Job 9:25

ยถ Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

Now my days {H3117} are swifter {H7043} than a post {H7323}: they flee away {H1272}, they see {H7200} no good {H2896}.

My days pass on more swiftly than a runner; they flee without seeing anything good.

My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.

Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good.

Commentary

Context of Job 9:25

In Job 9:25, Job continues his profound lament in response to Bildad's rigid theological assertions. Feeling utterly overwhelmed by God's incomprehensible power and justice, which he perceives as arbitrary in his own case, Job expresses a deep sense of despair. He believes that no matter how righteous he might be, he cannot contend with God (as seen in Job 9:2). This verse captures his personal anguish, focusing on the relentless speed with which his days are passing, devoid of any positive experience or relief from suffering.

Key Themes in Job 9:25

  • The Brevity and Fleeting Nature of Life: Job describes his days as "swifter than a post," emphasizing how quickly time passes, especially when marked by unrelenting sorrow. This imagery highlights the rapid, uncontrollable passage of life, which for Job, offers no respite.
  • Utter Despair and Absence of Good: The phrase "they see no good" vividly conveys Job's conviction that his life is entirely devoid of joy, prosperity, or comfort. His suffering is so pervasive that it overshadows any potential for positive experiences, leading to a profound sense of futility.
  • The Impact of Suffering on Perception: Intense and prolonged hardship can distort one's perception of time and blessings. For Job, every moment is a reminder of his pain, making his days feel both fleeting and yet endlessly miserable, accelerating towards an undesirable end.

Linguistic Insights

The term "post" in KJV (Job 9:25) translates the Hebrew word ratz (ืจึธืฅ), which literally means "runner" or "courier." This emphasizes the extreme speed of a messenger delivering urgent news, highlighting how swiftly Job feels his life is rushing by. The phrase "they see no good" is a literal translation of the Hebrew lo' ra'ah tov (ืœึนื ืจึธืึธื” ื˜ื•ึนื‘), powerfully conveying the absolute absence of anything positive or beneficial in his life, a stark contrast to passages like Psalm 27:13 which speaks of seeing the goodness of the Lord.

Practical Application

Job 9:25 offers a poignant glimpse into the human experience of profound suffering and despair. It reminds us to have empathy for those who feel their lives are passing without joy or meaning, burdened by relentless trials. While Job's perspective is one of deep personal anguish, his lament acknowledges the reality of human frailty and the brevity of life, a theme echoed in James 4:14 where life is compared to a vapor. For believers, even in moments of profound despair, understanding God's ultimate sovereignty and His eventual plan for restoration (as seen later in Job's story, e.g., Job 42:10) can offer a glimmer of hope beyond present circumstances.

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Cross-References

  • Job 7:6 (4 votes)

    My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.

  • Job 7:7 (4 votes)

    ยถ O remember that my life [is] wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

  • James 4:14 (4 votes)

    Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

  • Psalms 90:9 (3 votes)

    For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale [that is told].

  • Psalms 90:10 (3 votes)

    The days of our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet [is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

  • Psalms 89:47 (2 votes)

    Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

  • Esther 8:14 (2 votes)

    [So] the posts that rode upon mules [and] camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.