Job 30:6

"They are driven out from among men. They cry after them as after a thief,"

Key Reflection

In Job 30:6, the original audience would have recognized this verse as depicting individuals who were shunned by their community and treated harshly. The imagery of being "driven out from among men" evokes a sense of exile and social rejection, while "crying after them as after a thief" suggests that these outcasts are pursued with hostility, much like someone might chase a thief in an attempt to capture or drive them away. This vivid portrayal would have resonated deeply with the audience, who likely understood the severe consequences of social ostracism and the relentless persecution such individuals faced.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys -The word here rendered “cliffs” (ערוץ‛ârûts) denotes rather “horror,” or something “horrid,” and the sense here is, that they dwelt in “the horrer of valleys;” that is, in horrid valleys. The idea is that of deep and frightful glens, where wild beasts ranged, far from the abodes of men, and surrounded by frightful wastes. The word rendered “valleys” (נחלnachal) means properly a brook, stream, water-course - what is now called a wady; a place where the winter torrents run, but which is usually dry in summer; see the notes atJob 6:15.

More from Job 30

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion