He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
He hath made {H3322} me also a byword {H4914} of the people {H5971}; and aforetime {H6440} I was as a tabret {H8611}.
"He has made me a byword among the peoples, a creature in whose face they spit.
He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.
But he hath made me a byword of the people; And they spit in my face.
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Job 30:9
And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. -
Psalms 44:14
Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. -
Genesis 31:27
Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? -
1 Kings 9:7
Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: -
Isaiah 5:12
And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
In Job 17:6, the patriarch Job continues his passionate lament, expressing the depth of his despair and the profound humiliation he experiences. He feels abandoned by God and scorned by society, a stark contrast to his former esteemed position. This verse powerfully conveys his sense of public disgrace and the dramatic fall from grace he has endured.
Context
This verse is part of Job's ongoing response to his friends' accusations, particularly those of Bildad. Throughout Job chapter 17, Job bemoans his failing health, the treachery of his companions, and his conviction that his hope is lost. He believes God has turned against him, making him an object of public ridicule. His friends, who should have offered comfort, have instead become a source of further pain, reinforcing his isolation and public shame.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Job's cry resonates with anyone who has experienced public shame, misunderstanding, or a dramatic loss of reputation. This verse reminds us: