Job 30:10

KJV

They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

KJV (with Strong's)

They abhor {H8581} me, they flee far {H7368} from me, and spare {H2820} not to spit {H7536} in my face {H6440}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They loathe me, they stand aloof from me; they don't hesitate to spit in my face!

Berean Standard Bible

They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

American Standard Version

They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, And spare not to spit in my face.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 30:10 powerfully articulates the agonizing depths of Job's humiliation and social ostracism, portraying him as not merely detested but actively shunned and publicly shamed by those who once respected him, even to the point of being spat upon. This verse encapsulates the complete reversal of his fortunes and the profound injustice of his suffering, vividly highlighting the cruel disdain he now faces from society's lowest echelons.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 30:10 is a poignant lament within Job's third and final monologue (chapters 29-31), serving as a stark contrast to his earlier reflections. In [Job 29](/job/29 "Job 29 - Job's Former Esteem"), Job vividly recalls his past glory, when he was a revered community leader, sought for wisdom, and a compassionate advocate for the vulnerable. This glorious past sets the stage for the shocking degradation described in [Job 30](/job/30 "Job 30 - Job's Humiliation by the Scorned"), where he details how those of no account, whom he once helped or whose parents he would have disdained, now mock and abuse him. This specific verse, with its graphic depiction of spitting, marks the nadir of his social humiliation, serving as a powerful rhetorical device to underscore the extremity of his undeserved suffering and to challenge the simplistic retribution theology espoused by his friends.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, social standing, honor, and reputation were paramount, often more valuable than life itself. To be "abhorred," "fled from," and especially "spat upon" constituted the gravest forms of public disgrace and ritual defilement. Spitting in someone's face was not merely a rude gesture but a deliberate, highly offensive act intended to dishonor, ritually pollute, and utterly strip the recipient of dignity. This act was often associated with public shaming, judicial condemnation, or even the consequences of divine judgment, as illustrated in [Numbers 12:14](/numbers/12-14 "Numbers 12:14 - Miriam's Shame and Exclusion") where a father spitting in his daughter's face is equated with a seven-day exclusion from the camp. Job's lament reflects a societal context where such an act was a profound assault on one's very being, making his suffering not just physical or material, but profoundly social, psychological, and spiritual.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job. It intensifies the theme of **unjust suffering**, forcing the reader to grapple with the question of why a righteous individual like Job endures such extreme and unmerited humiliation. It underscores the profound **fragility of human dignity and honor**, demonstrating how quickly they can be stripped away by circumstances and the cruelty of others, particularly when perceived as divinely cursed. The deep **social rejection and isolation** Job experiences highlight the devastating impact of community abandonment, contrasting sharply with his former role as a pillar of society, as described in [Job 29](/job/29 "Job 29 - Job's Former Prosperity"). Furthermore, the verse vividly illustrates the **nature of disgrace**, revealing how suffering can not only deprive one of possessions and health but also of respect, leaving one utterly exposed to the contempt of others.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Abhor (Hebrew, _taʻâb'_):** This verb (H8581) signifies a profound sense of loathing, disgust, or detestation. It's a strong term indicating not just dislike, but a deep-seated revulsion, as if Job himself has become an anathema or an object of ritual impurity in the eyes of others. It suggests a visceral, almost involuntary, turning away from him, marking him as utterly detestable.
* **Flee far (Hebrew, _râchaq'_):** This primitive root (H7368) denotes active distancing and removal, whether literally or figuratively. It implies a deliberate act of separation, indicating that people are not merely indifferent but are actively withdrawing from Job, perhaps out of fear of contamination, social stigma, or simply a desire to disassociate from one whom God has seemingly cursed. This physical and social separation underscores his complete ostracization.
* **Face (Hebrew, _pânîym'_):** This plural noun (H6440), always used as singular, refers to the face as the part that turns or presents itself. In ancient cultures, the face was considered the seat of honor, identity, and personal presence. To spit in one's face was a direct, public assault on one's very being and reputation, signifying the ultimate act of disrespect and defilement. Its inclusion here emphasizes the personal and public nature of the insult.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They abhor me":** This initial clause establishes the profound emotional and spiritual rejection Job experiences. It speaks to an intense, visceral disgust directed towards him, suggesting that he has become an object of loathing in the eyes of his community, perhaps perceived as cursed by God or ritually unclean. This is an internal, deep-seated revulsion.
* **"they flee far from me":** Following the internal abhorrence, this clause describes the outward manifestation of that contempt: active social ostracization. People are not merely avoiding him but are deliberately distancing themselves, creating a physical and social chasm between Job and the rest of society, leaving him isolated and abandoned.
* **"and spare not to spit in my face":** This final, climactic clause details the ultimate act of public humiliation. Spitting in the face was a universally recognized gesture of extreme contempt, defilement, and utter disrespect in the ancient world. The phrase "spare not" (from H2820, _châsak_, meaning to restrain or refrain) emphasizes the unbridled nature of this insult, highlighting the complete lack of compassion or restraint shown by those who once might have looked up to him, signifying the nadir of his social degradation.

