Job 30:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

Complete Jewish Bible:

You have turned cruelly against me; with your powerful hand you keep persecuting me.

Berean Standard Bible:

You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.

American Standard Version:

Thou art turned to be cruel to me; With the might of thy hand thou persecutest me.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Thou art become^{H2015} cruel^{H393} to me: with thy strong^{H6108} hand^{H3027} thou opposest^{H7852} thyself against me.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Job 30:21

Job 30:21 is a part of the poetic dialogues in the Book of Job, which is one of the Wisdom Books in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament. The verse is situated within a larger lament where Job, once a man of great wealth and stature, is expressing his profound suffering and the alienation he feels from both God and man.

In the historical context of the Book of Job, the character of Job is often considered to be a symbol of perseverance through suffering. The book addresses the age-old question of why the righteous suffer and is thought to have been written during or after the Babylonian Exile, a period of great upheaval and questioning for the Israelites.

The themes of Job 30:21 include the cruelty of suffering, the feeling of divine abandonment, and the perception of God's hand as oppressive rather than protective. In this verse, Job directly addresses God, accusing Him of turning against him with harshness and strength. The "strong hand" mentioned in the verse suggests an overwhelming force that Job feels is unjustly directed against him. This reflects the depth of his despair and the intensity of his struggle to understand his misfortune in the face of his previous piety and virtue.

The verse captures the raw emotion of someone in the throes of deep anguish, questioning why God would allow such hardship to befall someone who has been faithful. It is a poignant expression of the human condition in the face of inexplicable adversity, a theme that resonates with many who grapple with their own trials and the silence of God in their lives.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2015
   There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָפַךְ
   Transliteration: hâphak
   Pronunciation: haw-fak'
   Description: a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert; [idiom] become, change, come, be converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse, retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary, every way).
   
2. Strong's Number: H393
   There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַכְזָר
   Transliteration: ʼakzâr
   Pronunciation: ak-zawr'
   Description: from an unused root (apparently meaning to act harshly); violent; by implication deadly; also (in a good sense) brave; cruel, fierce.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6108
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֹצֶם
   Transliteration: ʻôtsem
   Pronunciation: o'-tsem
   Description: from עָצַם; power; hence, body; might, strong, substance.
   
4. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
5. Strong's Number: H7852
   There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂטַם
   Transliteration: sâṭam
   Pronunciation: saw-tam'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to lurk for, i.e. persecute; hate, oppose self against.