King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto God.
Complete Jewish Bible:
With friends like these as intercessors, my eyes pour out tears to God,
Berean Standard Bible:
My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.
American Standard Version:
My friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
My friends{H7453} scorn{H3887} me: but mine eye{H5869} poureth out{H1811} tears unto God{H433}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Psalms 142:2
- I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.
Hebrews 5:7
- Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Luke 6:11
- And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:12
- ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Psalms 109:4
- For my love they are my adversaries: but I [give myself unto] prayer.
Job 16:4
- I also could speak as ye [do]: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
Job 17:2
- [Are there] not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
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Commentary for Job 16:20
Job 16:20 is a verse from the Book of Job, which is part of the Wisdom Literature in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Job deals with the themes of theodicy, human suffering, and the nature of faith and righteousness. It tells the story of Job, a man who is afflicted with terrible suffering as part of a divine test to prove his faithfulness to God.
In the verse, Job laments the treatment he receives from his friends, who instead of offering comfort, accuse him of wrongdoing, suggesting that his suffering must be a punishment for sin. The phrase "My friends scorn me" reflects the deep betrayal and isolation Job feels, as those who should support him add to his misery. The latter part of the verse, "mine eye poureth out [tears] unto God," conveys Job's intense grief and his fervent appeals to God. Despite his friends' derision, Job turns to God in his anguish, pouring out his tears as a form of prayer and supplication, seeking understanding and relief from his afflictions.
The historical context of the Book of Job is somewhat uncertain, with scholars placing its composition anywhere from the second millennium BCE to around the 6th century BCE. The narrative is set in the land of Uz, which is traditionally associated with the region of Edom, southeast of Israel. The text reflects a time when wisdom and the understanding of God's ways were central concerns in society, and it addresses the universal human experience of suffering and the quest for divine justice.
In summary, Job 16:20 encapsulates the emotional turmoil of the protagonist, highlighting the betrayal by his friends and his unwavering faith in God amidst overwhelming sorrow. Job's tears are not just a sign of his personal despair but also a symbol of his deep connection with the Divine, as he turns to God in his darkest hour, seeking mercy and comprehension. This verse underscores the complex interplay between human suffering, divine providence, and the role of community in the face of personal tragedy.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7453
There are 173 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֵעַ
Transliteration: rêaʻ
Pronunciation: ray'-ah
Description: or רֵיעַ; from רָעָה; an associate (more or less close); brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, [idiom] (an-) other. - Strong's Number: H3887
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לוּץ
Transliteration: lûwts
Pronunciation: loots
Description: a primitive root; properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercede; ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker, scorn(-er, -ful), teacher. - Strong's Number: H5869
There are 830 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַיִן
Transliteration: ʻayin
Pronunciation: ah'-yin
Description: probably a primitive word; an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape); affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). - Strong's Number: H1811
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּלַף
Transliteration: dâlaph
Pronunciation: daw-laf'
Description: a primitive root; to drip; by implication, to weep; drop through, melt, pour out. - Strong's Number: H433
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלוֹהַּ
Transliteration: ʼĕlôwahh
Pronunciation: el-o'-ah
Description: rarely (shortened) אֱלֹהַּ; probably prolonged (emphatic) from אֵל; a deity or the Deity; God, god. See אֱלֹהִים.