Job 29 7

Job 29:7 kjv

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

Job 29:7 nkjv

"When I went out to the gate by the city, When I took my seat in the open square,

Job 29:7 niv

"When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square,

Job 29:7 esv

When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square,

Job 29:7 nlt

"Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and took my place among the honored leaders.

Job 29 verses

Job 29 7 Meaning

Job 29:7 recalls Job's former high standing and respected position within his community. It portrays him as a prominent and authoritative figure, regularly engaging in public life and participating in the governance and legal affairs of his city. His presence at the city gate and his readiness to occupy a place of authority signify his leadership role and the public acknowledgment of his wisdom and justice.

Job 29 7 Context

Job chapter 29 forms part of Job's final soliloquy, a passionate and moving defense where he recounts his former state of prosperity and honor before his afflictions. He contrasts his past glory—characterized by divine favor, public respect, and an active role in civic life—with his current state of suffering, humiliation, and scorn. This specific verse (29:7) sets the stage for Job's detailed description of his benevolent actions as a leader, judge, and provider for the needy in the verses that follow (29:8-17). Historically and culturally, the city gate was the nerve center of ancient Near Eastern urban life, serving as the primary location for legal proceedings, business transactions, public assemblies, and social interaction. "The street" (more accurately, a public square or broad open space near the gate) was where formal and informal gatherings occurred. Job's depiction emphasizes his regular and esteemed presence in these central community hubs.

Job 29 7 Word analysis

• When I went out (כִּי־צֵאתִ֣י kî-ṣê’ṯî): The Hebrew preposition "kî" (when/for/because) introduces a temporal clause, marking the commencement of a particular routine or regular activity. "Went out" (צֵאתִ֣י, from יָצָא yatsa') implies Job's active and consistent public presence, not an accidental occurrence. It indicates his deliberate engagement in the affairs of the community.
• to the gate (לַשַּׁ֣עַר lash·sha‘ar): The Hebrew term sha'ar (שַׁעַר) specifically refers to the city gate, which was far more than an entrance. In ancient Near Eastern cities, the sha'ar functioned as the center of public life, serving as the seat of local government, the judicial court, the commercial market, and a gathering place for elders and citizens. Job's regular presence there indicates his role in civic and legal administration.
• of the city, (קָ֑רֶת qāreṯ): This word, a poetic or older form of 'iyr (עִיר), simply means "city" or "town." Its use here specifies the urban community where Job held influence, further establishing the public context of his actions.
• when I prepared (בַּחוּץ֙ אָכִ֣ין baḥ·ṣūṣ ʾāḵîn): "When I prepared" comes from the Hebrew verb אָכִ֣ין (kun or yakin), meaning "to establish," "to prepare," or "to set in order." This suggests a deliberate, organized action. Job wasn't idly passing by but purposefully arranging his position, implying a formal and recognized role. This preparation speaks to the intentionality and decorum of his public office.
• my seat (כִּסְאִ֑י kis·sî): The Hebrew word kisse' (כִּסֵּ֥א) refers to a throne, chair, or seat of authority. It denotes a position of status, power, or judgment. This term is often associated with kings (e.g., King Solomon on his throne, 1 Ki 10:19), judges, or esteemed leaders. Job's having "his seat" publicly signifies his legitimate and recognized authority as a judge or elder in the community.
• in the street. (רְחֹבִ֥י reḥōv): The Hebrew rehov (רְחוֹב) means a broad open place, public square, or wide street. It was often an open area adjacent to or inside the city gate where people gathered for public announcements, markets, and discussions. Job establishing his "seat" in such a prominent and accessible public place further emphasizes his open and official capacity in delivering justice or counsel to the community.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "When I went out to the gate of the city": This phrase immediately establishes Job's public visibility and importance. His routine presence at the sha'ar, the nexus of all community life, identifies him as a figure of authority, actively involved in the civil, legal, and social fabric of the town. It hints at his judicial and leadership functions before they are explicitly detailed.
• "when I prepared my seat in the street": This segment confirms Job's established and recognized role. "Prepared my seat" implies an official capacity—he was not an informal bystander but someone with a formal station, ready to adjudicate, offer counsel, or oversee affairs. Placing this seat in the rehov, the public square, underscores his accessibility and his integral position at the heart of the community's operations. Together, these two phrases powerfully depict Job's previous esteemed status, active participation in justice, and leadership in the city.

Job 29 7 Bonus section

Job's depiction of himself in chapter 29 aligns with the ideal figure of a righteous sage and just leader prevalent in wisdom literature, especially in the broader ancient Near Eastern context where a city's well-being was seen to depend heavily on the integrity of its judges and leaders at the gate. While Job is a Gentile, the civic customs he describes parallel those found in ancient Israel, indicating a common cultural milieu. This ideal challenges any contemporary notions that honor and prosperity are automatic indicators of divine favor, as Job himself, though righteous, now suffers. It also presents an archetype of civic responsibility rooted in moral character rather than just position.

Job 29 7 Commentary

Job 29:7 serves as the opening declaration of Job's heartfelt lament, painting a vivid picture of his lost prestige and public standing. He recalls a time when he was not merely present in the community but occupied a central and authoritative role, particularly in judicial and civic matters. His regular journey to the city gate—the heart of public life, commerce, and justice in ancient Israel—and the deliberate "preparation of his seat" in the public square signify his position as an esteemed elder, a wise counselor, and an impartial judge. This verse underscores the deep contrast with his present, stripped-down state of affliction and ostracism. It lays the groundwork for Job to elaborate on the beneficent ways in which he used his position: delivering the poor, saving the perishing, being eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame, and breaking the jaws of the wicked. The poignancy lies in Job's remembrance of public honor that was intrinsically linked to his practice of righteousness and justice, now completely inverted by his suffering.