Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.
Thou art become {H2015} cruel {H393} to me: with thy strong {H6108} hand {H3027} thou opposest {H7852} thyself against me.
You have turned cruelly against me; with your powerful hand you keep persecuting me.
You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.
Thou art turned to be cruel to me; With the might of thy hand thou persecutest me.
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.
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Job 10:14
¶ If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity. -
Job 10:17
Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war [are] against me. -
Job 16:9
He teareth [me] in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. -
Job 16:14
He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant. -
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: -
Psalms 77:7
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? -
Psalms 77:9
Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.
Job 30:21 captures the raw anguish and profound despair of Job, who, in his immense suffering, feels utterly forsaken and actively opposed by God Himself. This verse is a direct and heart-wrenching accusation from Job, who has lost everything and now perceives his Creator as an antagonist.
Context of Job's Lament
By chapter 30, Job's physical and emotional torment has reached its peak. He has endured the catastrophic loss of his children, wealth, and health, and has been ridiculed by his friends and even his servants. His earlier expressions of faith and submission, such as his declaration in Job 1:21 that the Lord gives and takes away, have given way to deep lamentation and questioning of divine justice. Here, he is responding to the perceived indifference and harshness of God, viewing his affliction not as a trial but as active hostility.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "cruel" ('akhzari) carries strong connotations of harshness, severity, or even brutality. It is a powerful and direct accusation from Job, reflecting his deep emotional pain and sense of betrayal. The phrase "thou opposest thyself against me" (derived from the verb shatam) suggests active hostility, persecution, or even lying in wait to ambush. This paints a picture of God not merely allowing suffering, but actively inflicting it with a powerful, antagonistic "strong hand" (yadkha 'az), a common biblical idiom for divine power and might.
Practical Application and Reflection
Job 30:21 provides a profound insight into the human experience of suffering and faith. It validates the honest expression of pain and even anger toward God during times of intense trial. While Job's perception of God's character was skewed by his suffering, his raw honesty is a model for bringing our true feelings before the Lord. It reminds us that faith is not always easy; it often involves wrestling with difficult questions and feelings of abandonment, much like the psalmist who cries out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Ultimately, the book of Job shows that God hears these cries and, in His own time, reveals His presence and purpose, even if not His full reasoning, as seen from Job chapter 38 onwards.