 119:131,” where the psalmist says “I open my mouth and pant, longing for Your commandments,” and Barnes and JFB cite the same verse. The same verb is used in Isaiah 5:14 of Sheol opening its mouth without measure, and in Job 16:10 of mockers gaping at Job. The verb therefore carries both longing and devouring. In the golden age men gaped at Job for counsel; in his present they gape at him to mock (16:10).

Psalm 119:131 · Job 16:10 · Isaiah 5:14

basis: Verifier: shared Hebrew lexeme H6473 pâʻar (in 4 vv, rare); Psalm 119:131 link recorded by K&D, Barnes and JFB

“To comfort all who mourn”: Job’s office and the Servant’s verbal / quotation: confirmed

V. 25 ends with אֲבֵלִים יְנַחֵם, “he comforts mourners.” Isaiah 61:2 has the Anointed One sent “to comfort all who mourn,” using the same two words: nâcham and the rare adjective ʼâbêl (in 8 verses). JFB draws the link: “Job unconsciously foreshadows Jesus Christ (Isa 61:2, 3).” The Verifier confirms the shared vocabulary. This is a verbal link between two Hebrew texts; it is not a claim that Isaiah quotes Job.

Isaiah 61:2

basis: Verifier pair check: shared Hebrew lexemes H57 ʼâbêl (in 8 vv, rare) and H5162 nâcham (in 100 vv); shared vocabulary, not a quotation

The royal ideal: the needy who cry, the poor who have no helper structural / thematic: confirmed

V. 12, “I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper,” closely matches Psalm 72:12, “He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no helper.” K&D calls the psalm “the Salomonic primary passage,” and Pulpit quotes Psalm 72:12 to 14, adding that “Championship of the poor was anciently regarded as characteristic of the wise, good, strong ruler.” The Verifier finds three shared lexemes in one line, including the fairly uncommon shâvaʻ “cry for help.” Even so, its computed tier is structural, and that is kept here: two texts drawing on the same royal ideal, with no certain direction of borrowing.

Psalm 72:12

basis: Verifier pair check: shared Hebrew lexemes H7768 shâvaʻ (in 21 vv), H6041 ʻânîy (in 74 vv), H5826 ʻâzar (in 77 vv); a strong shared royal-justice formula, direction of dependence unknown

The hoary heads: from Job’s gate to Elihu’s deference verbal / quotation: confirmed

The rare יְשִׁישִׁים (yâshîysh, H3453, in 4 verses, all in Job) names the aged who rose for Job (v. 8). Job had said “Wisdom is with the aged” (12:12); Eliphaz claimed “the gray-haired and the aged are on our side” (15:10); and Elihu, the young man, will say “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was afraid” (32:6). Gill on v. 8 cites Job 12:12. ⚙ The word traces the book’s argument about whether wisdom belongs to age. In Job 29 the aged honour Job; by chapter 32 the aged have failed to answer him, and a young man speaks.

Job 12:12 · Job 15:10 · Job 32:6

basis: Verifier: shared Hebrew lexeme H3453 yâshîysh (in 4 vv, rare, all in Job); the inner-book reading is ⚙ synthesis

Answering Eliphaz: the widow sent away empty structural / thematic: confirmed

Eliphaz charged: “You sent widows away empty, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed” (Job 22:9). Job answers in v. 13: “I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.” Ellicott calls v. 11 “a direct negative to the charges of Eliphaz”; JFB on vv. 13 and 16 and Gill on v. 13 make the same point. The Verifier confirms the shared ʼalmânâh. This is a structural answer within the dialogue, a charge and its rebuttal.

Job 22:9

basis: Verifier pair check: shared Hebrew lexeme H490 ʼalmânâh (in 54 vv); a dialogic charge and rebuttal, not a rare-word link

Speech that drips like rain: the Song of Moses structural / thematic: confirmed

V. 22, “my speech settled (תִּטֹּף, dripped) on them,” and v. 23, “they waited for me as for rain (מָטָר),” draw on the opening of the Song of Moses: “Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distil as the dew” (Deuteronomy 32:2). K&D says the figure “is expanded in Job 29:23 after Deuteronomy 32:2”; Barnes, Pulpit, JFB and Gill cite the same text. The Verifier finds only mâṭar shared (the drip verbs differ), so the link is kept as a shared motif, not a verbal one.

Deuteronomy 32:2

basis: Verifier pair check: shared Hebrew lexeme H4306 mâṭar (in 36 vv) only; motif of instruction as rain, recorded by K&D, Barnes, Pulpit, JFB, Gill

The early and latter rain: James and the patient farmer structural / thematic: confirmed

V. 23’s מַלְקוֹשׁ, the spring “latter rain,” is the image James uses for patience: “the farmer waits … patiently until it receives the early and latter rains” (James 5:7). Barnes, JFB, Poole and Gill all cite James 5:7 here. This is a cross-Testament link (Greek and Hebrew), so no shared Strong’s number is possible; it is tiered structural. ⚙ The resonance is pointed: James goes on at once to name “the endurance of Job” (James 5:11). The man whose words were once awaited like the latter rain becomes the church’s example of waiting.

James 5:7 · James 5:11

basis: Cross-Testament (Hebrew to Greek): no shared Strong’s lexeme possible; shared agricultural rain motif cited by Barnes, JFB, Poole, Gill; James 5:11 names Job explicitly

⚙Christ in the Unittypology · verify

AI-generated reading; weigh it against the text.

The King who rescues the poor who cry ancient/widely-held

⚙ Job’s portrait of the just ruler (vv. 12 to 17) is the royal ideal of Psalm 72:12 to 14, which Pulpit and K&D set beside it. The church has long read Psalm 72 as fulfilled in the Messiah. Henry draws the line from Job directly: good magistrates “resemble Him who rescues poor sinners from Satan. How many who were ready to perish, now are blessing Him!” And on vv. 18 to 25: “Our Lord Jesus is a King who hates iniquity, and upon whom the blessing of a world ready to perish comes.” What Job was in part, eyes to the blind and feet to the lame (v. 15), Jesus was fully, when “the blind receive sight, the lame walk” (Luke 7:22), and He also broke the jaws of the strong man to take his plunder (Luke 11:21 to 22).

Psalm 72:12 · Luke 7:22 · Luke 11:21

Clothed in righteousness, and the righteousness that clothes us ancient/widely-held

V. 14 says righteousness “clothed itself with” Job (Ellicott, Cambridge, K&D). Ellicott turns this into “the Gospel truth of the interchange of sin and righteousness between Christ and the believer,” citing Romans 13:14 (“put on the Lord Jesus Christ”). Gill draws a careful line: Job’s verse speaks of “legal righteousness in the administration of his office,” not the Redeemer’s imputed righteousness, though Gill holds that Job had that too. ⚙ Both are right in their place. Job’s robe was real justice practised; the high priest in Zechariah 3:4 to 5 (who shares the rare word tsânîyph, turban) receives clean garments as a gift; Isaiah 61:10 speaks of being clothed with “the robe of righteousness” by God. In Christ the one who perfectly wore justice as a robe gives it to those who never could.

Zechariah 3:5 · Isaiah 61:10 · Romans 13:14

The comforter who became the mourner ancient/widely-held

Job ends his memory “as one who comforts mourners” (v. 25), with the same words as Isaiah 61:2. JFB: “Here again Job unconsciously foreshadows Jesus Christ (Isa 61:2, 3). Job’s afflictions, as those of Jesus Christ, were fitting him for the office hereafter (Isa 50:4; Heb 2:18).” Ellicott calls Job “the type and representative of suffering humanity … It is in this way that he points us on to Christ.” Gill: Job “was a type of Christ, who was appointed to comfort all that mourn in Zion.” Jesus read Isaiah 61 as fulfilled in Himself (Luke 4:18 to 21) and said “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). He was the comforter who was stripped of honour and Himself left without comforters (Psalm 69:20).

