Job Chapter 6 Commentary: Job’s Response to Eliphaz and His Cry for Understanding

Job chapter 6 presents Job’s passionate response to Eliphaz’s first speech, revealing the depth of his anguish and his frustration with his friend’s conventional wisdom. This chapter demonstrates Job’s emotional honesty, his sense of betrayal by his friends, and his struggle to understand his suffering while maintaining his integrity. Job challenges the adequacy of traditional theological explanations and expresses his desperate need for genuine compassion and understanding.

Job’s Defense of His Emotional Response

Verses 1-3: “But Job answered and said, Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.”

Job begins his response by defending the intensity of his emotional outburst in chapter 3. He calls for an objective measurement of his grief and calamity, suggesting that if others could truly understand the weight of his suffering, they would comprehend his desperate words. The metaphor of weighing implies fair evaluation rather than hasty judgment.

The comparison to sand of the sea emphasizes the immeasurable nature of Job’s pain. Ancient peoples understood sand as countless and weighty, making this comparison particularly powerful for describing overwhelming suffering. The vastness suggests that no human measurement could adequately quantify such profound loss and pain.

The phrase “my words are swallowed up” indicates that Job’s emotional expression falls short of adequately conveying his inner turmoil. His verbal outpouring, though seemingly excessive to his friends, actually represents restrained communication compared to the depth of his actual experience.

Divine Arrows and Poisoned Darts

Verse 4: “For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.”

Job uses military imagery to describe his sense that God has become his enemy rather than his protector. The arrows of the Almighty suggest deliberate divine attack rather than random misfortune or natural consequences of sin. This metaphor indicates Job’s belief that his suffering originates directly from God’s action.

The poison that drinks up his spirit describes the ongoing, devastating effect of these divine arrows. Unlike wounds that heal over time, poisoned wounds continue to worsen and drain life from the victim. Job feels that his suffering progressively weakens rather than strengthens his spiritual resources.

The terrors of God in battle array presents an image of organized divine warfare against Job personally. This military metaphor suggests overwhelming force deployed against a single individual, emphasizing the hopelessness of Job’s position when facing divine opposition.

Natural Complaints and Appropriate Responses

Verses 5-7: “Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox when he hath fodder? Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.”

Job defends his complaints by appealing to natural behavior patterns. Wild animals make noise only when they lack food, not when they are satisfied. This analogy suggests that Job’s complaints arise from genuine need rather than unreasonable dissatisfaction with adequate provision.

The questions about unsavory food without salt and tasteless egg white illustrate the principle that unpalatable situations naturally provoke negative responses. Job implies that his friends expect him to accept his suffering as if it were pleasant, which contradicts natural human responses to painful experiences.

The final statement about sorrowful meat being forced upon him suggests that Job must consume what his soul naturally refuses. His suffering has become his daily bread, creating a situation where he must endure what every natural instinct finds repugnant and harmful.

Longing for Death as Release

Verses 8-10: “Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.”

Job expresses his desire for death as the ultimate relief from unbearable suffering. His request for God to destroy him reveals the depth of his despair while maintaining recognition of divine sovereignty over life and death. He does not consider suicide but appeals to God for merciful termination of his agony.

The phrase about God letting loose his hand suggests that divine restraint currently prolongs Job’s suffering. Job believes that complete divine action would bring death and end his pain, while partial action maintains him in torment without resolution.

The comfort Job anticipates in death includes the satisfaction of maintaining his integrity until the end. His reference to not concealing God’s words indicates his continued faithfulness despite his suffering, providing confidence that death would vindicate rather than condemn him.

Acknowledgment of Human Limitation

Verses 11-13: “What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass? Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?”

Job acknowledges his human limitations and questions the purpose of continued endurance. His rhetorical questions about strength and life expectancy challenge the assumption that he should maintain hope when no reasonable basis for optimism exists in his circumstances.

The comparisons to stones and brass highlight human frailty in contrast to durable materials. Job recognizes that his flesh cannot endure indefinitely under such severe pressure, making continued suffering ultimately destructive rather than beneficial for character development.

The admission that help is not within him and wisdom has departed indicates Job’s recognition of his need for external assistance. Unlike his friends who offer confident counsel, Job honestly acknowledges the limits of human resources when facing overwhelming difficulties.

Disappointment in Friendship

Verses 14-17: “To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. My brethren have dealt deceitfully with me as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away. Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.”

