Job 30:11 kjv
Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.
Job 30:11 nkjv
Because He has loosed my bowstring and afflicted me, They have cast off restraint before me.
Job 30:11 niv
Now that God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they throw off restraint in my presence.
Job 30:11 esv
Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.
Job 30:11 nlt
For God has cut my bowstring.
He has humbled me,
so they have thrown off all restraint.
Job 30 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 1:12 | "And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power...'" | God permits Satan to afflict Job. |
| Job 2:6 | "And the LORD said to Satan, 'Behold, he is in your hand...'" | God limits, but allows suffering. |
| Prov 29:18 | "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint..." | Lack of divine guidance leads to anarchy. |
| Jas 3:8 | "but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil..." | Human difficulty in controlling oneself. |
| Ps 11:2 | "For behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow..." | Imagery of enemies armed against the upright. |
| Jer 5:28 | "...they do not judge with equity...and they do not defend the rights..." | Unchecked evil and injustice in society. |
| Isa 3:5 | "The people will oppress one another, man against man...youth will be..." | Disrespect and oppression from lower ranks. |
| Lam 3:7 | "He has walled me about so that I cannot escape; he has made my chains..." | Divine affliction and sense of being trapped. |
| Lam 3:9 | "He has blocked my way with blocks of stones; he has made my paths..." | Divine action hindering one's path. |
| Ps 89:38-39 | "But now you have cast off and rejected...You have renounced the covenant..." | Feeling of divine rejection and humiliation. |
| Ps 73:3, 11-12 | "For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." | Envy of wicked's success while righteous suffer. |
| Rev 20:3, 7 | "He threw him into the pit...must be released for a little while." | God's sovereign 'loosing' for divine purpose. |
| 1 Sam 16:14 | "Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit..." | God allowing affliction for His purposes. |
| Dan 4:32 | "he will be driven from among men, and his dwelling place..." | God can humble the proud and powerful. |
| Ecc 9:11 | "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong..." | Unpredictability of life and suffering. |
| Jn 9:2-3 | "Rabbi, who sinned...? Jesus answered, 'It was not that this man sinned...'" | Challenges traditional understanding of suffering. |
| Heb 12:5-7 | "And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons..." | God's discipline as a sign of love. |
| Ps 34:19 | "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him..." | Promise of divine deliverance amidst trouble. |
| 2 Cor 12:7-10 | "A thorn was given me in the flesh...for when I am weak, then I am strong." | Divine purpose in weakness and suffering. |
| Phil 4:12-13 | "I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound...all things..." | Contentment and strength in various states. |
| Lam 1:5 | "Her foes have become her masters; her enemies prosper, for the LORD..." | Divine affliction leading to enemy domination. |
| Judges 2:19 | "...they would relapse and behave worse than their fathers..." | Moral decay when spiritual authority is lost. |
| Rom 1:24, 26, 28 | "Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts..." | God's judgment includes withdrawing restraint. |
Job 30 verses
Job 30 11 Meaning
Job 30:11 expresses Job’s profound despair, perceiving that God has directly caused his weakness and vulnerability, which, in turn, has emboldened contemptible people to openly disrespect and afflict him without restraint. He feels God has disarmed or stripped away his support and authority, leaving him exposed to unbridled hostility from those who would normally be subservient.
Job 30 11 Context
Job 30 is a vivid lament where Job contrasts his glorious past (Job 29), where he was a respected and honored leader, with his humiliating present condition. In this chapter, he details how he is now scorned by those much younger and socially inferior—people he considers base and without status. They not only mock him but actively attack him, seeing him as utterly helpless. Verse 11 directly expresses Job's theological conclusion: his profound physical and social collapse is not random, but directly orchestrated by God, who, he believes, has removed divine protection and societal order, allowing these "despised" individuals to torment him without any hindrance or consequence. This highlights Job's deep sense of abandonment and injustice from God, perceiving divine action as the root cause of his suffering and the subsequent breakdown of respect and restraint.
Job 30 11 Word analysis
- Because (כִּי, ki): This conjunction means "for," "because," or "that." Here, it introduces the cause of Job's dire situation. It signals Job's reasoned conclusion about the origin of his suffering.
