Job 29 4

Job 29:4 kjv

As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

Job 29:4 nkjv

Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;

Job 29:4 niv

Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,

Job 29:4 esv

as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent,

Job 29:4 nlt

When I was in my prime,
God's friendship was felt in my home.

Job 29 verses

Job 29 4 Meaning

Job 29:4 expresses Job’s profound yearning for a past era of prosperity, honor, and intimate divine favor. He remembers a time when God’s close friendship and protective presence intimately encompassed every aspect of his life and household, symbolized by his "tent." It is a lament for the perceived loss of a unique and cherished relationship with God, where God’s personal counsel and watchfulness were evidently upon him.

Job 29 4 Context

Job 29:4 is part of Job’s third and final discourse (chapters 29-31), where he articulates his case to his friends and God. Chapter 29 serves as a stark contrast to chapter 30. Here, Job fondly remembers his past life before calamity struck—a life marked by immense honor, prosperity, wisdom, and widespread respect within the community. He was a revered figure, sought for counsel by leaders and the common people alike, enjoying divine favor. This verse specifically pinpoints the source of his past blessings: God's direct, intimate, and protective presence over his entire existence. This longing sets the stage for his subsequent lament in chapter 30 about his current, despised state, deepening the rhetorical question of why a righteous man like him would suffer so greatly.

Historically and culturally, Job’s setting reflects the patriarchal nomadic or semi-nomadic society of the ancient Near East. The "tent" (ohel) was more than a mere dwelling; it symbolized the entire household, family, possessions, and livelihood—the totality of one’s earthly existence. In this context, God's "favor over one's tent" signified divine superintendence, provision, and security, believed to be directly linked to the righteousness of the patriarch.

Job 29 4 Word analysis

• Oh, that: From the Hebrew mi-yittēn (מִי יִתֵּן), literally "Who will give?" or "Oh that it were given." This idiomatic expression conveys a deep, almost impossible, fervent wish or longing for a lost past state. It expresses strong regret and lamentation for something desired but seemingly beyond reach.

• I were as in the days of my youth: Hebrew bîmê ḥorpē (בִּימֵי חׇרְפִּי֙).

  • bîmê: "in the days of."
  • ḥorpē: The noun ḥōreph (חֹרֶף) typically refers to "autumn" or "winter" but can denote the prime of life, the "harvest season," or the full vigor and freshness of life, a time of maturity and strength, not necessarily adolescence. In Job’s context, it signifies the season of his life when he was most prosperous, respected, and thriving, analogous to a plant's robust flourishing.

• when the favor of God: From the Hebrew bə·sōḏ ʾĕlôah (בְּסוֹד אֱלוֹהַּ).

  • bə·sōḏ: sōḏ (סוֹד) is a crucial word here. It means "secret counsel," "intimacy," "private consultation," "confidential circle," or "fellowship." It is far more than general blessing; it indicates a deep, personal relationship, a privileged place where God shares His wisdom and confidences with His faithful. This suggests Job experienced a profound spiritual communion and access to divine insights.
  • ʾĔlôah: This is a singular form of the Hebrew word for God, often used in the book of Job, emphasizing God as the mighty, singular, and unique deity.

• was over my tent!: Hebrew ʿal-ʾō·helî (עַל־אָהֳלִ֥י).

  • ʿal: "over," signifying protection, superintendence, or a canopy of covering. It implies divine oversight and active watchfulness.
  • ʾō·helî: ʾōhel (אֹהֶל) means "tent" and, as noted in the context, symbolizes Job’s entire dwelling, his household, his family, possessions, and indeed, his entire sphere of existence.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Oh, that I were as in the days of my youth": This phrase encapsulates Job's deep personal longing for a past period when life was full of vigor, promise, and manifested blessing. It speaks to a human inclination to reflect on "golden ages" and the stark contrast with present adversity. This is not mere nostalgia but a pained yearning for a tangible loss, underpinned by the theological conviction that his past blessings were divinely granted.
  • "when the favor of God was over my tent!": This forms the crux of Job’s longing. It clarifies that his desired past was not just materially prosperous, but it was specifically marked by God’s personal, intimate presence and protective watch. The sōḏ of God (favor/secret counsel/intimacy) implies a relationship of deep trust and open communication, where God's guidance and protective canopy (over my tent) were clearly discernable and effective, providing security and prosperity to every aspect of Job's life. This profound personal relationship is what Job laments having lost, not merely his possessions or social standing.

Job 29 4 Bonus section

• The longing for the sōḏ of God indicates that Job valued his spiritual relationship with the Almighty above his material blessings, seeing his prosperity as a sign or outflow of that relationship. This elevates Job's understanding beyond mere transactional theology often attributed to the ancient Near East.
• The use of ʾĔlôah specifically in Job (singular form of God) often emphasizes God as a transcendent, powerful, and mysterious being, highlighting His uniqueness and supreme authority, further deepening the significance of His sōḏ (intimacy).
• Job's words reflect a common human experience of reflecting on past seasons of ease or closeness to God when faced with current trials. It is an honest expression of spiritual struggle, but it does not diminish Job's faith; rather, it sets the stage for its deeper refinement through suffering.
• The tent imagery speaks to the immediate, everyday protection and provision of God, making His favor concrete and comprehensive across all facets of life.

Job 29 4 Commentary

Job 29:4 reveals the deep theological understanding underlying Job's lament. He doesn't merely long for lost riches or social status; he longs for the palpable presence and intimate "favor" (sōd) of God that he experienced in the past. This was a unique fellowship where God's "secret counsel" seemed readily accessible, and His protective hand visibly "overshadowed" Job's entire household (tent). Job’s prosperity was understood by him not as good fortune but as a direct result of God's intimate and active beneficence. His suffering, therefore, isn't just a physical or material loss, but primarily a crisis of this perceived intimate relationship with God, where God now appears distant or even adversarial. This lament resonates with all believers who face periods where God's presence feels withdrawn or His face hidden amidst adversity, reminding us that it is permissible to mourn the loss of apparent divine intimacy while holding onto the greater truth of God's enduring sovereignty, as Job eventually came to understand.