Job 30 25

Job 30:25 kjv

Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

Job 30:25 nkjv

Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?

Job 30:25 niv

Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?

Job 30:25 esv

Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?

Job 30:25 nlt

Did I not weep for those in trouble?
Was I not deeply grieved for the needy?

Job 30 verses

Job 30 25 Meaning

Job 30:25 is Job's rhetorical question, serving as a powerful self-vindication of his past compassionate character. He asks if he did not genuinely mourn and feel deeply for those who were afflicted and needy. It asserts his profound empathy and consistent practice of active care for the suffering, highlighting the stark contrast between his previous righteous conduct and his current undeserved anguish and isolation.

Job 30 25 Context

Job 30 is a powerful lament where Job details his drastic fall from esteemed prosperity and social respect (described in chapter 29) into profound degradation, physical agony, and utter contempt. He describes being mocked by society's lowest elements, tormented by God, and afflicted by unceasing pain. In this immediate context, verse 25 is a sharp rhetorical question posed by Job as part of his extensive defense against the implicit accusations of his friends and the perceived abandonment by God. He recounts his impeccable past character, particularly his genuine compassion for the suffering, to demonstrate his blamelessness. This directly refutes the conventional belief of his time and his friends, that suffering is a direct punishment for sin, arguing that his current plight contradicts his truly benevolent nature. His actions stood against common societal apathy towards the most vulnerable, serving as a subtle polemic against those who neglected such care.

Job 30 25 Word analysis

• Did not I weep (הֲלֹא־ בָכִ֪יתִי - halo'-bāḵîṯî):
  • Halo'-: This is an emphatic interrogative particle meaning "Is it not?", implying a strong affirmation or an appeal to widely known fact. Job is not genuinely asking a question but asserting an undeniable truth.
  • bāḵîṯî (from bāḵāh): "I wept" or "I cried." This denotes a visible, outward expression of sorrow, lament, or grief. It suggests more than mere sympathy; it points to a deep, empathic identification with the pain of others, manifest in a physical act of weeping.
• for him who was in trouble (לְקָשֶׁה - ləqāšeh):
  • ləqāšeh (from qāšeh): Refers to someone in a "hard," "difficult," "severe," or "grievous" situation. It signifies intense distress, affliction, or a burdensome state. Job's compassion extended to those in objectively difficult circumstances.
• Was not my soul grieved (לֹא־ נֶֽעֱצְבָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֑י - lō'-ne‘eṣbâ naphšî):
  • lō'-: The negative particle "not," again emphasizing a strong affirmation when paired with the rhetorical question.
  • ne‘eṣbâ (from ‘āṣaḇ): "was grieved" or "pained." This root refers to an inward, profound sorrow, pain, or anguish of spirit. It signifies a deeper emotional and psychological connection to suffering, going beyond the outward tears.
  • naphšî (from nephesh): "my soul," "my being," "my very self." This highlights that Job's grief was not superficial but permeated his core essence, indicating genuine empathy rooted in his inner being.
• for the needy (לָאֶבְיֽוֹן - lāʾeḇyôn):
  • lāʾeḇyôn (from ʾeḇyôn): Denotes the "needy," "poor," "destitute," "dependent," or "miserable" person. This term often refers to those without resources, dependent on others, and vulnerable in society. Job's care extended to those in abject poverty and social disadvantage.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Did not I weep... Was not my soul grieved": This parallelism highlights two facets of Job's compassion: the external (weeping) and the internal (grieved soul). Together, they form a powerful affirmation of comprehensive and authentic empathy. It is a dual witness to his compassionate character, encompassing both outward expression and inward experience.
• "for him who was in trouble? ... for the needy?": These phrases define the objects of Job's profound care. "Trouble" (qasheh) emphasizes the immediate distress or harsh circumstance, while "needy" (evyon) points to a deeper state of deprivation or vulnerability. This demonstrates that Job's compassion was broad, extending to those experiencing specific hardship and those living in general destitution. He didn't just feel pity; he actively entered into their suffering.

Job 30 25 Bonus section

• Rhetorical Questions as a Device: The book of Job frequently employs rhetorical questions to make strong assertions, convey frustration, or challenge existing perspectives. Here, Job uses it to unequivocally declare his virtuous past, leaving no room for doubt from his listeners.
• Contrast with Job's Friends: This verse starkly contrasts Job's previous empathy with the lack of compassion he now receives from his friends, who, instead of comforting him, add to his misery with their judgmental theology. Job experienced what it was to truly show mercy, and he is now tragically denied it.
• Biblical Ethos of Compassion: The passage prefigures and resonates deeply with the consistent biblical call for believers to embody mercy, care for the vulnerable, and practice justice, foundational themes elaborated in both the Old Testament prophets and the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
• The Suffering of the Righteous: Job’s lament ultimately serves as a testament to the perplexing reality of a righteous person enduring profound suffering, challenging simplistic notions of divine justice.

Job 30 25 Commentary

Job 30:25 is Job’s direct appeal to his own unimpeachable record of compassion and justice, presented as a rhetorical question to which the only answer can be a resounding "Yes!" He insists that his prior life was characterized not by the sin his friends impute to him, but by a profound empathy that led him to weep with those who suffered and to grieve deeply for the destitute. This verse serves as a climactic assertion of his moral righteousness amidst his undeserved misery. It reveals a man whose piety was practical and deeply ingrained, evidenced by his tangible acts of kindness towards the most vulnerable, a core principle often highlighted throughout the wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible as a mark of true righteousness. His question is designed to underscore the absurdity of his present affliction in light of his past benevolence, reinforcing his claim of innocence and appealing for vindication.