Job 30 2

Job 30:2 kjv

Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?

Job 30:2 nkjv

Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me? Their vigor has perished.

Job 30:2 niv

Of what use was the strength of their hands to me, since their vigor had gone from them?

Job 30:2 esv

What could I gain from the strength of their hands, men whose vigor is gone?

Job 30:2 nlt

A lot of good they are to me ?
those worn-out wretches!

Job 30 verses

Job 30 2 Meaning

Job laments the utter worthlessness and inability of those who now mock him, stating that their physical strength provided no benefit to him and that any vitality or productivity had vanished from them long ago. He emphasizes that the individuals now despising him were originally weak, lacking true power or meaningful contribution, contrasting starkly with his own former greatness and influence.

Job 30 2 Context

Job chapter 30 marks a significant low point in Job’s lament, shifting from a general defense of his righteousness to a deep plunge into his present humiliation and suffering. He contrasts his former highly respected position and honor (detailed in chapter 29) with his current state of utter contempt. He is no longer surrounded by venerating elders and respectful young men but by the "scum of the earth"—people whom he himself would not have associated with even his dogs. This specific verse (30:2) describes the very low social status and perceived uselessness of these individuals. It is a harsh assessment, revealing Job's extreme distress and disdain for his new tormentors, who, he claims, have never had any inherent worth or strength. Historically and culturally, a person’s worth was often tied to their contribution, social standing, and physical prowess, especially for men. Job's assertion about their "profitless" strength and lost "vigour" undermines their perceived masculinity and societal value, emphasizing his profound personal and social degradation.

Job 30 2 Word analysis

• כִּ֤י (kî) - "Indeed" / "For": An emphatic particle, setting up Job's strong assertion about his tormentors' worthlessness.
• מֶֽה (meh) - "What" / "How": In the rhetorical question "what strength," it implies complete lack or utter insignificance.
• כֹּחַ (koach) - "strength" / "power": Refers to physical ability or might. Job highlights their capacity for action but immediately negates its value.
• יָ֭דַיִם (yadâyim) - "hands": Dual form, symbolizing their practical work, actions, and capacity to produce.
• לִ֠י (lî) - "to me" / "for me": Indicates Job's personal perspective. The worthlessness is keenly felt by him.
• אֵין־עֹז ('ayn-'ōz) - "profitless" / "no help" / "no strength": Literally "there is no strength/help." This states absolute worthlessness; their capacity yields nothing beneficial.
• כֶּ֣לַח (kelakh) - "vigour" / "strength" / "freshness" / "decay": A debated term. It can denote vital force or ripeness, but in context with 'perished,' it also suggests inherent decay or lack of true vitality. Most translations favor 'vigour.'
• אָ֭בַד ('āvad) - "perished" / "vanished" / "destroyed": Signifies complete loss or termination. Paired with 'kelakh,' it means any true vitality or substance had completely gone.
• מֵהֶֽם (mêhem) - "from them": Specifies that this state of perishing or lack originated within them, not externally. The deficiency is intrinsic to these individuals.

Job 30 2 Bonus section

• Social Stratification: This verse reflects the ancient world's distinct social classes. Job, once at the pinnacle, is now subject to the ridicule of those at the very bottom, illustrating the severity of his fall.
• Hyperbole of Despair: Job's language, though harsh, likely contains hyperbole born from his intense suffering. His description emphasizes his sense of abandonment and indignity at being mocked by those he deems the lowest.
• Challenging Societal Norms: While Job’s words reflect his despair, the broader book challenges human wisdom and the direct correlation between societal status (or strength) and righteousness before God.
• Focus on Character: The perishing of 'vigour' speaks to a deep, underlying character flaw, not just an external lack of physical might. It is a spiritual or moral assessment from Job's distressed perspective.

Job 30 2 Commentary

Job 30:2 expresses Job's profound anguish and despair by vividly contrasting his former respected status with his current humiliation at the hands of the most contemptible members of society. He despises these tormentors, dismissing their physical "strength of hands" as utterly "profitless" or devoid of any beneficial purpose or contribution. This highlights their societal uselessness in Job's eyes. Further, his declaration that "vigour had perished from them" suggests a deeper, intrinsic lack within these individuals; their true vitality, essence, or moral substance was already gone or was never truly present. This is not merely about their current physical state, but an indictment of their inherent worthlessness, perhaps reflecting a lifelong condition of degradation or depravity. For Job, it compounds his suffering, as his honor is assailed not by worthy adversaries but by those he considers fundamentally bereft of virtue and efficacy, magnifying the injustice of his experience.