Job 30:29-31

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 30:15-31

In this second part of Job's complaint, which is very bitter, and has a great many sorrowful accents in it, we may observe a great deal that he complains of and some little that he comforts himself with. I. Here is much that he complains of. 1. In general, it was a day of great affliction and sorrow. (1.) Affliction seized him, and surprised him. It seized him (Job 30:16): The days of affliction have taken hold upon me, have caught me (so some); they have arrested me, as the bailiff arrests... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 30:29

I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. Or ostriches, as the Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; either he was obliged to dwell with such persons as were comparable to these creatures for their devouring words, hissing noise, and venomous speeches, or for want of compassion, and for their cruelty, as David is said to be among lions, Psalm 57:4 ; or also, he was like unto them, being solitary and alone, all his friends and acquaintance standing at a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 30:30

My skin is black upon me ,.... Either through deep melancholy, as may be observed in persons of such a disposition, through grief and trouble; or rather through the force of his disease, the burning ulcers and black scabs with which he was covered, as the Jews were through famine, in their captivity, Lamentations 4:8 ; and my bones are burnt with heat ; with the heat of a burning fever; which not only made his inwards boil, but reached to his bones, and dried up the marrow of them.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 30:31

My harp also is turned to mourning ,.... Which he used, as David, either in religious worship, expressing praise to God thereby, or for his recreation in an innocent way; but now it was laid aside, and, instead of it, nothing was heard from him, or in his house, but the voice of mourning: and my organ into the voice of them that weep ; another instrument of music, which had its name from the pleasantness of its sound, and was of early use, being first invented by Jubal, Genesis 4:21 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 30:29

I am a brother to dragons - By my mournful and continual cry I resemble תנים tannim , the jackals or hyenas. And a companion to owls - יענה בנות benoth yaanah , to the daughters of howling: generally understood to be the ostrich; for both the jackal and the female ostrich are remarkable for their mournful cry, and for their attachment to desolate places - Dodd. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 30:30

My skin is black - By continual exposure to the open air, and parching influence of the sun. My bones are burned with heat - A strong expression, to point out the raging fever that was continually preying upon his vitals. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 30:31

My harp also is turned to mourning - Instead of the harp, my only music is my own plaintive cries. And my organ - What the עגב uggab was, we know not; it was most probably some sort of pipe or wind instrument. His harp, כנור kinnor , and his pipe, עגב uggab , were equally mute, or only used for mournful ditties. This chapter is full of the most painful and pathetic sorrow; but nevertheless tempered with a calmness and humiliation of spirit, which did not appear in Job's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 30:1-31

The contrast is now completed. Having drawn the portrait of himself as he was, rich, honoured, blessed with children, flourishing, in favour with both God and man, Job now presents himself to us as he is, despised of men (verses 1-10), afflicted of God (verse 11), a prey to vague terrors (verse 15), tortured with bodily pains (verses 17, 18), cast off by God (verses 19, 20), with nothing but death to look for (verses 23-31). The chapter is the most touching in the whole book. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 30:1-31

The troubles of the present. In contrast to the happy past of honour and respect on which he has been so wistfully dwelling in the previous chapter, Job sees himself now exposed to the scorn and contempt of the meanest of mankind; while a flood of miseries from the hand of God passes over him. From this last chapter we have learned the honour and authority with which it sometimes pleases God to crown the pious and the faithful. From the present we see how at other times he crucifies and puts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 30:1-31

A sorrowful contrast. Job's condition has become one of sorrowfulness, the humiliation of which stands in direct contrast to his former state. He graphically expresses it in a few words: "But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock." The picture of sorrowful humiliation, standing in contrast, to previous honour, wealth, and power, is very striking. It is a typical example, showing to what depths the... read more

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