Job 6:16

Job 6:16 is part of Job's impassioned response to Eliphaz the Temanite, where Job expresses his profound despair and his disappointment in his friends' lack of true comfort and understanding.

Context

In the preceding verses (Job 6:14-15), Job begins a powerful analogy, comparing his brethren (his friends) to "a brook" or "stream of brooks" that "pass away." Verse 16 continues this vivid metaphor, describing these unreliable waterways: "Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow is hid." This imagery draws from the natural phenomena of the ancient Near East, specifically the seasonal wadis (dry riverbeds) or streams in mountainous or desert regions. These streams would swell and appear full and dark ("blackish") during the winter or spring due to melting snow and ice from higher elevations. They seemed robust and dependable, holding the promise of water. However, as Job elaborates in the subsequent verse (Job 6:17), these very streams would vanish completely in the heat of summer, failing those who depended on them. Job uses this striking comparison to articulate his deep sense of betrayal and abandonment by his companions, who had come to "comfort" him but instead offered accusations and empty platitudes, exacerbating his suffering (see Job 16:2).

Key Themes

• Disappointment in Human Support: The primary theme is Job's bitter disillusionment with his friends. What appeared to be a source of solace and support proved to be fleeting and ultimately unhelpful, much like a deceptive stream.
• The Deceptive Nature of Appearances: The verse highlights how something that looks promising and full of life (the "blackish" stream) can be utterly unreliable when truly needed, emphasizing the contrast between outward appearance and true substance.
• Vulnerability and Reliance: It underscores the human need for genuine compassion and reliability, especially in times of extreme distress, and the pain when that need is not met. This speaks to the fragility of human dependence in a harsh world.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "blackish" (קֹדְרִים, qoderim) can mean dark, turbid, or gloomy. In this context, it refers to the dark appearance of the water, perhaps from silt mixed with melting ice and snow, or simply the deep, opaque look of a full, cold stream. The phrase "wherein the snow is hid" implies that the source of the stream's temporary abundance is the melting snow and ice, which, though hidden from direct view, is the very thing that will eventually deplete, leaving the stream dry. This imagery powerfully conveys the temporary and ultimately unreliable nature of the comfort offered by Job's friends.

Practical Application

Job's lament in this verse offers profound insights for believers today:

• Beware of Superficial Comfort: It serves as a reminder that not all expressions of sympathy are truly helpful. Genuine comfort requires empathy, listening, and presence, not just words or quick solutions.
• The Need for Steadfast Friendship: The passage implicitly calls for friends who are reliable and consistent, especially in times of adversity. True friendship does not waver when life gets difficult, a principle echoed in Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."
• Ultimate Reliance on God: While human support can be valuable, Job's experience underscores that ultimate trust and solace must be found in God alone. Unlike seasonal streams, God's faithfulness is constant and unwavering (Lamentations 3:22-23). When human sources of comfort dry up, God remains the eternal wellspring.