Job 6:21

Context

Job 6:21 is spoken by Job in response to the counsel of his friends, particularly Eliphaz the Temanite. Having just expressed his profound despair and wish for death (Job 6:1-4), Job then turns to address his companions directly. He had hoped for comfort and understanding from them, but instead received judgmental accusations and unhelpful platitudes (see Eliphaz's argument in Job 4:7). This verse encapsulates Job's deep disappointment and sense of betrayal, as he perceives his friends' inability to offer genuine support in his time of immense suffering and "casting down."

Key Themes and Messages

• Disappointment in Friendship: Job laments that his companions, whom he expected to be a source of strength and solace, have proven to be utterly unreliable. He compares them earlier to deceitful brooks that dry up when needed most (Job 6:15). Here, he bluntly states, "For now ye are nothing," emphasizing their failure to provide any meaningful help or understanding in his affliction.
• Misunderstanding of Suffering: The friends' inability to genuinely empathize with Job's plight is stark. They view his suffering through the lens of retributive justice, failing to grasp the complexity of his situation or God's greater purposes. They are observers of his "casting down" but not participants in his grief.
• Fear as a Barrier to Compassion: Job acutely perceives that his friends' reaction is rooted in their own fear. They are not merely observing his "casting down" (his utter ruin and collapse) but are "afraid," perhaps of the implications for themselves, or of becoming defiled by his perceived sinfulness, or simply uncomfortable with such profound misery. This fear prevents them from offering authentic compassion and leads them to withdraw or condemn.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "nothing" (נִהְיֶה - nihyeh) in "For now ye are nothing" carries the sense of becoming non-existent, or being rendered useless and ineffectual. Job is essentially saying, "You have become worthless to me; you offer no true help." This highlights the profound gap between Job's expectation and the friends' actual behavior.

The phrase "casting down" (מַחַת - machath) denotes ruin, destruction, or even terror. Job's friends witness his complete devastation, his physical and emotional collapse, and their response is one of apprehension rather than genuine sympathy.

Practical Application

Job 6:21 serves as a powerful reminder of what true friendship and empathy entail. When we encounter others in distress, our role is not to judge, offer simplistic answers, or shy away due to our own discomfort. Instead, we are called to listen, to mourn with those who mourn, and to offer genuine, non-judgmental support, even when we don't fully understand the depth or cause of their suffering. It challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we approach the suffering of others with true compassion, or with a fear that leads to withdrawal, condemnation, or unhelpful advice? As believers, we are encouraged to "bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).