Chapter Overview
Summary
Job 6 begins Job's first response to Eliphaz — defending his right-to-lament (vv. 1–13) and rebuking the friends for their treacherous-friendship (vv. 14–30). The wadi-of-disappointment image (vv. 15–20) is one of the Bible's most-vivid pictures of failed-friendship.
Notable Variants
6:14 'a friend in despair must have kindness from his neighbor'; 6:15–20 'wadi that runs dry' image of treacherous-friends; 6:24 'teach me, and I will be silent.'
Structural Notes
MT Job 6 = LXX Job 6. 30 verses.
Then Job answered and said:
'Then Job answered and said' tracks MT.
If only my anguish could be fully weighed, and my disaster placed on the scales alongside it —
'Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!' tracks MT.
it would outweigh the sand of the seas. That is why my words come out wild.
'For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash' tracks MT.
For the arrows of the Almighty are stuck in me; my spirit drinks their venom. The terrors of God are lined up against me.
'For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me' tracks MT. ARROWS-OF-ALMIGHTY. Ps 38:2 echoes.
Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass? Does an ox bellow over its feed?
'Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?' tracks MT.
Can tasteless food be eaten without salt? Is there any flavor in the slime of a mallow plant?
'Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?' tracks MT.
My whole being refuses to touch them; they are like food that makes me sick.
'My appetite refuses to touch them; they are like food that is loathsome to me' tracks MT.
If only my request would come! If only God would grant what I hope for!
'Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope' tracks MT.
That God would be willing to crush me, that he would release his hand and cut me off!
'That it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off' tracks MT. PRAYER-FOR-DEATH.
Then I would still have this comfort — I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain — that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
'This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One' tracks MT.
What strength do I have left that I should keep waiting? What is my future, that I should hold on?
'What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?' tracks MT.
Is my strength the strength of stone? Is my flesh made of bronze?
'Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?' tracks MT.
Is there no help left within me? Has all resourcefulness been driven from me?
'Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me?' tracks MT.
A person who withholds faithful love from a friend abandons the fear of the Almighty.
'He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty' tracks MT. KINDNESS-TO-FRIEND-AS-FEAR-OF-GOD. Friendship-ethics linked to-piety.
My brothers have betrayed me like a wadi, like seasonal streams that overflow and vanish.
'My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away' tracks MT. TREACHEROUS-WADI imagery begins. The wadi (seasonal-stream) that flows in winter and runs dry in summer — friends-who-are-there-in-good-times-and-vanish-in-need.
Dark with ice, swollen where snow melts into them —
'Which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself' tracks MT.
but when the heat comes, they shrink away; in the scorching sun they disappear from their place.
'When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place' tracks MT.
Caravans turn aside toward them, go up into the wasteland, and perish.
'The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish' tracks MT.
The caravans of Tema look for water; the traveling merchants of Sheba set their hope on them.
'The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope' tracks MT. TEMA AND SHEBA — desert-trading routes.
They are put to shame because they trusted; they arrive at the wadi and stand there, humiliated.
'They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed' tracks MT.
That is what you have become to me now: you see something terrifying, and you recoil.
'For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid' tracks MT.
Did I ever say, 'Give me something'? Or, 'Pay a bribe for me out of your wealth'?
'Have I said: Make me a gift? Or: From your wealth offer a bribe for me?' tracks MT.
Or, 'Rescue me from an enemy's grip'? Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of tyrants'?
'Or: Deliver me from the adversary's hand? Or: Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless?' tracks MT.
Teach me, and I will be silent. Show me where I have gone wrong.
'Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray' tracks MT. TEACH-ME-AND-I-WILL-BE-SILENT — Job's request for genuine-instruction over moralizing.
How painful honest words can be! But what does your rebuke actually prove?
'How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?' tracks MT.
Do you think you can rebuke mere words? The speech of a desperate man is just wind to you.
'Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind?' tracks MT.
You would even cast lots over an orphan and haggle over your own friend.
'You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend' tracks MT.
Now, please — turn and look at me. Would I lie to your face?
'But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face' tracks MT.
Turn back — do not let injustice stand. Turn back! My righteousness is still at stake in this.
'Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake' tracks MT.
Is there injustice on my tongue? Can my palate not taste what is wrong?
'Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?' tracks MT.