Job establishes the principle that friends should show pity to afflicted persons regardless of the theological implications of their suffering. True friendship demonstrates compassion before attempting to provide explanations or corrections. The connection between abandoning this duty and forsaking divine fear suggests that proper treatment of suffering friends reflects one’s relationship with God.

The metaphor of deceitful brooks powerfully illustrates Job’s disappointment in his friends’ response. Like streams that appear promising from a distance but prove dry when desperately needed, his friends have failed to provide expected support during his crisis.

The detailed description of seasonal streams that flow during winter but disappear in summer emphasizes the unreliable nature of fair-weather friendship. Job needed his friends most during his time of greatest difficulty, but they proved unavailable when their support was most crucial.

The Mirage of False Hope

Verses 18-20: “The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.”

The imagery continues with travelers who follow what appear to be water sources but find nothing. The paths that turn aside and lead to destruction represent the false hopes created by unreliable friends who promise help but deliver disappointment.

The reference to trading companies from Tema and Sheba adds commercial imagery to the metaphor. These merchants depended on reliable water sources for their survival during desert travel, making the failure of expected streams a matter of life and death rather than mere inconvenience.

The emotions of confusion and shame experienced by disappointed travelers parallel Job’s feelings toward his friends. He had reasonable expectations of support based on their previous relationship, but their actual response has left him feeling betrayed and abandoned.

Friends as Unreliable Streams

Verses 21-23: “For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?”

Job directly applies the brook metaphor to his friends’ current behavior. They have become “nothing” in terms of providing meaningful help, despite their physical presence and verbal activity. Their fear of his condition prevents them from offering genuine comfort or assistance.

The series of rhetorical questions emphasizes that Job has not made unreasonable demands upon his friends. He did not request financial assistance, material gifts, physical rescue, or intervention against powerful enemies. His needs were emotional and spiritual rather than practical.

This defense highlights the reasonableness of Job’s expectations and the inadequacy of his friends’ response. Basic human compassion required no special resources or heroic actions, yet even this minimal support has been withheld due to theological concerns.

Challenge to Honest Examination

Verses 24-27: “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind? Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.”

Job challenges his friends to provide specific instruction about his errors rather than general theological principles. His willingness to remain silent if shown concrete faults demonstrates openness to correction when based on evidence rather than assumption.

The distinction between forcible right words and ineffective arguing suggests that truth has inherent power while mere debate lacks persuasive strength. Job implies that his friends’ arguments lack the ring of truth that would naturally convince him of their validity.

The accusation about overwhelming orphans and digging pits for friends charges his counselors with cruelty disguised as helpfulness. Their theological arguments, while appearing righteous, actually harm vulnerable people by adding guilt and condemnation to existing suffering.

Appeal for Honest Consideration

Verses 28-30: “Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?”

Job appeals to his friends’ personal knowledge of his character as evidence against their assumptions about hidden sin. His invitation to look upon him suggests that his integrity should be apparent to those who know him well, making their accusations inappropriate.

The call for his friends to return from their current position implies that their theological stance has led them away from truth and justice. Job frames his righteousness as the issue at stake, challenging them to reconsider their judgment of his character.

The final questions about iniquity in his tongue and his ability to discern perverse things assert his continued moral sensitivity and honest communication. Job maintains that his suffering has not corrupted his judgment or integrity, contrary to his friends’ implications.

Verse by Verse Analysis

Verse 1: Job’s formal response indicates his intention to provide a comprehensive reply to Eliphaz’s counsel rather than accepting it passively.

Verse 2: The call for objective weighing of grief emphasizes Job’s belief that his emotional response is proportionate to his actual suffering.

Verse 3: The comparison to sea sand illustrates immeasurable weight while explaining why his words seem inadequate to express his pain.

Verse 4: Military imagery of divine arrows and poison describes Job’s sense that God has become his active enemy rather than protector.

Verse 5: Natural behavior of animals when satisfied provides analogy for appropriate responses to adequate versus inadequate provision.

Verse 6: Questions about unsavory food establish the principle that unpalatable situations naturally provoke negative responses from healthy organisms.

Verse 7: Sorrowful meat forced upon his soul describes how suffering has become Job’s daily sustenance against his natural preferences.

Verse 8: The request for death reveals the depth of Job’s despair while maintaining recognition of divine sovereignty over life.

Verse 9: God letting loose his hand suggests that divine restraint currently prolongs suffering rather than providing merciful resolution.

Verse 10: Comfort anticipated in death includes satisfaction of maintaining integrity and faithfulness despite overwhelming trials.

