Job 6:2

Context

Job 6:2 opens Job's first direct response to his friend Eliphaz, who had just delivered a speech implying that Job's immense suffering must be a consequence of sin (Job 4:7). Overwhelmed by his physical and emotional anguish, Job feels misunderstood and unjustly accused. This verse powerfully articulates his desperate wish for his suffering to be objectively measured, believing that if his pain were truly understood, it would justify his bitter complaints.

Key Themes

• Profound Suffering and Despair: Job's cry reveals the overwhelming nature of his grief and calamity, which he feels is immeasurable and beyond human comprehension. He longs for his pain to be acknowledged as truly exceptional.
• Desire for Validation: Job wishes for an impartial assessment of his situation, believing that a true weighing of his distress would vindicate his lament and silence his friends' accusations. This highlights the human need for empathy and understanding in times of crisis.
• The Inadequacy of Human Comfort: Implicit in his plea is the failure of his friends to grasp the depth of his affliction, leading to their unhelpful and judgmental counsel.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used in this verse emphasize the idea of precise measurement and objective evaluation:

• "throughly weighed" (Hebrew: shaqal - שקל): This verb means to weigh accurately, often referring to weighing precious metals or goods on scales. It suggests a desire for a meticulous, undeniable assessment of his grief, as if on a merchant's scale.
• "calamity laid in the balances together" (Hebrew: hawayah - הויה for calamity, mo'zenayim - מאזנים for balances): Hawayah denotes ruin, destruction, or calamity, emphasizing the devastating nature of his experience. The "balances" (or scales) reinforce the imagery of a fair and accurate judgment, much like Proverbs 16:11 speaks of the Lord's just balances. Job desires that his suffering be put on one side of the scale, and perhaps his complaints on the other, to show their equivalence.

Related Scriptures

Job's lament in this verse echoes the cries found throughout the Bible from those in deep distress. His desire for his suffering to be weighed can be compared to the intense personal laments found in the Psalms of David, where the writers frequently pour out their hearts to God. This raw honesty is characteristic of Job's dialogue, differentiating it from his initial worshipful response to loss, as his anguish grows with time and unhelpful advice.

Practical Application

Job 6:2 offers several timeless lessons:

• Validate Suffering: It reminds us that profound grief and calamity are real and often feel immeasurable to the one experiencing them. We should be slow to judge or offer simplistic solutions to those in deep pain.
• Honest Lament is Permitted: Job's cry is a testament to the fact that it is permissible to express our deepest anguish and frustration to God, even when it feels like a complaint. God can handle our raw emotions.
• Empathy Over Judgment: The verse serves as a powerful reminder for us to approach those who suffer with empathy and a willingness to listen, rather than quick judgment or theological explanations that may add to their burden.