Job 16

Job · Chapter 16

Job 16:4

1Then Job answered and said,2I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.3Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?4I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.6Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?7But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.8And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.9He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.10They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.11God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.12I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.13His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.14He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.16My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;17Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.18O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.19Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.20My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.21O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!22When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
4I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
alsoגַּ֤ם׀gamH1571
also

גַּם (gam) 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike

Iאָנֹכִי֮'a-no-KHIH0595
I

אָֽנֹכִ֫י (a.no.khi) I (first pers. sing.) Another spelling of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589)

I will speakאֲדַ֫בֵּ֥רָה'a-DA-BE-rahH1696G
to speak: speak

דָבַר (da.var) : speak/tell/command 1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal) to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual) to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael) to speak 1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

ifל֤וּ־Lu-H3863
if

לוּ (lu) 1) if, oh that!, if only! 1a) if (unlikely condition) 1b) if only!, oh that!, would that!

thereיֵ֪שׁyeshH3426
there is

אִיתַי (i.tay) 1) there is, there are 2) particle denoting existence

[were] self yourנַפְשְׁכֶ֡םnaf-she-KHEMH5315I
soul

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain

in place ofתַּ֤חַתTA-chatH8478H
underneath: under

תַּחַת (ta.chat) : under/below 1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m 1a) the under part adv accus 1b) beneath prep 1c) under, beneath 1c1) at the foot of (idiom) 1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) 1c3) of subjection or conquest 1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands 1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun) 1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense) 1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged) conj …

self myנַפְשִׁ֗יnaf-SHIH5315I
soul

נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man 1b) living being 1c) living being (with life in the blood) 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual 1e) seat of the appetites 1f) seat of emotions and passions 1g) activity of mind 1g1) uncertain 1h) activity of the will 1h1) uncertain 1i) activity of the character 1i1) uncertain

I will make joinאַחְבִּ֣ירָה'ach-BI-rahH2266
to unite

חָבַר (cha.var) 1) to unite, join, bind together, be joined, be coupled, be in league, heap up, have fellowship with, be compact, be a charmer 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to unite, be joined 1a2) to tie magic charms, charm 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to unite with, make an ally of 1b2) to unite, join, ally 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to be allied with, be united 1c2) to be joined together 1d) (Hiphil) to join together, pile up (words) 1e) (Hithpael) to join oneself to, make an alliance, league together

on youעֲלֵיכֶ֣ם'a-lei-KHEMH5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

in wordsבְּמִלִּ֑יםbe-mi-LIMH4405
speech

מִלָּה (mil.lah) word, speech, utterance Aramaic equivalent: mil.lah (מִלָּה "word" H4406)

and I will shakeוְאָנִ֥יעָהve-'a-NI-'ahH5128
to shake

נוּעַ (nu.a) 1) to quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger, wander, move, sift, make move, wave, waver, tremble 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to wave, quiver, vibrate, swing, stagger, tremble, be unstable 1a2) to totter, go tottering 1a2a) vagabond (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be tossed about or around 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to toss about 1c2) to shake, cause to totter 1c3) to shake, disturb 1c4) to cause to wander

on youעֲ֝לֵיכֶ֗ם'a-lei-KHEMH5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

withבְּמ֣וֹbe-MOH1119
in/at/by

בְּמוֹ (be.mo) in, at, by

head myרֹאשִֽׁי׃ro-SHIH7218A
head

רֵאשׁ (resh) 1) chief, head 1a) head (of man) 1b) head (as seat of visions) 1c) chief 1d) sum (essential content)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.