Job 29:17

"I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him whom I didn’t know."

Key Reflection

In Job 29:17, the prophet reflects on his past deeds, highlighting two significant actions that characterized his life among his peers and community. He describes himself as a father to those in need, emphasizing his role in supporting the poor and vulnerable, much like a parent would provide for their child. Additionally, he mentions researching or investigating the circumstances of individuals who were unknown to him, suggesting an active engagement in understanding and addressing the needs of others, even those he did not personally know well. This verse underscores Job's sense of social responsibility and his commitment to justice and care for the marginalized within his community.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

And I brake the jaws of the wicked -Margin, “jaw-teeth, or, grinders.” The Hebrew wordמתלעהmethalle‛âh, the same, with the letters transposed, asמתלעות, is fromלתע, to “bite” - and means “the biters,” the grinders, the teeth. It is not used to denote the jaw. The image here is taken from wild beasts, with whom Job compares the wicked, and says that he rescued the helpless from their grasp, as he would a lamb from a lion or wolf.

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