Job regards his friends as "miserable comforters" (verses 1–5)
Job laments how God is treating him (verses 6–17)
Job considers 'the possibility of a heavenly witness' (verses 18–22)[11]
Carved wooden figure of Job. Probably from Germany, 1750-1850 CE. The Wellcome Collection, London.
Job reflects on his friends as miserable comforters (16:1–5)
Job starts his first speech in the second round of the conversation with his friends with a complaint that all of them are miserable comforters, giving him nothing new as he has heard many things like what they said (verse 2a) and he also was able to speak as they did (verse 4a).[11] Job points out that the friends string words together while shaking their head, not in sympathy but in derision, against him (cf. Psalm 22:7; 109:25), instead of saying something useful as he would do if he were in their shoes (verse 5).[12]
Verse 5
[Job said:] "I could strengthen you with my mouth,
and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain."[13]
"Assuage": translated from the Hebrew verb יַחְשֹׂךְ, yakhsokh, meaning "to restrain; to withhold".[14] If their roles were reversed, Job would provide his friends with words of solace in their pain, not accusations that rub salt into the wounds, as they have done thusfar to Job.[15]
Job complains of God's treatment and wishes help from a heavenly witness (16:6–22)
Job states that his pain is not eased by speaking or by not speaking about it, as he firmly believes God is in charge of the world and treats Job as God pleases (verses 12–14).[16] Therefore Job called for help from a heavenly figure, who will argue Job's case with God (verse 21; cf. Job 9:33; 19:25; 31:35).[17]
Estes, Daniel J. (2013). Walton, John H.; Strauss, Mark L. (eds.). Job. Teach the Text Commentary Series. United States: Baker Publishing Group. ISBN9781441242778.
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