Job 6

Job’s reply to Eliphaz

But Job answered and said,

2 “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed, and my calamity laid with it in the balances!

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been wild.

6:1-3 In this answer to Eliphaz Job explains why he spoke as he did in chapter 3. He confesses that he spoke rashly. His sufferings were so great that his words were “wild”, or “impetuous”, or “incoherent” (as some other versions translate the Hebrew word in v 3). His friends should have understood this and not judged him harshly (v 26).⚜

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

6:4 His sorrows, calamities, and sickness seem to him like poison-tipped arrows shot into him by God Himself. These arrows were still sticking in his wounded body and spirit. He had thought he was at peace with God and enjoyed His favor. Now it seemed quite suddenly and without reason God was at war with him. There is no indication here or anywhere in the words of Job or his friends that they thought Satan could be the one who brought those disasters on Job. Both Job and his friends believe God is punishing him. The difference between them is this: Job’s friends believe he is being punished for some specific sins, Job believes he is being punished for no good reason at all.

Sometimes people add to their sorrows when bad things happen to them by mistakenly thinking God has turned against them. They mistake the raging of Satan for God’s anger. God loved Job very much, views him with great favor, and plans to bless him abundantly. But Job does not know this.⚜

5 Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass? Or does an ox bellow over its fodder?

6 Can what is unsavoury be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 My soul refuses to touch them; they are like disgusting food to me.

6:5-7 In other words, Job would not cry out and lament if there were not good reasons for it. What a wild donkey or an ox wants is food; what Job wanted was an explanation of his sufferings, some comfort for his mind and heart. But he could find nowhere a single tasty morsel of truth that could meet his need and satisfy him. How Job would have delighted to have the whole Bible! Yet many troubled Christians neglect its treasures of wisdom and understanding.⚜

8 Oh, that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 Oh, that it would please God to crush me! That he would let loose his hand and cut me off! 10 Then I would still have comfort; yes, I would exult in unrelenting pain, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

6:8-10 Since Job cannot get any answer to his problem his great desire is for one thing – death. Even in the clutches of his pain, even in death, he would have one great consolation – he had remained true to God and to all the revelation of God’s truth he had; he had openly confessed his loyalty to the Lord (Job 1:21; 2:10).⚜

11 “What is my strength, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze?

13 Is it that my help is not in me? And that success has been driven from me?

6:11-13 Job speaks of his utter helplessness and hopelessness. Could his friends imagine he had a body that felt no pain? A mind that could hope when all grounds of hope seemed gone?⚜

14 “To him who is afflicted kindness should be shown by his friend, or he may forsake the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brethren have acted deceitfully, like a brook, and like the stream of brooks that pass away,

16 Which are dark because of the ice, and in which snow is hidden.

17 When it becomes warm, they cease to flow; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.

18 The paths of their course turn aside; they go nowhere, and perish.

19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope for them.

20 They are disappointed because they were confident. They arrive there and are confused.

21 For now you are no help. You see a fearful thing and are afraid.

6:14-21 Now he criticizes his friends for their failure to help him. He has revealed to them his despair, but it seems to him that this has only made them turn against him. They have become accusers instead of comforters. His thirsty soul longed for refreshing, restoring truth. When his friends came he hoped for wise counsel from them. Now they appear to him like dried-up streams. Sad and desperate people could not quench their thirst from their words. He is bitterly disappointed and plainly tells them so.⚜

22 Did I say, ‘Bring something to me?’ Or, ‘Give a reward for me from your wealth?’

23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand?’ Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?’

24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and make me understand where I have gone wrong.

6:22-24 He had not asked them to come or to give him any physical or financial help (for all we know, with the loss of all his property and health he might have needed such help, but it does not seem that they offered any). He asked them for only one thing – clear counsel that would meet his needs. He is willing to admit his sins and errors if they would point them out to him.⚜

25 How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove?

26 Do you intend to rebuke the words and speeches of one who is desperate, which are like wind?

27 Yes, you would overwhelm the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.

6:25-27 He knew the power of words spoken to meet the needs of a person. He is saying they have failed to speak such words, and because they have misunderstood his words (in chapter 3), they are behaving very harshly toward him.⚜

28 “Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for it will be evident to you if I am lying.

29 Please relent, let there be no injustice; yes, relent. My righteousness is in question.

30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? Cannot my taste discern wrong things?

6:28-30 He appeals to them very earnestly to consider his righteous life and his integrity, and to stop unjustly accusing him.⚜