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Job 6
Job 6:1
General Information:
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Job 6:2
if only my anguish were weighed; if only all my calamity were laid in the balance
Here the writer uses two different statements to convey a single idea, the burden of Job's suffering. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "if only I could weigh my anguish and all my calamities in the balance" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
in the balance
"on a scale"
Job 6:3
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas
Job compares the burden of his suffering to the weight of wet sand; both can crush a person. Alternate translation: "For my anguish and calamities would be heavier than the sand on the seashore" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
my words were reckless
"I spoke recklessly" or "I spoke rashly"
Job 6:4
General Information:
The writer continues to use parallelism in each of these verses, conveying a single idea using two different statements to emphasize Job's intense suffering as the grounds for his complaint. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
For the arrows of the Almighty are in me
This is a metaphor for Job's suffering. He compares his many troubles to arrows that that God has shot his body with. Alternate translation: "It is as though the Almighty has shot arrows into my body" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
my spirit drinks up the poison
"my spirit drinks up the arrows' poison." This continues the metaphor of the arrows, by implying that they had tips of poison and that Job feels the pain in his spirit. He speaks of feeling this pain as if his spirit drank the poison. Alternate translation: "I feel the pain of their poison in my inner being" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the terrors of God have arranged themselves in array against me
Job speaks of the terrible things that have happened to him as if they were soldiers that God had lined up to attack him all at once. Alternate translation: "God has caused all the terrible things that could happen to happen to me all at once" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
the terrors of God have arranged themselves in array against me
God causing many things to terrify Job is spoken of as if God's terrors were soldiers lined up to attack Job. Alternate translation: "the terrors of God have arranged themselves like soldiers in an army" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Job 6:5
Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass? Or does the ox low in hunger when it has fodder?
Job poses these rhetorical questions to emphasize that he has a reason to complain. These question can be written as statements. Alternate translation: "Just as the wild donkey does not bray in despair when he has grass and as the ox does not low in hunger when he has fodder, I would not complain if I did not have a reason" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
bray
the sound a donkey makes
low
the sound an ox makes
fodder
animal food
Job 6:6
Can that which has no taste be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Possible meanings are 1) Job is comparing his displeasure for his circumstances to people's dislike for bland food or 2) Job is comparing his displeasure for his friend's advice to people's dislike for bland food. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Can that which has no taste be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Job uses these rhetorical questions to emphasize his own displeasure. These questions can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "Tasteless food cannot be eaten without salt, just as there is no taste in the white of an egg." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Can that which has no taste be eaten
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Can you eat that which has no taste" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Job 6:7
General Information:
Job continues to use parallelisms in these verses as he speaks about his sufferings and his desire for death. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
I refuse to touch them
"Them" refers to bad tasting foods.
Job 6:8
General Information:
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Job 6:9
to crush me once
This means for God to cause him to die. Alternate translation: "to crush me and let me die" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism)
that he would let loose his hand and cut me off from this life
The phrases "let loose his hand" is an idiom that means to act quickly. Also, the phrase "cut me off from this life" is a euphemism for killing him. Alternate translation: "that he would act quickly and cut short my life" or "that he would act quickly and end my life" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism)
Job 6:10
even if I exult in pain that does not lessen
"I would leap for joy in unending pain" or "I would endure pain that does not diminish"
exult
"rejoice"
does not lessen
"does not diminish"
that I have not denied the words of the Holy One
"that I have not disowned God." This can be written in positive form. Alternate translation: "that I have always obeyed the Holy One"
Job 6:11
What is my strength, that I should try to wait? What is my end, that I should prolong my life?
Job poses these questions to emphasize that he has no reason to continue living. These questions have the same meaning. They may be written as statements. Alternate translation: "I do not have enough strength to go on living; I have no reason to prolong my life" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Job 6:12
General Information:
The writer uses parallel rhetorical questions in each of these verses to emphasize Job's lack of strength to endure suffering. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze?
Job describes the weakness of his body by saying that he is not as strong as rocks and bronze to emphasize his lack of strength. These rhetorical questions may be written as statements. Alternate translation: "I am not as strong as the rocks. My flesh is not as strong as metal." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Job 6:13
Is it not true that I have no help in myself ... me?
Job uses this rhetorical question to emphasize his lack of wisdom and his weakness. This question can be written as a statement. Also, the phrase "no help in myself" is an idiom. Alternate translation: "It is true that I have no strength left ... me." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
wisdom has been driven out of me
"my success has been taken from me." This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "my wisdom is gone" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Job 6:14
To the person who is about to faint, faithfulness should be shown by his friend
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "A friend should be faithful to the person who feels he is about to faint" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
who is about to faint
This speaks of a person who feels hopeless and is overwhelmed by his troubles as if he were about to physically faint. Alternate translation: "who feels hopeless" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty
"even if he stops fearing Almighty God." Possible meanings are 1) the faint person does not fear God or 2) his friend does not fear God.