- he (implicit): Refers to God, though not explicitly stated in the Hebrew, it is clear from the context of Job's ongoing dialogue with God and his conviction that God is the primary agent in his life.
- has loosed (פָּתַח, pathach): Means to open, loosen, set free. In various contexts, it can mean unstringing a bow (disarming), opening a pit, or loosening restraints. Here, it suggests God intentionally removing Job's strength, stability, or protection.
- my cord (יִתְרִי, yitri): From yeter (יֶתֶר), referring to a bowstring, a rope, or a tent-cord. It symbolizes Job's strength, vigor, or the foundational support of his life and standing. When "loosed," it signifies being incapacitated, weakened, or having one's means of defense/stability removed.
- and afflicted (וַיְעַנֵּנִי, vay’anneni): From anah (עָנָה), meaning to humble, oppress, afflict, debilitate. This word signifies direct and intense suffering imposed upon Job. It's the immediate result of God "loosing his cord."
- they: Refers to the scornful, base individuals described earlier in Job 30, the young men of no reputation who now torment him.
- have cast off (שִׁלְּחוּ, shillakhu): From shalach (שָׁלַח), meaning to send away, dismiss, throw off. It implies a deliberate and unrestrained act of discarding.
- the bridle (רֶסֶן, resen): A halter or bridle, used to control animals (horses, mules). Symbolizes control, restraint, discipline, or proper conduct.
- before me (מִפָּנַי, mippanai): Literally "from my face" or "before my presence." This signifies that the contemptible behavior is not hidden; it is openly and boldly displayed in front of Job, showing utter disregard for his former authority or dignity.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Because he has loosed my cord and afflicted me": This phrase pinpoints the perceived divine causation of Job's predicament. Job sees God as actively disarming him or stripping him of his protective cord/strength, directly leading to his weakened, afflicted state. This reflects his deep theological struggle—attributing his suffering to God's deliberate, yet to Job, seemingly unjust, actions.
- "they have cast off the bridle before me": This consequence directly stems from the previous action. Because Job has been weakened and divinely stripped of authority (his "cord" loosed), those who would typically be kept in check now feel completely unrestrained. "Casting off the bridle" speaks to unruly, wild, rebellious, and disrespectful behavior, executed openly ("before me") as an audacious demonstration of contempt, unchecked by any fear of authority, divine or human. This imagery highlights a breakdown of societal order and a personal humiliation experienced by Job.
Job 30 11 Bonus section
- The "cord" (יֶתֶר, yeter) can also refer to a bowstring. In ancient Near Eastern thought, a taut bowstring was a symbol of strength and military power (cf. Ps 11:2). For Job to say his cord is "loosed" means he feels disarmed, his strength for battle or self-defense completely gone. This fits the narrative where he feels under attack by humans and divine forces.
- The "bridle" (רֶסֶן, resen) image is deeply evocative. In a shepherd culture, a bridle symbolized control over powerful, otherwise untamed, forces. Its removal signifies chaos and uncontrollable aggression, highlighting the lawlessness that Job now experiences from those who were once beneath him.
- Job's words are a lament of desolation and a bold accusation against God, revealing the depth of his crisis of faith while maintaining his integrity. His complaint is that God's actions have destabilized not just his personal well-being but also the very social fabric and respect for moral order in his context.
Job 30 11 Commentary
Job 30:11 encapsulates Job's anguished perception of his suffering: he attributes it directly to God's hand. He believes God has not merely allowed, but actively caused, his vital strength or support ("my cord") to be severed or weakened. This divine act of "loosing the cord" renders him utterly vulnerable and subject to profound affliction. The immediate, consequential impact is the complete loss of respect and restraint from those who once might have feared him or society's order. The image of "casting off the bridle" vividly portrays unbridled contempt and lawless behavior, suggesting that societal norms and decency have collapsed concerning him. Those considered ignoble now feel empowered to attack and scorn him openly, acting with audacious disregard because they perceive God himself has removed all hindrances. This verse is a powerful cry illustrating Job's central theological struggle: how can a just and powerful God permit such unmerited, humiliating suffering and even seem to enable the wicked to triumph over the righteous?