Job 6 | MHM | STEP | Job's Reply to Eliphaz After Eliphaz finished speaking, Job responds. Job listened patiently to everything Eliphaz said, but now he expresses his feelings honestly. He wants his friends to understand how much he is suffering, and why he speaks the way he does. Job feels that his troubles are much greater than his friends realize, and he hopes they will show him more sympathy and kindness.

‏ Job 6

Job's Reply to Eliphaz

After Eliphaz finished speaking, Job responds. Job listened patiently to everything Eliphaz said, but now he expresses his feelings honestly. He wants his friends to understand how much he is suffering, and why he speaks the way he does. Job feels that his troubles are much greater than his friends realize, and he hopes they will show him more sympathy and kindness.

v. 2–3: Job wishes that someone could weigh his grief and suffering on a proper scale. He says, “Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!” (Job 6:2 ^a). He believes his pain is heavier than the sand of the sea. That is why his words have been so strong—his suffering is too much for him to describe. Job thinks his friends do not really understand how hard his life has become.

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v. 4: Job explains that the worst part of his suffering is the pain in his mind and spirit. He says, “The arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinks up my spirit” . Job feels attacked by God, and this deep spiritual pain is even worse than his physical troubles. He feels surrounded by the terrors of God, like an army coming against him. This is similar to how Jesus later said, “Now is my soul troubled” (John 12:27 ^b).

v. 5: Job defends himself against the harsh words of his friends. He says, “Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, or does the ox low over its fodder?” . Job means that he did not complain when life was good. Now that he has lost everything, it is natural for him to cry out in pain. If animals complain only when they are hungry, shouldn’t people also speak out when they suffer?

v. 6: Job continues, “Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?” . He is saying that his life is now empty and without comfort, like food with no flavor. The words of his friends are just as unsatisfying to him.

v. 7: Job says that what he is now forced to accept is something he would never have touched before. “My soul refuses to touch them; they are as loathsome food to me” . He means both his terrible situation and the advice from his friends are hard to accept. In his pain, even words meant to comfort him feel unpleasant and useless.

Job’s Desire for Death

After Eliphaz tries to correct Job, Job becomes even more passionate in his wish for death. He feels that his suffering is so great, only death could end his pain. Job does not see any hope for good days in the future, and he cannot be patient any longer. Instead of asking God to heal him, Job asks God to end his life. Job does not try to harm himself, but he prays that God would let him die. His strong feelings show how desperate he is, but his attitude is not a good example for us to follow.

v. 8: Job says, “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!” . He is not asking for help or comfort, but for God to allow him to die.

v. 9: Job continues, “Even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!” . Job wants God to end his life, thinking death would be a kindness after so much suffering. Even though Job wishes for death, he does not try to kill himself. He knows only God should decide when someone’s life ends.

v. 10: Job believes that if he dies, he will finally have comfort. He says, “Then should I still have comfort; yes, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.” . Job is sure that after death, he will be comforted because he has been faithful to God’s word. He has not hidden God’s truth, either from himself or from others.

v. 11: Job asks, “What is my strength, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?” . He feels too weak to keep hoping for better days. He does not see any reason to keep living when his life is full of pain and disappointment.

v. 12: Job continues, “Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?” . He says he is not as strong as a rock or made of metal. He cannot keep going through so much pain without breaking down.

v. 13: Job finally says, “Is it not that I have no help in me, and that wisdom is driven quite from me?” . He insists that he has not lost his mind, but he feels helpless and alone. Even though he is suffering, he is still speaking honestly and from a sane mind. He wants his friends to understand that he is not delirious, just deeply hurt.

Job Laments the Unkindness of His Friends

Job feels deeply hurt by the harsh words and lack of sympathy from Eliphaz and his other friends. Instead of comforting him during his greatest time of need, they have only made his suffering worse. Job explains how painful it is when those you trust turn against you instead of helping. He believes true friends should show kindness and support, especially when someone is suffering.

v. 14: Job says, “To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” . He thinks that everyone who is suffering deserves pity and compassion. If a friend does not show kindness in hard times, it shows a lack of respect for God (1 John 3:17; James 1:27 ^c; Proverbs 17:17 ^d).

v. 15: Job complains, “My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook.” . He compares his friends to streams that look full during the rainy season but dry up when needed most. They came to comfort him, but instead, they have only criticized and accused him. Job feels betrayed by their false promises and lack of support (Jeremiah 9:4-5; Micah 7:5 ^e).

v. 16–17: Job describes these friends as brooks swollen with melting ice and snow in the winter, “which are dark because of the ice, and into which the snow vanishes; when it is warm, they cease to flow, when it is hot, they vanish from their place.” (Job 6:16-17 ^f). They seem helpful at first, but when he is truly in need, their kindness disappears.

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v. 18–19: Job continues, “The paths of their way turn aside; they go nowhere and perish. The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope for them.” (Job 6:18-19 ^g). Travelers in the desert look for water where they once found it, but are disappointed when it is gone. In the same way, Job hoped his friends would help him now, but they have let him down.

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v. 20: He says, “They are disappointed because they were confident; they come there and are confused.” . He is saying that when people trust in unreliable help, they end up ashamed and let down.

v. 21: Job applies this lesson directly to his friends: “For now you are nothing; you see my casting down and are afraid.” . When Job was successful, his friends were close to him, but now that he is suffering, they keep their distance. He sees that human friendships can fail, but only God is always faithful.

Job Defends Himself and Challenges His Friends

Job continues to show how unkind his friends have been. He asks them to think honestly about how they have treated him and whether he really deserved such harsh words. Job believes he has not made unreasonable demands of his friends, and he is willing to listen if they can truly show him where he is wrong. He also reminds them that even if he has made mistakes, they should not have used his pain against him.

v. 22: Job says, “Have I said, ‘Bring something to me,’ or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?” . He reminds his friends that he has not asked them for money or help to recover what he lost. He has not been a burden to them.

v. 23: He continues, “Or, ‘Deliver me from the hand of the enemy,’ or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the mighty’?” . Job never asked his friends to risk anything or to save him from trouble. He only wanted their friendship and kind words.

v. 24: Job says, “Teach me, and I will be silent; and make me understand how I have erred.” . He is open to correction. If his friends can show him his mistake with good reasoning, he will listen and admit he was wrong.

v. 25: He adds, “How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove?” . Job knows that true words have power, but he feels his friends’ arguments have not helped or corrected him at all.

v. 26: Job asks, “Do you intend to rebuke my words, and the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?” . He wonders if they are only attacking his desperate words, instead of having real compassion for his situation. He thinks they are too quick to judge him for things he said in pain.

v. 27: He says, “Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you dig a pit for your friend.” . Job feels they are like people who take advantage of the weak and even trap their own friends. He feels betrayed by their false care.

v. 28: Job pleads, “Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; for I would never lie to your face.” . He asks them to look at him honestly and see that he is telling the truth about his pain and innocence.

v. 29: He continues, “Turn, I pray, let there be no injustice; yes, turn again, my righteousness is still in it.” . Job wants them to reconsider their judgment and be fair. He believes he is still a good and honest man, even though he suffers.

v. 30: Job finishes, “Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern perverse things?” (Job 6:30 ^h). He says that he knows the difference between right and wrong. He asks his friends to trust that he is speaking truthfully and not out of evil intentions.