Job 17:7

"“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face."

Key Reflection

In Job 17:7, Job laments his degraded state, stating that God has reduced him to a byword among the people and caused them to spit in his face. This vivid imagery reflects the social stigma Job faces; being spat upon was an extremely degrading act, symbolizing rejection, shame, and public humiliation. In first-century culture, such treatment underscored how deeply Job had fallen from grace and respect within his community, highlighting the severity of his suffering both physically and socially.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Mine eye is dim by reason of sorrow -Schultens supposes that this refers to his external appearance in general, as being worn down, exhausted, “defaced” by his many troubles; but it seems rather to mean that his eyes failed on account of weeping. And all my members are as a shadow - “I am a mere skeleton, I am exhausted and emaciated by my sufferings.” It is common to speak of persons who are emaciated by sickness or famine as mere shadows. Thus, Livy (L. 21:40) says, Effigies, imo, “umbrce hominum;” fame, frigore, illuvie, squalore enecti, contusi, debilitati inter saxa rupesque.

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