Job 6:17

Context

Job 6:17 is part of Job's passionate response to Eliphaz, one of his three friends. In this section (starting around Job 6:14), Job expresses his profound disappointment and sense of betrayal by his companions, whom he had expected to offer comfort and support in his immense suffering. He uses a vivid and poignant metaphor, comparing his friends to seasonal streams or wadis common in arid regions. These streams are full and dark with ice and snow in the cold season, but as soon as the heat arrives and water is most needed, they quickly dry up and vanish. This verse specifically describes the moment of their disappearance, symbolizing the abandonment Job feels from those who should have been his comforters. This imagery of unreliability is introduced in Job 6:15, where he states, "My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook."

Key Themes

• The Unreliability of Human Support: The primary message is the transient and unreliable nature of human comfort and aid, especially when facing severe trials. Just as desert streams fail in the heat, Job's friends proved inadequate and absent in his time of greatest need.
• Profound Disappointment and Betrayal: The verse powerfully conveys Job's deep sense of disillusionment and betrayal. He feels abandoned by those he counted on, highlighting the painful reality of false or fleeting friendship.
• The Contrast of Steadfastness: While not explicitly stated in this verse, Job's lament implicitly points to the ultimate need for a reliable source of strength and comfort. This contrasts the transient nature of human aid with the enduring faithfulness of God, a theme explored throughout Scripture, such as in Lamentations 3:22-23 regarding God's unfailing mercies.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used in this verse vividly portray the complete disappearance of the water. "Wax warm" translates the verb יִזֹּרְבוּ (*yizzorvu*), meaning to become parched, dried up, or scorched. "Vanish" comes from נִזְהָרוּ (*nizhārū*), which implies being cut off, or disappearing. The phrase "consumed out of their place" emphasizes the absolute desiccation, leaving no trace behind. This powerful imagery underscores Job's feeling that his friends have utterly failed him and are no longer present in a meaningful way, just like a dried-up riverbed.

Practical Application

Job 6:17 serves as a poignant reminder of where we place our trust and expectations. While human relationships are valuable and necessary, they can be fragile and unreliable, especially under immense pressure or in times of crisis. This verse encourages us to cultivate genuine, steadfast friendships that endure through all seasons, as described in Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loveth at all times." More profoundly, it highlights the ultimate reliability of God. Unlike human support that may "vanish" when life "gets hot," God's presence and faithfulness are constant and enduring. We are called to lean on Him as the ultimate source of strength and comfort, whose wellspring never dries up.