Job 30:5

They were driven forth from among [men], (they cried after them as [after] a thief;)

They were driven forth {H1644} from among {H1460} men,(they cried {H7321} after them as after a thief {H1590};)

They are driven away from society, with men shouting after them as after a thief,

They were banished from among men, shouted down like thieves,

They are driven forth from the midst of men; They cry after them as after a thief;

Commentary

Context

Job 30:5 is part of Job's deeply emotional lament, where he contrasts his former life of honor and respect (detailed in Job 29) with his present state of utter humiliation and suffering. In this chapter, Job describes the lowest stratum of society—people he would have previously disdained or ignored—who now mock and torment him in his affliction. This specific verse highlights the extreme social rejection and contempt faced by these individuals, emphasizing their outcast status. Job's despair is intensified by the fact that those who are themselves despised and driven out are now his tormentors, underscoring the profound reversal of his fortunes.

Key Themes

  • Social Ostracization: The phrase "They were driven forth from among [men]" vividly portrays extreme social rejection and banishment. These individuals are not merely disliked but are forcibly expelled from normal society, living on the fringes.
  • Societal Contempt and Disgrace: Being "cried after them as [after] a thief" signifies public accusation and denunciation. It indicates that they are viewed with suspicion, scorn, and moral condemnation, treated like common criminals or pariahs. This highlights their deep disgrace and lack of standing in the community.
  • Profound Humiliation: For Job, once a highly respected patriarch, being mocked by such outcasts compounds his suffering. It underscores the complete reversal of his social standing and the depth of his personal anguish, as he is now associated with those who are themselves utterly despised.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "driven forth" (גָּרְשׁוּ - garshu) carries the strong connotation of being expelled, cast out, or banished. It suggests an involuntary and forceful removal from a place or community, emphasizing their lack of belonging and security. The phrase "cried after them as a thief" (צָעֲקוּ עֲלֵיהֶם כַּגַּנָּב - tsa'aqu 'alehem ka-gannav) indicates a public outcry or denunciation. It's not merely being called a thief, but a public clamor against them, reinforcing their reputation as undesirable and untrustworthy individuals, similar to how one might raise an alarm about a criminal.

Practical Application

Job 30:5 offers several insights for contemporary reflection:

  • Empathy for the Marginalized: The verse reminds us of the harsh reality of social exclusion and the pain of being an outcast. It can prompt us to consider those in society who are rejected or condemned and to cultivate compassion, echoing the call to care for the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:9).
  • Understanding Desperation: The description of these outcasts, who then turn to mocking Job, can highlight the cycle of contempt and the desperation that can arise from extreme social deprivation.
  • The Nature of Suffering: Job's experience teaches us that suffering can involve not only physical pain and loss but also profound social humiliation, sometimes at the hands of those considered least significant. This can be a particularly bitter aspect of affliction, as seen in the treatment of Christ who was "despised and rejected of men".
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Cross-References

  • Daniel 4:25 (3 votes)

    That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

  • Psalms 109:10 (2 votes)

    Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek [their bread] also out of their desolate places.

  • Genesis 4:12 (2 votes)

    When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

  • Genesis 4:14 (2 votes)

    Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, [that] every one that findeth me shall slay me.

  • Daniel 4:32 (2 votes)

    And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

  • Daniel 4:33 (2 votes)

    The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails like birds' [claws].