Job 30:6 kjv
To dwell in the cliffs of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.
Job 30:6 nkjv
They had to live in the clefts of the valleys, In caves of the earth and the rocks.
Job 30:6 niv
They were forced to live in the dry stream beds, among the rocks and in holes in the ground.
Job 30:6 esv
In the gullies of the torrents they must dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
Job 30:6 nlt
So now they live in frightening ravines,
in caves and among the rocks.
Job 30 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 4:12 | When you work the ground... a fugitive and a wanderer you shall be. | Cain's curse, mirroring a life of rootlessness. |
| Deut 28:48 | ...in nakedness, and in lack of all things; and he will put a yoke. | Depiction of utter destitution as a curse. |
| 1 Sam 13:6 | When the men of Israel saw that they were in straits... people hid in caves and in thickets. | People hiding in natural shelters out of fear/distress. |
| 1 Sam 22:1-2 | David departed... and took refuge in the cave of Adullam... distress, debt, discontent. | Those with nowhere else to go gather in desolate places. |
| 2 Kgs 14:26 | For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter. | Reflects deep national distress. |
| Psa 68:7 | O God... who led your people forth through the wilderness. | Wilderness as a place of journey, but also hardship. |
| Psa 107:4-5 | Some wandered in desert wastes... hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted. | Depiction of desperate wandering and lack of necessities. |
| Psa 109:10 | May his children be vagabonds and beggars; may they be driven from their ruins. | A curse of homelessness and extreme poverty. |
| Prov 6:10-11 | A little sleep, a little slumber... Poverty will come upon you like a robber. | The consequence of sloth leading to destitution. |
| Isa 2:19 | People will enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the earth, from before the terror. | People seeking refuge in earth's cavities, here from divine judgment. |
| Isa 42:11 | Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. | The wild, remote, and sparsely populated areas. |
| Isa 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by men... one from whom men hide their faces. | Echoes the deep rejection and low esteem for the despised. |
| Jer 9:2 | Oh, that I had in the desert a traveler’s lodging place... I would leave my people. | Desire for a desolate place due to society's corruption. |
| Jer 14:5 | Even the hind in the field... forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass. | Extreme desolation, mirroring the lack of basic resources for life. |
| Joel 2:20 | I will remove far from you the northern army, and I will drive him into a land parched. | Driven into desolate lands, similar to Job's description of outcasts. |
| Hos 2:3 | I will strip her naked... make her like a desert, and make her like a parched land. | Humiliation and desolate conditions as a consequence. |
| Mt 8:20 | Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head. | Jesus' own homeless condition, connecting to Job's depiction of the outcast. |
| Jas 2:6 | You have dishonored the poor man. | The societal dishonor and contempt often shown to the poor. |
| Jas 2:15-16 | If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food... | Highlights the severity of not having basic necessities like shelter and food. |
| Heb 11:37-38 | They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated... wandered in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves. | Saints enduring extreme persecution, living as fugitives in wild places. |
| Rev 6:15 | Then the kings of the earth and the great ones... hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. | People hiding in natural formations from divine wrath, similar to 2:19. |
Job 30 verses
Job 30 6 Meaning
Job 30:6 describes the dire living conditions of the utterly despised people who now mock Job. These individuals, whom Job considers lower than the dregs of society, dwell in the most desolate, uninhabitable, and perilous natural shelters: the beds of wadis, primitive holes in the earth, and rugged rock formations. This imagery conveys extreme poverty, social ostracization, and a life outside conventional human habitation, characteristic of those at the absolute lowest rung of ancient society, effectively outcasts from all civil existence.
Job 30 6 Context
Job chapter 30 marks a dramatic shift in Job's discourse. Having expressed his longing for vindication and questioned God's justice in earlier chapters, Job now engages in a profound lament contrasting his former glorious and respected state (Chapter 29) with his current humiliating and abhorrent condition. Verses 1-8 specifically describe the contemptible nature of those who now mock and despise him. These are individuals who are not merely poor but are utter social outcasts, lacking any family or tribal standing, of no use to society, living in absolute destitution. Verse 6 paints a vivid picture of their habitation, emphasizing their complete removal from civil society. Their dwelling places – "beds of wadis, in holes in the ground and among the rocks" – are not just shelters but hallmarks of a life utterly devoid of dignity, comfort, or belonging. Historically, settled societies would relegate criminals, the extremely poor, and those without tribal ties to such wild and inhospitable regions, viewing them as uncivilized and a burden. Job uses this extreme example to underscore the depth of his fall, being mocked by those lower than the "least of these."
