Job 30 15

Job 30:15 kjv

Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

Job 30:15 nkjv

Terrors are turned upon me; They pursue my honor as the wind, And my prosperity has passed like a cloud.

Job 30:15 niv

Terrors overwhelm me; my dignity is driven away as by the wind, my safety vanishes like a cloud.

Job 30:15 esv

Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.

Job 30:15 nlt

I live in terror now.
My honor has blown away in the wind,
and my prosperity has vanished like a cloud.

Job 30 verses

Job 30 15 Meaning

Job 30:15 encapsulates Job's profound lament, expressing that overwhelming terrors and calamities have violently attacked him, relentlessly pursuing his very soul like an unstoppable wind. Simultaneously, all his past well-being and prosperity have vanished swiftly and completely, dissipating as quickly and irrecoverably as a cloud. The verse vividly portrays a state of relentless assault, inner turmoil, and absolute loss.

Job 30 15 Context

Job 30:15 is part of Job's fourth and final extended lament, found in chapters 29-31. In chapter 29, Job nostalgically recalls his past eminence, respect, and prosperity—a time when he was honored by young and old, helped the needy, and was surrounded by God's favor. Chapter 30 starkly contrasts this glorious past with his present wretched condition. Job describes how he has become a mockery to those beneath him, how he endures severe physical affliction (verses 16-19), social isolation, and perceives God Himself as the author of his suffering (verse 21).

Within this desperate monologue, verse 15 encapsulates his sense of utter loss and vulnerability. The terrors are not merely external events but assaults on his inner self (my soul), unrelenting like a destructive wind. His previously secure and prosperous life (my welfare) has completely vanished, like a cloud dispersing. The immediate context of chapter 30 shows Job experiencing physical decay, emotional despair, and social contempt, making the loss of his "welfare" not just financial, but a complete disintegration of his previous standing and inner peace.

Historically, in the Ancient Near East, suffering was often directly correlated with sin, implying divine judgment. Job's sustained suffering, despite his righteous life, directly challenges this prevailing theological framework, pushing the boundaries of understanding God's justice and sovereignty beyond a simple cause-and-effect retribution. Job's lament in this verse is thus also a plea for understanding why such terror and complete loss would be visited upon one who considers himself innocent.

Job 30 15 Word analysis

• Terrors (בַּלָּהוֹת֙ - ballahot): This Hebrew plural noun signifies great fears, dreadful things, overwhelming alarms, or calamities. It comes from a root suggesting consumption or decay. The use of the plural implies not just one source of fear, but a multitude of horrifying experiences that attack Job. It signifies deep-seated dread and ruin, impacting his very being.
• are turned upon me (נֶהְפְּכוּ־ עָלַ֗י - nehpekhu- alay): This is a passive perfect form of the verb haphak, meaning "to turn, overturn, change, transform." The passive voice implies that these terrors are not something Job is encountering passively, but that they have been actively and forcefully turned against him. The phrase suggests a deliberate, perhaps divinely orchestrated, reversal of his circumstances, actively assailing him.
• they pursue (תִרְדּוֹף֙ - tirdof): From the verb radaph, meaning "to chase, persecute, follow hard after, relentlessly pursue." The verb is singular, likely referring back to the singular collective idea of terror or a specific element of it, or perhaps divine judgment itself as a relentless pursuer. This active pursuit indicates an unceasing, aggressive, and relentless attack, leaving Job no escape or respite. It's not merely that terrors exist, but that they are actively hunting him down.
• my soul (נַפְשִׁ֑י - nafshi): Nephesh in Hebrew has a broad semantic range, often translated as "soul, life, self, inner being, throat, breath." Here, nafshi refers to Job's deepest essence—his life, his spirit, his mind, and his very being. The terrors are not just affecting his possessions or body, but are targeting and exhausting his innermost self.
• as the wind (כָר֖וּחַ - ka-ruach): The prefix ka- means "like" or "as." Ruach can mean "wind," "breath," or "spirit." Here, the context implies wind, emphasizing its properties: a powerful, invisible, elusive, unstoppable, and often destructive force. The comparison suggests the terrors' pervasive nature and the swiftness and complete absence of resistance with which they overwhelm Job. It is like being utterly helpless against a gale-force wind.
• and my welfare (וּשְׁלֹמִֽי - u'shelomi): The u- is a conjunction "and." Shelomi is derived from shalom, meaning "peace, completeness, prosperity, well-being, wholeness." This term encompasses Job's entire state of well-being: his peace of mind, health, security, wealth, reputation, and social standing. It represents everything good and stable in his life.
• is passed away (נִשָּׂ֣א - nissa): A passive perfect form of the verb nasa, which means "to lift, carry away, bear, take up." In this context, it signifies that his welfare has been taken up, swept away, or carried off completely and swiftly. The passive voice indicates that Job himself is not responsible; an external, powerful force has caused its disappearance.
• as a cloud (כֶעָֽב - ke-av): The prefix ke- again means "as." Av refers to "a thick cloud" or "heavy cloud." Clouds are inherently transient, appearing quickly and dispersing equally fast. This simile emphasizes the rapid, complete, and irreversible disappearance of Job's former prosperity. Just as a cloud leaves no trace of its presence once it dissolves, so has Job's "welfare" vanished without a vestige.