#### Literary Devices
Job 30:10 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the depth of Job's suffering. The use of **Hyperbole** is evident in the extreme nature of the actions described; while perhaps not literally every individual was spitting on him, the language conveys the overwhelming sense of universal contempt and the pervasive nature of his degradation. **Parallelism** is employed through the progression of actions—abhorrence, fleeing, and spitting—each escalating the intensity of Job's rejection and reinforcing the theme of his utter degradation. The verse is rich in **Imagery**, painting a vivid and visceral picture of public shaming and defilement, allowing the reader to almost feel the sting of the insult. This graphic imagery serves to underscore the profound injustice and cruelty of Job's situation, making his lament all the more poignant and impactful.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 30:10 powerfully articulates the devastating impact of social rejection and public humiliation on a righteous individual, raising profound questions about the nature of suffering and human dignity. It challenges the simplistic retribution theology prevalent in Job's time, which posited a direct correlation between sin and suffering, by demonstrating that the innocent can endure the most extreme forms of contempt. This verse underscores the vulnerability of human honor and the capacity for cruelty within society, particularly towards those perceived as "down and out." It invites reflection on how divine justice operates in the face of such undeserved affliction and foreshadows the ultimate suffering of the innocent Messiah, who also endured profound contempt.

* [Numbers 12:14](/numbers/12-14 "Numbers 12:14 - Miriam's Shame and Exclusion")
* [Isaiah 50:6](/isaiah/50-6 "Isaiah 50:6 - The Suffering Servant Endures Insults")
* [Matthew 26:67](/matthew/26-67 "Matthew 26:67 - Jesus Spat Upon by His Accusers")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 30:10 serves as a stark reminder of the extreme vulnerability of human dignity and the profound pain of social rejection. In a world that often values status and success, Job's experience forces us to confront the reality that even the most righteous can face undeserved contempt and ostracism. This verse calls us to cultivate radical empathy, recognizing that those who are marginalized, scorned, or "spat upon" by society—whether literally or figuratively—are often suffering deeply, regardless of their perceived worth or circumstances. It challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we contribute to the isolation of the vulnerable, or do we extend compassion and respect, upholding the inherent dignity of every person created in God's image? Job's lament, while raw and despairing, ultimately points to the resilience of faith even when all earthly honor is stripped away, urging us to stand with the afflicted and to challenge systems or attitudes that perpetuate unjust humiliation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's experience of being "abhorred" and "fled from" challenge my assumptions about who deserves respect and compassion?**
* **In what ways might I, consciously or unconsciously, contribute to the marginalization or humiliation of others in my own community or sphere of influence?**
* **How does this verse deepen my understanding of the emotional and psychological dimensions of suffering, beyond just physical or material loss?**
* **What does Job's response, even in his despair, teach me about maintaining dignity or faith when facing undeserved contempt?**

### FAQ
**Why was spitting considered such a profound insult in ancient times?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, spitting was far more than a rude gesture; it was a deeply symbolic act of extreme contempt, public shaming, and ritual defilement. It was meant to dishonor and degrade the recipient, treating them as utterly worthless or unclean. The face, in particular, was considered the seat of a person's honor and identity, so spitting on it was a direct assault on one's very being and reputation. It was often associated with judicial condemnation or social ostracism, as seen in [Numbers 12:14](/numbers/12-14 "Numbers 12:14 - Miriam's Shame") where Miriam's temporary exclusion from the camp is likened to a father spitting in his daughter's face. This act stripped the individual of all dignity and standing within the community.

**Does Job 30:10 imply that Job was literally spat on by everyone, or is this hyperbole?**

Answer: While the language of [Job 30:10](/job/30-10 "Job 30:10 - Job's Humiliation") is intensely vivid, it's likely a form of **hyperbole** used to convey the overwhelming and pervasive nature of the contempt Job faced. Job is expressing the depths of his despair and the complete reversal of his social standing. He feels as though he is an object of universal scorn, and the act of spitting symbolizes the ultimate public degradation. It may not mean that every single person literally spat on him, but rather that the level of disrespect and humiliation he experienced was so profound that it felt as though he was being subjected to this ultimate insult by those who once revered him. The emotional truth conveyed is that he was treated with utter disdain by those of even the lowest social standing, as described earlier in [Job 30](/job/30 "Job 30 - Job's Lament of Humiliation").

**How does Job's experience of social rejection relate to the broader themes of the book of Job?**

Answer: Job's experience of social rejection and humiliation, as described in [Job 30:10](/job/30-10 "Job 30:10 - Job's Humiliation"), is central to the book's exploration of **unjust suffering**. His friends argue that his suffering must be due to hidden sin, implying that his social disgrace is a just consequence. However, Job's lament, particularly this verse, powerfully refutes this notion by demonstrating that a righteous man can be reduced to the lowest depths of public contempt without cause. It highlights the fragility of human dignity and the often-cruel nature of societal judgment. This rejection also underscores Job's profound **isolation**, a key theme as he grapples with God in solitude, abandoned by both human comfort and divine explanation. It forces the reader to confront the problem of evil and the limitations of human understanding concerning divine justice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's experience of extreme social rejection and public humiliation in [Job 30:10](/job/30-10 "Job 30:10 - Job's Humiliation") finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the suffering of Jesus Christ. Just as Job, a righteous man, was abhorred, fled from, and spat upon, so too was the sinless Son of God subjected to the deepest forms of human contempt and degradation. The prophet Isaiah foretold this, describing the Suffering Servant as one from whom "men hide their faces" and who was "despised and rejected by mankind" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant Rejected")). During His passion, Jesus endured the very acts Job lamented: He was mocked, struck, and indeed, "some began to spit on him" ([Mark 14:65](/mark/14-65 "Mark 14:65 - Jesus Spat Upon by His Accusers"); also [Matthew 26:67](/matthew/26-67 "Matthew 26:67 - Jesus Spat Upon by His Accusers")). This wasn't merely physical abuse but a deliberate act of public shaming, designed to strip Him of all dignity and honor, much like the ancient gesture Job describes. Yet, unlike Job, whose suffering was a mystery, Christ's humiliation was a deliberate act of atonement, bearing the full weight of human sin and shame. His willing endurance of such profound contempt, even unto death on a cross, transforms the meaning of suffering and rejection, revealing God's ultimate solidarity with the despised and offering salvation through the very act of ultimate disgrace. He became "a curse for us" ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")), taking our abhorrence upon Himself so that we might be reconciled to God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 50:6

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

Matthew 26:67

Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote [him] with the palms of their hands,

Psalms 88:8

Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: [I am] shut up, and I cannot come forth.

Numbers 12:14

And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in [again].

Deuteronomy 25:9

Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.

Matthew 27:30

And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

Job 42:6

Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes.