Job29

Job begins a new discourse, lamenting his lost prosperity and the divine favor he once enjoyed. He recalls a time when God's presence illuminated his life, his family was intact, and he experienced great abundance. During this period, he commanded immense respect in the community due to his righteous character and his diligent acts of justice and charity.
Listen to this chapter
0:00 0:00

Job Recalls His Days of Divine Favor

1
And Job again took up his parable, and said, ​
2
Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;
3
When his lamp shined upon my head, And by his light I walked through darkness; ​
4
As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was upon my tent; ​
5
When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me;
6
When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out streams of oil! ​

Job’s Righteousness and Esteem in the City Gate

7
When I went forth to the gate unto the city, When I prepared my seat in the street, ​
8
The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged rose up and stood;
9
The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;
10
The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11
For when the ear heardme, then it blessed me; And when the eye sawme, it gave witness unto me:
12
Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, that had none to help him. ​
13
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: My justice was as a robe and a diadem. ​
15
I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame.
16
I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
17
And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth. ​

The Expectation of Undisturbed Life

18
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand: ​
19
My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lieth all night upon my branch: ​
20
My glory is fresh in me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.

The Authority of Job's Counsel

21
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel. ​
22
After my words they spake not again; And my speech distilled upon them. ​
23
And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wideasfor the latter rain. ​
24
I smiled on them, when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25
I chose out their way, and sataschief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners. ​

Study Notes for Job 29

Verse 1

Job introduces his third and final monologue, which is framed as a 'parable' (Hebrew: *mashal*), indicating a weighty, authoritative, and often poetic discourse.

Verse 3

The 'candle' (lamp) shining upon his head symbolizes God's direct approval, guidance, and protection, contrasting sharply with the spiritual darkness Job now perceives.

Verse 4

The 'secret of God' (*sod*) refers to close intimacy and confidential fellowship with the divine, suggesting Job was privy to God’s wisdom and protection.

Verse 6

This highly poetic hyperbole emphasizes extreme material prosperity, where even the common chores and hard ground yielded riches (butter and oil), signifying unprecedented divine blessing.

Verse 7

The 'gate' was the central location for legal proceedings, commerce, and public decision-making, signifying Job's respected role as a judge and community leader.

Verse 12

Job demonstrates that his high status was earned not through wealth alone, but through active social justice, fulfilling the requirements for righteous leadership by protecting the vulnerable.

Verse 14

Job personifies righteousness as a garment, emphasizing that justice was intrinsic to his identity and public presentation, serving as his official 'robe and diadem' (crown).

Verse 17

To 'break the jaws of the wicked' is a powerful judicial metaphor, meaning Job forcefully intervened to stop oppression and rescue victims from exploiters and corruption.

Verse 18

Job confesses his former misguided confidence, believing that his piety and prosperity guaranteed a long, peaceful life, dying comfortably 'in his nest'—a sign of settled security.

Verse 19

These images depict deep stability and continuous flourishing, contrasting sharply with his current withered and decaying condition (cf. Job 2:7, 19:26).

Verse 21

This section details the profound respect Job commanded in public assemblies, where people would wait patiently and in silence for his authoritative wisdom.

Verse 22

Job’s words were final, demonstrating his undisputed authority; his speech 'dropped' (like dew or gentle rain), indicating both refreshing wisdom and persuasive power.

Verse 23

Waiting for Job’s counsel was compared to waiting for the vital 'latter rain,' which ensures the final harvest and is essential for life and stability in the Near East.

Verse 25

Job concludes by describing his role as the ultimate decision-maker and leader, combining kingly authority with pastoral care, comforting those who mourn.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate
Settings

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options