Job 6:15
But my brothers have been as faithful to me as a desert streambed
Job speaks of his friends being unfaithful to him as being like a "wadi" which is a stream that can suddenly dry up. Also, Job refers to his friends ironically here as his "brothers." Alternate translation: "But my friends are unfaithful to me. They are like a desert streambed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-irony)
as channels of water that pass away to nothing
"like streams of water that dry up." Job continues speaking of his friends being unfaithful as if they were streams that dry up. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Job 6:16
which are darkened because of ice over them ... and because of the snow that hides itself in them
These two phrases have the same meaning. They describe how the streambed is full of ice and snow in the winter. Alternate translation: "which look dark in the winter because they are covered with ice and are full of melted snow" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
because of the snow that hides itself in them
This speaks of the snow melting and the water going into the streambed as if the snow were hiding in the streambed. Alternate translation: "because the snow melts and goes into them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
Job 6:17
When they thaw out, they vanish ... when it is hot, they melt out of their place
These two phrases have the same meaning. They describe how the streambed dries up in the hot season. Alternate translation: "When it is hot, the ice melts and the streambeds dry up" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Job 6:18
Connecting Statement:
Job is continuing his description of his friends being as unreliable as streams that dry up. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water
"The caravans turn aside from the routes to find water" or "The caravans change course looking for water"
The caravans
A caravan is a large group of travelers riding camels across the desert.
barren land
"wasteland" or "empty land"
Job 6:19
Tema ... Sheba
These are the names of places. The people of these places used caravans to trade things with people from other lands. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
while companies of Sheba
"while caravans from Sheba"
hoped in them
"hoped for them" or "put their hope in them"
Job 6:20
but they were deceived
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "but they were disappointed" or "but they were not satisfied" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Job 6:21
General Information:
In these verses, Job poses four questions to rebuke his friends and to emphasize that he did not ask for help from any of them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
For now
Job uses this phrase to introduce the main part of what he is saying.
you friends are nothing to me
"you friends have not helped me at all"
are afraid
This means that they see the trouble Job has and are afraid of being in the same situation. Alternate translation: "you are afraid that God might do similar things to you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Job 6:22
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Job 6:23
or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand' or, 'Ransom me from the hand of my oppressors'?
These words are the last of a series of rhetorical questions that begins in verse 22. Job uses these questions to emphasize that he has not asked his friends to give him anything or to help him. "I never said to you, 'Give ... me' or, 'Offer ... wealth' or, 'Save ... hand' or, 'Ransom ... oppressors'." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
my adversary's hand ... the hand of my oppressors
The word "hand" represents power or control. Alternate translation: "having my adversary control me ... having my oppressors control me" or "my adversary's power ... my oppressors' power" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ransom me
"Rescue me"
Job 6:24
Teach me ... make me
These verbs "teach" and "make" are second person plural and are spoken to his friends. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-you)
I will hold my peace
This is an idiom. Alternate translation: "I will be silent" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Job 6:25
How painful are truthful words! But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?
The exact meaning of the original language is uncertain. Some Bibles translate "How painful" as "How pleasant." Alternate translation: "When a person speaks the truth, it harms no one. But your arguments are not true, so how do they actually rebuke me?"
But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?
Job is using this question to rebuke his friends and to emphasize that what they are saying does not apply to him. This question can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "Your reasons for rebuking me do not apply to me even though you sternly correct me." or "But your arguments against me are not true, so they do not actually rebuke me!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
your arguments
"your reasons" or "your claims"
Job 6:26
Do you plan to ignore my words, treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?
Job uses this rhetorical question to scold his friends. He compares his words to the wind to explain that his friends act like his words are empty and useless. Alternate translation: "You ignore my words! I am a desperate man, and you treat my words as if they are as useless as the wind." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Do you
"You" is in second person plural form. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-you)
Job 6:27
you cast lots for a fatherless child
"you would even gamble to win an orphan"
you cast lots ... haggle over your friend
Here "you" and "your" are in second person plural form. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-you)
haggle over your friend like merchandise
This compares how the man would sell his friend to how a person sells merchandise or wares. Alternate translation: "bargain to sell your friend for money" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Job 6:28
Now
This word is used by Job to introduce new information.
please look
The verb "to look" is in second person plural form. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-you)
I would not lie to your face
The word "your" refers to Job's friends. Here his friends are represented by their faces to emphasize that they are looking at him. Alternate translation: "I would not lie to you while I am looking at you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Job 6:29
Relent, I beg you
"Please be merciful to me" or "Stop speaking like this, I beg you"
let there be no injustice with you
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "let there always be justice with you" or "always be just in the way you treat me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)
Indeed, relent
"Please relent."
Job 6:30
Is there evil on my tongue?
"Do I say wicked things?" Job uses this question to rebuke his friends and to emphasize that he is not wicked. This question can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "I do not say wicked things." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
on my tongue
Here Job's speech is represented by his "tongue." Alternate translation: "in my speech" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Cannot my mouth detect malicious things?
Job uses this question to rebuke his friends and to emphasize that he can tell the difference between right and wrong. Here Job refers to himself by his "mouth" to emphasize his speech. This question can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "I know what is right to say and what is wrong to say." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)