Job 30:29

KJV

I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

KJV (with Strong's)

I am a brother {H251} to dragons {H8577}, and a companion {H7453} to owls {H1323}{H3284}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I have become a brother to jackals and a companion of ostriches.

Berean Standard Bible

I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of ostriches.

American Standard Version

I am a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 30:29 profoundly articulates Job's utter despair and extreme alienation, as he dramatically identifies himself with creatures symbolic of desolation, mourning, and the wilderness. This poignant declaration underscores his catastrophic fall from a position of honor and prosperity to one of profound suffering, humiliation, and absolute isolation, feeling utterly cut off from both divine favor and human companionship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 30 immediately follows Job's powerful and nostalgic recollection of his former glory and respected status in [Job 29](/job/29 "Job 29 - Job's Former Prosperity"). Chapter 30 serves as a stark and painful contrast, plunging the reader into the depths of Job's present humiliation and suffering. He describes being mocked and scorned by those younger and socially inferior to him, feeling abandoned by God, and enduring relentless physical pain. This verse is a climactic expression of his profound degradation, where he likens himself not just to a social outcast, but to the very creatures of the desolate wilderness, emphasizing his complete severance from normal human society and comfort. The preceding verses detail his physical deterioration and the contempt he faces, making his identification with wild, mournful animals a powerful culmination of his lament.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the wilderness was often associated with chaos, danger, and the abode of demonic forces or creatures of ill omen. Animals like jackals and ostriches, which inhabit desolate places, were commonly linked with ruin, abandonment, and mournful sounds, particularly at night. Their cries were often heard in abandoned cities or ruined landscapes, symbolizing divine judgment and desolation. For a man of Job's former stature—a wealthy, respected patriarch—to identify with such creatures was the ultimate expression of his fall from grace and his perception of being utterly cursed and abandoned. This imagery would have resonated deeply with an audience familiar with the sounds and symbolism of the desert, amplifying the horror and isolation of Job's condition.

* **Key Themes:** [Job 30:29](/job/30-29 "Job 30:29 - Job's Profound Despair") powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the Book of Job. Foremost is the theme of **Profound Isolation and Alienation**, as Job feels utterly cut off from human society, divine favor, and even his own former identity. His lament highlights the **Utter Despair and Degradation** he experiences, moving from a position of honor (as seen in [Job 29](/job/29 "Job 29 - Job's Former Prosperity")) to one of abject humiliation. Furthermore, the verse underscores the theme of **Unjust Suffering**, as Job, despite his righteousness, endures pain that seems disproportionate and inexplicable. His identification with creatures of the desolate wilderness also speaks to the broader theme of **Lament and Protest**, where the suffering individual voices their anguish and questions the justice of their circumstances before God, a common motif throughout the Psalms, such as [Psalm 22](/psalms/22 "Psalm 22 - A Psalm of Lament and Trust").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis

* **Brother (Hebrew, _ʼâch'_):** From H251, this primitive word signifies a brother in the widest sense, encompassing literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance. By calling himself a "brother" to dragons (jackals), Job is not merely drawing a comparison but asserting a profound identification. It suggests he shares their very nature, their desolate habitat, and their mournful existence, indicating a complete severance from human kinship and a descent into a state of primal, untamed sorrow.

* **Dragons (Hebrew, _tannîyn'_):** From H8577, this term refers to a marine or land monster, often translated as sea-serpent or jackal. While the KJV uses "dragons," in the context of land animals known for mournful cries in desolate places, it most accurately refers to **jackals** or wild dogs. These nocturnal scavengers are known for their eerie howling, frequently associated in biblical literature with desolation, destruction, and divine judgment (e.g., [Isaiah 34:13](/isaiah/34-13 "Isaiah 34:13 - Desolation of Edom")). Job's self-identification with the jackal emphasizes his perceived state of ruin, his mournful cries, and his feeling of being an outcast inhabiting a desolate landscape.

* **Companion (Hebrew, _rêaʻ'_):** From H7453, this word denotes an associate, friend, or neighbor. The term implies a close bond or shared experience. By declaring himself a "companion" to owls, Job emphasizes his utter lack of human fellowship. His only company now comes from these creatures of ruin, highlighting the depth of his loneliness and the extent of his degradation, as he is forced into a desolate camaraderie with symbols of abandonment.

