Job 29:5 kjv
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
Job 29:5 nkjv
When the Almighty was yet with me, When my children were around me;
Job 29:5 niv
when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me,
Job 29:5 esv
when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me,
Job 29:5 nlt
The Almighty was still with me,
and my children were around me.
Job 29 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:1 | When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am Almighty God; walk before me and be blameless." | God revealing Himself as El Shaddai and His demand for covenant faithfulness. |
| Exo 6:3 | I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them. | God identifying Himself as El Shaddai to the patriarchs. |
| Num 23:21 | No mischief is seen in Jacob, no perverseness observed in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; the shout of a king is among them. | God's favorable presence with His people. |
| Deu 31:6 | Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified... for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. | Assurance of God's abiding presence and support. |
| Josh 1:5 | No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. | God's promise of constant presence to His servant. |
| Psa 23:4 | Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. | Comfort and protection from God's presence in distress. |
| Isa 41:10 | So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. | God's comforting and empowering presence amidst fear. |
| Jer 1:8 | Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” declares the LORD. | God's assurance of His presence for protection and deliverance. |
| Matt 1:23 | “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). | Prophecy of Jesus as God manifest in human presence. |
| Matt 28:20 | ...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. | Jesus' promise of constant presence with believers. |
| 2 Cor 13:11 | Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. | The God of love and peace accompanying believers. |
| Phil 4:9 | Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. | The God of peace's presence following obedient living. |
| Psa 127:3-5 | Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth... | Children viewed as a blessing and strength from God. |
| Psa 128:3-4 | Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this is how the man who fears the LORD will be blessed. | Familial blessings as a sign of divine favor. |
| Gen 24:60 | And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, “Our sister, may you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies.” | A blessing for numerous and powerful progeny. |
| Deu 28:4 | Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your livestock, the increase of your cattle and the lambs of your flocks. | Children as part of the broader blessings from God under covenant. |
| Prov 17:6 | Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and parents are the glory of their children. | Emphasizing the joy and honor of family lineage. |
| Deu 8:11-14 | Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you today. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied... then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD. | Warning against forgetting God during times of prosperity. |
| Psa 77:11-12 | I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. | Recalling past divine acts and blessings as encouragement. |
| Heb 10:32 | Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. | Remembering former struggles and perseverance. |
| Rev 2:5 | Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you don’t, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. | Remembering a former state to prompt repentance. |
| Lam 1:7 | Jerusalem remembers her days of affliction and wandering, all the desirable things that were hers from days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the foe. | Remembering former desirable conditions amidst present distress. |
Job 29 verses
Job 29 5 Meaning
Job 29:5 describes the period of Job’s former blessedness, characterized by two primary aspects: the intimate presence and favor of the Almighty God with him, and the thriving security and comfort of his numerous children surrounding him. It highlights Job’s personal recollection of God’s manifest care and abundant familial prosperity before his trials.
Job 29 5 Context
Job 29:5 is a poignant part of Job's final extended discourse (Job 29-31), delivered after the unproductive dialogues with his three friends and before God’s direct intervention. In this chapter, Job nostalgically recalls the "days of old" (Job 29:2), a golden era when God's favor was palpably evident in his life. He meticulously describes the manifold blessings he once enjoyed: God's close presence, the prosperity and security of his large family, his esteemed public standing, his influential wisdom in community affairs, and his righteous care for the afflicted. This detailed reminiscence serves as a powerful contrast to his present desolation, illness, loss of family, and public scorn. By recounting his blameless life and abundant blessings, Job implicitly counters the "retribution theology" espoused by his friends, which insists that suffering directly correlates with sin. Job is presenting his unassailable record, making his present suffering incomprehensible within that framework.
Job 29 5 Word analysis
When: Refers to a specific time in the past, a period of blessing now contrasted with his present suffering. It marks the commencement of Job’s reminiscence.
the Almighty: In Hebrew, שַׁדַּי (Shaddai). This is a primary name for God in the Book of Job, used over 30 times. It denotes God’s omnipotence, self-sufficiency, and absolute sovereignty, often linked with provision and sustenance. This title emphasizes God's immense power, suggesting He was the source of all Job’s previous blessings and comfort.
was yet: Signifies the ongoing and present nature of God's dwelling with Job in that former period. It implies a sustained, continuous presence that Job no longer experiences in the same tangible way.
with me: In Hebrew, עִמָּדִי (
immadi). This preposition indicates close proximity, presence, and intimate relationship. It speaks not merely of God's general omnipresence but of a distinct, favor-filled, and tangible partnership or alliance, implying divine protection, guidance, and blessing actively manifested in Job’s daily life.when my children: In Hebrew, בָּנַי (banai). This refers to Job’s ten children (seven sons and three daughters) mentioned in Job 1:2. In ancient Near Eastern culture, children, especially numerous offspring, were considered a profound blessing, a sign of divine favor, family strength, continuity, and legacy.
were about me: Conveys their close physical presence and constant activity around Job. It implies a vibrant, full household, signifying protection, comfort, and the security derived from a flourishing family unit. This emphasizes the joy, pride, and societal standing that came with having many healthy children near him, actively participating in family life, prior to their tragic deaths (Job 1:18-19).
Words-group Analysis:
- "When the Almighty was yet with me": This phrase describes the very foundation of Job's past felicity—a direct, active, and intimate relationship with the all-powerful God. This was not a general, distant deity, but Shaddai, the source of sustenance and power, uniquely present with Job. This connection underpinned all other blessings he enjoyed. It implies a strong covenantal blessing, divine favor, and providential care that governed his life.
- "when my children were about me": This complements the divine blessing with earthly, tangible prosperity, specifically family well-being. The "children about me" painting a picture of a vibrant, complete household, the joy and comfort derived from a secure lineage, and a fully established domestic life—all highly valued blessings in his cultural context. The loss of both God's perceived intimate presence and his children is the core of Job's deep anguish.
Job 29 5 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of God (the divine source) and children (the human legacy/blessing) in one concise verse shows what Job valued most and what marked the zenith of his life. This double-edged loss forms the very core of his current existential crisis and is key to understanding his anguish throughout the book. While he ultimately received double what he lost materially (including more children), this verse vividly captures the raw pain of the loss itself, underscoring that certain losses (like the specific individuals who were his first children and the unique experience of God's specific manifested presence) are deeply mourned and never truly replaced, only redressed by God’s future grace.
Job 29 5 Commentary
Job 29:5 succinctly encapsulates two pillars of Job's past blessedness: divine intimacy and familial flourishing. His declaration that "the Almighty was yet with me" speaks to a profound personal relationship, not just an intellectual acknowledgment of God’s existence. This presence meant a life filled with God’s manifested favor, protection, and provision, the bedrock of his spiritual and material prosperity. Simultaneously, "when my children were about me" underscores the great joy and security derived from a vibrant, healthy household—a clear sign of God’s blessing in ancient patriarchal society. For Job, his large and active family was an undeniable mark of divine approval and human legacy.
This verse sets a powerful and heart-wrenching contrast with Job's present state: deprived of God's apparent favor (feeling abandoned or hidden) and utterly bereft of his children, all ten having perished. The memory serves to highlight the immensity of his loss and intensify his plea for understanding, challenging the simplistic link between sin and suffering that his friends assert. It is Job’s way of saying, "Look at my past; it shows I had God's favor and was blameless, so why this inexplicable devastation?" It reflects a deep human lament over lost joys and a longing for the manifest divine presence and earthly blessings that once were his.