Word-group analysis:

• "Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind": This initial clause describes the attack Job experiences. The cumulative effect of "terrors," "turned upon me," and "pursue my soul" depicts a multi-faceted, violent, personal, and relentless assault. The comparison "as the wind" underscores its overwhelming force and the impossibility of resistance, suggesting both a destructive and pervasive element to the attack. This imagery conveys deep psychological and spiritual distress.
• "and my welfare is passed away as a cloud": This second clause describes the outcome and its nature. The coupling of "my welfare" with "passed away" and the vivid comparison "as a cloud" highlights the utter and total loss of Job's previous state. The imagery emphasizes the suddenness, completeness, and irrevocability of the vanishing, implying that nothing remains of his former prosperity, security, or inner peace.

Job 30 15 Bonus section

The intensity of Job's language here reveals more than mere physical discomfort; it portrays an active cosmic hostility aimed at his being. The Hebrew terms convey a visceral sense of being utterly helpless and overcome. This lament resonates with anyone who has faced sudden, profound, and seemingly unprovoked loss, where past security offers no solace in the face of present overwhelming adversity. It delves into the dark valleys of human experience where one feels abandoned by God and relentlessly assaulted by circumstances beyond comprehension or control. The imagery chosen by Job—wind and cloud—also hints at the mysterious nature of God's ways, often depicted as riding on the wind or in clouds (e.g., Ps 104:3), making his current suffering feel even more profound as if divinely ordained and irresistibly swift.

Job 30 15 Commentary

Job 30:15 powerfully distills Job's profound anguish into a dual lament. He experiences not just general hardship, but relentless "terrors" (from a root of consuming dread) that are explicitly described as "turned upon him," suggesting a personal and perhaps hostile targeting. These overwhelming fears pursue his very "soul" – his innermost self, thoughts, and will – with the unstoppable force of a "wind." This is not just physical suffering; it is a spiritual and psychological siege, leaving no inner refuge.

Compounding this relentless assault, his once abundant "welfare" – encompassing his peace, prosperity, and security – has completely "passed away." The comparison to a "cloud" is critical here, signifying the swift, complete, and traceless evaporation of all he once possessed and embodied. Unlike objects that break or can be rebuilt, a dissipated cloud leaves nothing behind, reflecting the totality and finality of Job's loss.

This verse captures Job's existential crisis. From being respected and established, he is now adrift, under attack from all directions, and witnessing the irreversible erasure of his entire well-being. The double imagery of unstoppable force (wind) and swift disappearance (cloud) vividly portrays a man overwhelmed and utterly stripped, emphasizing his complete vulnerability and the crushing despair that has settled upon him.