Isaiah 61:2 · Luke 4:18 · Matthew 5:4 · Hebrews 2:18

From the council of God to “I have called you friends” novel

⚙ V. 4 remembers סוֹד אֱלוֹהַּ, the intimate counsel of God over Job’s tent. JFB places John 15:15 among its cross-references, with Genesis 18:17 (“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?”). Jesus said: “I no longer call you servants … I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.” Job lost the felt sense of that counsel and longed for it. In Christ the sôd is opened to all His disciples. The cross-reference is JFB’s; developing it as a fulfilment of Job’s lost friendship is this tool’s reading, offered for testing.

John 15:15 · Genesis 18:17 · Psalm 25:14

Apparatus & Provenance

The biblical text is the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain (CC0). Hebrew/Greek text, transliteration, morphology and Strong’s are transcribed from the Berean interlinear (CC0) + Strong’s lexicons (PD); the literal renderings, divergence notes, word notes and all synthesis are this tool’s own work (⚙) — fallible; verify them.

Named voices, quoted verbatim from public-domain works:

  • Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible (1834)
  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, — (1880s)
  • Charles Ellicott, Commentary for English Readers (1878)
  • Geneva Study Bible, Marginal Notes (1599)
  • Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory (1871)
  • John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63)
  • Joseph Benson, Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1810s)
  • Keil & Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1860s)
  • Matthew Henry, Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706)
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1685)
  • The Pulpit Commentary, Spence & Exell, eds. (1880s)

Text and parsing. V. 3 בְּהִלּוֹ: the interlinear parses Hiphil; K&D argues it must be a Qal infinitive; Barnes records both and judges the sense unaffected. V. 18 כַחוֹל: “sand” (BSB, Barnes, Pulpit, Gill’s preferred) or “phoenix” (K&D, citing a Masoretic note that the word here has a second sense; Cambridge inclines that way; LXX reads “palm”). Unresolved; this unit follows BSB in the literal and records the alternative. Vv. 19 to 20: the Hebrew has imperfects and participles; BSB reads them as Job’s former expectation (future), as do Cambridge and K&D; KJV reads past. V. 24 is disputed in meaning (Ellicott and Benson: “they could not believe I smiled”; Cambridge and JFB after Umbreit: “I smiled on them when they had no confidence”). V. 16 is literally “the cause I did not know,” taken as “the cause of one I did not know” by Barnes, Cambridge and Pulpit. V. 12: whether “who had no helper” is a third class or describes the fatherless is debated (K&D, Cambridge).

Interlinear. Several glosses in the source interlinear are placeholders (“. . .”, “vvv”) where BSB’s English redistributes meaning; the literal renderings here are built from the Hebrew word order and Strong’s roots, not from those glosses. In v. 24 the BSB “was precious” stands over יַפִּילוּן, literally “they caused to fall,” with the preceding negative.

Sources. K&D entries are capped in the brief; only the visible text is quoted. Pulpit’s text contains OCR errors (“maizes,” “perseus,” “sabre,” “Healed”) reproduced verbatim. Ellicott’s reference at v. 3 to “Isaiah 1:10” does not fit the lamp image and may be a misprint in the source. Geneva’s v. 24 note reads “rest,” probably for “jest.” Several commentators (Gill, Henry) spiritualize the prosperity of vv. 2 to 6; editorial notes flag where that goes beyond the text.

Threads. Verbal tiers are given only for Verifier-confirmed rare lexemes (H4973, H6694, H6797, H6473, H3453, H57). The Isaiah 61:2, Psalm 72:12, Job 22:9 and Deuteronomy 32:2 bases come from direct Verifier pair checks. The James 5:7 link is cross-Testament and tiered structural. No Joshua 1:5 thread applies to this unit.

✦ = human, public-domain source, quoted and named. ⚙ = machine synthesis, to be verified. Flagged cross-references are left visible on purpose — the verifier working in the open. “Search the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)