Job - 16:20



20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Job 16:20.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
My friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,
My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.
My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto +God.
My interpreter is my friend, Unto God hath mine eye dropped:
My friends scorn me: but my eye pours out tears to God.
My friends make sport of me; to God my eyes are weeping,
Mine inward thoughts are my intercessors, Mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
My friends are full of words; my eye rains tears upon God.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

My friends scorn me - Margin "are my scorners." That is, his friends had him in derision and mocked him, and he could only appeal with tears to God.
Mine eye poureth out tears unto God - Despised and mocked by his friends, he made his appeal to one who he knew would regard him with compassion. This shows that the heart of Job was substantially right. Notwithstanding, all his passionate exclamations; and notwithstanding, his expressions, when he was urged on by his sorrows to give vent to improper emotions in relation to God; yet he had a firm confidence in him, and always returned to right feelings and views. The heart may sometimes err. The best of people may sometimes give expression to improper feelings. But they will return to just views, and will ultimately evince unwavering confidence in God.

My friends scorn me - They deride and insult me, but my eye is towards God; I look to him to vindicate my cause.

My friends (u) scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto God.
(u) Use painted words instead of true consolation.

My friends scorn me,.... Not that they scoffed at his afflictions and calamities, and at his diseases and disorders, that would have been very brutish and inhuman, but at his words, the arguments and reasons he made use of to defend himself with, see Job 12:4;
but mine eye poureth out tears unto God; in great plenty, because of his very great sorrows and distresses, both inward and outward; and it was his mercy, that when his friends slighted and neglected him, yea, bore hard upon him, and mocked at him, that he had a God to go to, and pour out not only his tears, but all his complaints, and even his very soul unto him, from whom he might hope for relief; and what he said, when he did this, is as follows.

Hebrew, "are my scorners"; more forcibly, "my mockers--my friends!" A heart-cutting paradox [UMBREIT]. God alone remains to whom he can look for attestation of his innocence; plaintively with tearful eye, he supplicates for this.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


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