Verse 11: Rhetorical questions about strength and purpose challenge assumptions that he should maintain hope without reasonable basis.

Verse 12: Comparisons to stones and brass highlight human frailty in contrast to durable materials under extreme pressure.

Verse 13: Admission of lacking internal help and wisdom acknowledges human limitations when facing overwhelming difficulties.

Verse 14: The principle of showing pity to afflicted friends establishes compassion as the appropriate response regardless of theological concerns.

Verse 15: Deceitful brooks metaphor powerfully illustrates disappointment in friends who appear helpful but prove unreliable when needed.

Verse 16: Description of winter streams emphasizes seasonal reliability that fails during times of greatest need.

Verse 17: Summer disappearance of streams completes the metaphor of fair-weather friendship that abandons during crisis.

Verse 18: Paths leading to nothing describe false hopes created by unreliable sources of expected help and support.

Verse 19: Trading companies from distant regions emphasize the universal need for reliable resources during difficult journeys.

Verse 20: Confusion and shame of disappointed travelers parallel Job’s emotional response to his friends’ inadequate support.

Verse 21: Direct application to friends emphasizes their failure to provide meaningful help despite physical presence and verbal activity.

Verse 22: Rhetorical questions about unreasonable demands highlight that Job has not requested excessive assistance from his friends.

Verse 23: Additional questions about rescue and redemption further emphasize the reasonable nature of Job’s expectations for basic compassion.

Verse 24: Challenge to provide specific instruction demonstrates openness to correction when based on evidence rather than assumption.

Verse 25: Distinction between forcible right words and ineffective arguing suggests truth has inherent power while debate lacks conviction.

Verse 26: Accusation about harming orphans charges friends with cruelty disguised as theological righteousness and helpful counsel.

Verse 27: The image of digging pits for friends emphasizes how their counsel actually harms rather than helps vulnerable people.

Verse 28: Appeal to personal knowledge of his character challenges friends to base judgments on evidence rather than theological assumptions.

Verse 29: Call for friends to return suggests their current theological stance has led them away from truth and justice.

Verse 30: Questions about tongue iniquity and moral discernment assert continued integrity and honest communication despite suffering.

Theological Themes and Implications

The nature of divine-human relationship emerges as a central theme through Job’s military imagery describing God as his enemy. This perspective challenges conventional assumptions about divine benevolence and raises questions about how believers should understand divine actions during unexplained suffering.

Human limitation and the need for divine help appear throughout Job’s acknowledgment of his weakness and lack of internal resources. Unlike his friends who offer confident solutions, Job honestly confronts the boundaries of human strength and wisdom when facing overwhelming circumstances.

The ethics of friendship during suffering provides important theological insight about proper responses to others’ pain. Job’s critique of his friends reveals principles about compassion, presence, and support that transcend theological correctness and reflect divine character.

The relationship between integrity and suffering challenges simplistic connections between righteousness and blessing. Job maintains his moral sensitivity and honest communication despite his trials, suggesting that suffering does not automatically corrupt character or indicate divine displeasure.

Practical Lessons and Applications

The importance of emotional honesty in response to suffering appears through Job’s defense of his complaints and expressions of pain. Denying or minimizing genuine emotions often proves counterproductive and prevents appropriate processing of difficult experiences.

The value of compassionate presence over theological explanation emerges from Job’s disappointment with his friends’ response. Sometimes the ministry of presence and empathy provides more help than attempts to explain or correct during times of crisis.

The danger of applying general principles to specific situations without adequate understanding appears through the conflict between Job’s experience and his friends’ counsel. Wisdom requires careful attention to particular circumstances rather than automatic application of general rules.

The need for honest self-examination balanced with confidence in personal integrity provides guidance for maintaining moral clarity during trials. Job demonstrates both openness to correction and appropriate self-defense against unfair accusations.

Cross References

Psalm 38:2-3 – “For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin” parallels Job’s imagery of divine arrows while acknowledging sin as the cause.

Psalm 69:20 – “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none” echoes Job’s disappointment in friends who fail to provide expected compassion.

Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” establishes the biblical standard for friendship that Job’s companions have failed to meet during his crisis.

Jeremiah 15:18 – “Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?” uses similar imagery of failing waters to describe disappointment with God’s apparent unreliability.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble” provides the positive model of comfort that Job’s friends failed to demonstrate.

Galatians 6:2 – “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” establishes the principle of mutual support that should characterize relationships among believers, especially during times of difficulty and suffering.