Job 30:1

¶ But now [they that are] younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

But now they that are younger {H6810}{H3117} than I have me in derision {H7832}, whose fathers {H1} I would have disdained {H3988} to have set {H7896} with the dogs {H3611} of my flock {H6629}.

"But now those younger than I hold me in derision, men whose fathers I wouldn't even have put with the dogs that guarded my sheep.

“But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to entrust with my sheep dogs.

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, Whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

Context

Job 30:1 marks a poignant and dramatic shift in Job's discourse, contrasting sharply with the preceding chapter (Job 29), where he vividly recounted his former esteemed position, widespread respect, and abundant blessings. Having detailed the height of his prosperity, Job now plunges into the depths of his current suffering and humiliation. This verse introduces the profound social degradation he endures, lamenting that even those he once considered utterly beneath him now hold him in contempt. It sets the stage for a detailed portrayal of his physical anguish and social isolation.

Key Themes

  • Reversal of Fortune: The verse starkly illustrates Job's catastrophic fall from a position of immense honor to one of utter disdain. This drastic change is central to understanding the depth of his lament.
  • Profound Humiliation: Job, an elder and a man of great influence, is now subjected to mockery by the young, and by those whose ancestry he deemed unworthy of even the lowest societal standing. This mockery from the socially inferior underscores the extreme nature of his humiliation and loss of dignity.
  • Social Outcasting: The comparison of the mockers' fathers to "dogs of my flock" highlights the complete social reversal. In ancient Near Eastern culture, dogs were often scavengers or wild animals, generally despised and associated with impurity, not valued working animals. To disdain setting someone with such animals speaks volumes about the absolute contempt Job once held for their lineage, making their current derision all the more painful.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "derision" (la'ag) implies scornful mockery, ridiculing, and scoffing. It's a powerful term that conveys not just mild disrespect but open contempt and insolence. The phrase "dogs of my flock" is key to understanding the social insult. These were not the domesticated, valued sheepdogs of today. Rather, they were likely wild, scavenging dogs that might accompany a flock but were generally considered worthless, unclean, or even a nuisance. Job's statement emphasizes that he considered their fathers of such low status that he wouldn't even grant them the meager role of such animals, highlighting the extreme social chasm that has now been inverted.

Related Scriptures

This verse gains profound meaning when viewed against Job's former glory, as described in Job 29:1-25, where he recalls being honored by young and old alike. The theme of being despised by former associates or even servants is echoed in Job 19:13-19, where Job laments that God has alienated his kinsfolk and made him an outcast. The overarching narrative of Job, particularly his unwavering stance despite immense suffering and social scorn, contributes to the biblical concept of enduring trials and the patience of Job (James 5:11).

Practical Application

Job 30:1 serves as a stark reminder of the transient nature of worldly status and respect. It underscores the pain of profound humiliation and social degradation. For contemporary readers, it can foster empathy for those who experience public shame, loss of standing, or ridicule, especially when it comes from unexpected or seemingly inferior sources. It challenges us to consider where we place our value and identity—not in external accolades or social status, but in our relationship with God, who remains sovereign even amidst such painful reversals (Job 1:21). The verse encourages reflection on how we treat others, especially those who may have fallen from grace, and the importance of humility in all circumstances.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 12:4

    I am [as] one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright [man is] laughed to scorn.

  • Luke 23:35

    And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [him], saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

  • Psalms 69:12

    They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I [was] the song of the drunkards.

  • Psalms 35:15

    But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: [yea], the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:

  • Psalms 35:16

    With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

  • 2 Kings 2:23

    And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

  • Acts 17:5

    But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

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