* **Owls (Hebrew, _bath yaʻănâh'_):** This KJV translation combines H1323 (_bath_, "daughter") and H3284 (_yaʻănâh_, "ostrich"). The Hebrew phrase _benoth ya'anah_ literally translates to "daughters of the ostriches," or simply **ostriches**. Ostriches are large, flightless birds that inhabit arid wilderness regions. They are known for their peculiar, booming, or hooting sounds, often heard at night, which can be interpreted as mournful or unsettling. Like jackals, ostriches are often associated with wilderness, solitude, and desolation in biblical texts (e.g., [Micah 1:8](/micah/1-8 "Micah 1:8 - Micah's Lament")). Job's identification with the ostrich further deepens the imagery of his isolation, his mournful cries, and his feeling of being abandoned in a desolate, comfortless existence.

#### Verse Breakdown

* **"I am a brother to dragons":** This clause powerfully conveys Job's profound identification with creatures of the wild and desolate. By calling himself a "brother" to jackals, Job is not merely stating he is *like* them, but that he shares their very nature, their habitat, and their mournful existence. It signifies a complete severance from human society and a descent into a state of primal, untamed sorrow. His cries are no longer human laments, but the eerie howls of a creature inhabiting ruins.

* **"and a companion to owls":** This parallel clause reinforces and intensifies the previous statement. To be a "companion" to ostriches further emphasizes Job's utter isolation from humanity and his forced fellowship with creatures symbolic of desolation. It paints a picture of Job living among these mournful, solitary birds in the wilderness, sharing their desolate cries and their abandoned existence. The imagery suggests that his only solace or company now comes from these creatures of ruin, highlighting the depth of his loneliness and the extent of his degradation.

#### Literary Devices

Job 30:29 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey the depth of Job's despair. The primary device is **Metaphor**, where Job directly equates himself with "jackals" and "ostriches" (rendered as "dragons" and "owls" in KJV). This is not a mere comparison but a statement of identity, suggesting that his suffering has transformed him into a creature of the wild, estranged from human society. This metaphor is amplified by **Hyperbole**, as Job exaggerates his condition to emphasize the extremity of his pain and isolation; he is not just *like* these creatures, but their "brother" and "companion." The verse also uses vivid **Imagery**, painting a stark picture of Job in a desolate wilderness, echoing the mournful sounds of these animals. Finally, there is an element of **Personification** of sorrow and desolation itself, as Job's grief is so profound that it seems to take on the characteristics of the very creatures that embody ruin and lament.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Job's lament in [Job 30:29](/job/30-29 "Job 30:29 - Job's Profound Despair") resonates deeply with the human experience of profound suffering and alienation, challenging simplistic notions of divine justice and the relationship between righteousness and prosperity. It highlights the often-unseen depths of despair that can accompany severe trials, where individuals feel not only abandoned by others but also by God. The verse underscores the biblical theme that suffering can be so overwhelming that it strips away all dignity and comfort, reducing a person to a state of utter desolation, prompting cries that seem more animalistic than human. Yet, even in this raw and desperate expression, Job continues to voice his anguish, implicitly appealing to a God who, though seemingly absent, is still the ultimate arbiter of his fate.

* [Psalm 102:6](/psalms/102-6 "The Psalmist's Lament")
* [Lamentations 4:3](/lamentations/4-3 "Desolation in Jerusalem")
* [Isaiah 13:21-22](/isaiah/13-21-22 "Desolation of Babylon")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Job's raw and unfiltered lament in [Job 30:29](/job/30-29 "Job 30:29 - Job's Profound Despair") offers profound validation for the human experience of extreme suffering and isolation. It reminds us that faith is not always triumphant declarations, but often involves wrestling with profound despair, feeling utterly abandoned, and expressing pain in the most primal terms. This verse grants permission to those who suffer to voice their deepest anguish, even when it feels "unspiritual" or undignified. It underscores that God's presence is not contingent on our composure, but extends even to the "wilderness" of our souls where we feel like outcasts. For those ministering to the suffering, it calls for deep empathy, recognizing that the cry of the "jackal" or "ostrich" in a person's soul is a legitimate expression of pain that needs to be heard, not silenced or judged. It challenges us to look beyond superficial appearances and recognize the profound desolation that can consume a person, inviting us to offer companionship even when the sufferer feels like a creature of the wild.