Job 30 6 Word analysis
- They lived/dwelt (יָשְׁבוּ - yāšəḇū): From the root יָשַׁב (yashav), meaning "to sit, to dwell, to inhabit." In this context, it signifies a settled existence, however crude. This is not temporary camping but their established way of life, reflecting the permanency of their outcast status.
- in the beds of wadis (בְּנַחֲלֵי קְפִיאִים - bənaḥăley qəp̄î’îm):
- beds of wadis (נַחֲלֵי - naḥălê): Plural of נַחַל (naḥal), referring to a dry stream-bed or riverbed, often filled with water only during the rainy season; a ravine or valley, a torrent. Living in a wadi bed signifies an unstable, temporary, and often dangerous dwelling place susceptible to flash floods and exposed to the elements.
- of wadis/cliffs (qəp̄î’îm): This word is rare and debated. Some interpret it as "cliffs" or "crags," deriving from a root meaning "to freeze/thicken" suggesting hard, unyielding formations. Others link it to an Aramaic root meaning "filth" or "dirt," signifying dirty or despicable places, which fits the overall theme of degradation. Regardless, it emphasizes barren, uncultivated, and desolate areas.
- in holes (בַּחֹרוֹת - baḥōrôṯ): From the root חֹר (ḥōr), meaning "a hole," "cavity," or "crevice." These are not constructed homes but natural indentations, tunnels, or simple excavations, indicating a life utterly devoid of any masonry, carpentry, or proper shelter.
- in the ground (עָפָר - ʿāp̄ār): This refers to "earth," "dust," or "dry ground." This highlights the crudeness of their shelters—mere dug-outs in the unworked soil, contrasting sharply with any built dwelling.
- and among the rocks (וּבְצֻרִים - ûḇəṣûrîm):
- among (וּבְ - ûḇə): "And in," connecting this habitation to the previous ones.
- the rocks (צוּרִים - ṣûrîm): Plural of צוּר (ṣûr), meaning "rock," "boulder," "cliff." These are rugged, inhospitable rocky terrains, offering minimal, often dangerous, shelter. It indicates a primitive existence, often hiding among large natural stone formations rather than residing in proper structures. This points to a desperate state where they seek refuge in nature’s harshest features.
- Words-Group analysis: The cumulative effect of "beds of wadis, in holes in the ground and among the rocks" paints a complete picture of utterly dehumanizing conditions. These are places for animals, not for people. The description signifies a complete lack of human dignity, property, or integration into any societal structure. It emphasizes an existence defined by exposure, hardship, and isolation, a powerful rhetorical tool for Job to express how far he has fallen to be scorned by such individuals.
Job 30 6 Bonus section
The description of living in "beds of wadis, holes in the ground, and among the rocks" vividly evokes the lowest socio-economic strata, a segment of society regarded as valueless or even harmful. Such individuals often constituted bands of raiders or beggars. This portrayal not only highlights their wretched physical state but also implies their moral and spiritual degradation in the eyes of conventional ancient Near Eastern society. The wild, uncultivated places they inhabit symbolically reflect their untamed and rootless nature, disconnected from any sense of community or established order. This serves to amplify Job's sense of extreme indignity and the unprecedented nature of his suffering: he, a man once universally respected and blessed by God, is now mocked by those who have been completely forsaken by humanity. The emphasis on "holes" and "rocks" can also hint at a defensive, secretive existence, characteristic of fugitives or those trying to avoid human contact due to their marginalized status.
Job 30 6 Commentary
Job 30:6 provides a stark image of abject human existence, contrasting sharply with Job's earlier glory. These individuals are not just poor; they are living outside the bounds of human civilization, taking refuge in the most barren and dangerous natural features—wadi beds, crude holes in the earth, and among the crags. This underscores their total dispossession and social condemnation. They are driven into places suitable only for wild animals, indicating a life on the extreme periphery of society, utterly rejected and without hope of integration. Job’s lament derives much of its pathos from the fact that he, a man of unparalleled former stature, is now derided by these outcasts, reflecting the ultimate depth of his humiliation and the seeming reversal of divine order.