#### Questions for Reflection

* **When have you felt so isolated and degraded that you identified with the most desolate of creatures or circumstances?**
* **How does Job's raw honesty challenge your understanding of what "faith" looks like in the midst of extreme suffering?**
* **In what ways can we, as a community, be a "companion" to those who feel like "brothers to jackals and companions to ostriches" in their pain?**
* **What does Job's continued lament, even in this state, suggest about the nature of hope or appeal to God?**

### FAQ

**Why does the KJV translate "dragons" and "owls" when modern translations often say "jackals" and "ostriches"?**

Answer: The King James Version (KJV) was translated in the early 17th century, and its translators worked with the best available linguistic knowledge and textual traditions of their time. The Hebrew word _tannîyn_ (H8577) can refer to large sea creatures, serpents, or even mythical "dragons" in some contexts, leading to the KJV's choice of "dragons." However, in the context of desolate land animals known for mournful cries, modern scholarship overwhelmingly agrees that "jackals" is the more accurate translation, referring to the wild dogs known for their eerie howling in ruins (e.g., [Isaiah 34:13](/isaiah/34-13 "Isaiah 34:13 - Desolation of Edom")). Similarly, _benoth ya'anah_ (H1323 + H3284), literally "daughters of the ostrich," was less clearly understood, and "owls" was chosen, perhaps due to their nocturnal habits and hooting sounds. Later linguistic and zoological studies have firmly established "ostriches" as the correct identification, given their habitat in desolate places and their distinctive, mournful calls (e.g., [Micah 1:8](/micah/1-8 "Micah 1:8 - Micah's Lament")). These updates reflect advancements in biblical scholarship and a deeper understanding of ancient Near Eastern fauna and idiom.

**How does Job's identification with these animals relate to his physical suffering?**

Answer: Job's physical suffering, described throughout [Job 30](/job/30 "Job 30 - Job's Lament"), is inextricably linked to his identification with jackals and ostriches. The sores, pain, and disfigurement (e.g., [Job 30:17-19](/job/30-17-19 "Job 30:17-19 - Job's Physical Affliction")) have not only made him a social outcast, but have also reduced him to a state where he feels less than human, more akin to a wild, suffering creature. These animals inhabit desolate, often ruined places, reflecting Job's own body as a "ruin" and his life as a "desolation." His cries of pain become the mournful howls of the jackal or the desolate booming of the ostrich, symbolizing that his physical affliction has driven him to the very fringes of existence, where he finds companionship only in the sounds and sights of utter ruin.

**Is there a theological message in Job's extreme despair and identification with such creatures?**

Answer: Yes, there is a profound theological message. Job's extreme despair and identification with creatures of desolation highlight the raw reality of human suffering and the limits of human understanding in the face of it. It challenges the simplistic "retribution theology" espoused by Job's friends, which posits that suffering is always a direct result of sin. Job, a righteous man, suffers immensely, forcing a re-evaluation of God's justice and sovereignty. His lament, even in its most desperate and undignified forms, is a form of persistent prayer and protest before God, demonstrating that true faith can encompass profound doubt and anguish. It ultimately points to the mystery of God's ways and the need for trust even when His actions are incomprehensible, a theme that culminates in God's response in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38-41 - God's Speeches to Job").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

While [Job 30:29](/job/30-29 "Job 30:29 - Job's Profound Despair") depicts Job's profound isolation and identification with creatures of desolation, it finds a powerful Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. Jesus, though perfectly righteous, voluntarily embraced the ultimate form of human suffering and alienation, becoming a "man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")). He was rejected by His own people ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "John 1:11 - He Came to His Own")), mocked and humiliated by His enemies ([Matthew 27:27-31](/matthew/27-27-31 "Matthew 27:27-31 - The Soldiers Mock Jesus")), and ultimately experienced a profound sense of abandonment, even from God the Father, as He cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). In His crucifixion, Jesus became the ultimate outcast, bearing the sin and desolation of humanity, identifying not just with the suffering, but with the very curse of sin itself, so that we might be reconciled to God. His descent into the depths of human despair and alienation means that He truly understands and sympathizes with those who feel like "brothers to jackals" and "companions to ostriches," offering not just empathy but ultimate redemption and companionship to all who are broken and alone ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")).

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

Micah 1:8

¶ Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.

Psalms 102:6

I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.

Job 17:14

I have said to corruption, Thou [art] my father: to the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister.

Psalms 44:19

Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

Malachi 1:3

And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

Isaiah 38:14

Like a crane [or] a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail [with looking] upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

Isaiah 13:21

But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.