Job 6 14

Job 6:14 kjv

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

Job 6:14 nkjv

"To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Job 6:14 niv

"Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Job 6:14 esv

"He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Job 6:14 nlt

"One should be kind to a fainting friend,
but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.

Job 6 verses

Job 6 14 Meaning

Job 6:14 encapsulates Job’s poignant lament regarding the failure of his friends to demonstrate faithful compassion (chesed) in his time of extreme suffering. He argues that even if a person is in despair and is perceived by others as having lost their reverence for the Almighty, true friendship and covenantal loyalty demand that kindness and steadfast love be shown. Job implies that his friends, by withholding this essential human and spiritual virtue, have failed him precisely when he needed it most, making their judgmental stance more grievous than his physical afflictions.

Job 6 14 Context

Job 6:14 is part of Job’s extended response to Eliphaz the Temanite’s first speech (Job chapters 4-5). Eliphaz had accused Job of hidden sin, attributing his immense suffering to divine judgment, reflecting a prevailing belief in retributive justice where prosperity signified righteousness and suffering indicated sin. Job, overwhelmed by his inexplicable suffering—loss of family, wealth, and health—feels abandoned not only by God but, crucially, by his friends who have come ostensibly to comfort him. Instead, they act as accusers and fail to offer the loyal support that true friendship, characterized by chesed, demands. In this verse, Job specifically rebukes his friends for their lack of compassionate loyalty, asserting that chesed should extend even to one whom they perceive as having fallen from piety or having forsaken the "fear of the Almighty," implying their theological framework has eclipsed their humanity.

Job 6 14 Word analysis

• To him who is afflicted (לַמָּס Lammās): This is from the root māsas (מסס), meaning "to melt, dissolve, despair, faint." It describes someone utterly desolate, wasting away, or having lost all courage and hope due to distress. Job portrays himself as being in a state of profound dissolution, both physically and emotionally. The participle indicates an ongoing state.
• kindness should be shown (חֶסֶד chesed): This is a pivotal term. Chesed signifies more than mere kindness or sympathy; it means loyal love, steadfast devotion, unfailing mercy, or covenantal loyalty. It is a love rooted in commitment, particularly when circumstances would tempt one to abandon another. It reflects a core attribute of God and a required virtue in human relationships, demanding action irrespective of the recipient's perceived worthiness or current standing.
• by his friend (מֵרֵעֵהוּ merêʿêhu): Reaʿ (רֵעַ) means a close associate, neighbor, or friend. It implies someone who should naturally provide support and companionship, highlighting the personal betrayal Job feels. True friends, according to biblical wisdom, are present in times of adversity.
• even though he forsakes (יַעֲזֹב Ya'ăzov): From ʿāzav (עָזַב), meaning "to abandon, forsake, leave." It suggests a departure or turning away. Job uses this to describe his friends' perception of his state, or hypothetically, even if he were to truly abandon.
• the fear of the Almighty (יִרְאַת שַׁדַּי Yir'at Shadday):
  • fear: Yir'ah (יִרְאַה) refers to reverence, awe, worship, and obedient respect. It is often equated with true wisdom and piety in the Old Testament.
  • the Almighty: Shaddai (שַׁדַּי) is a divine name frequently used in Job, emphasizing God's omnipotence and absolute sovereignty, especially in bestowing blessings and inflicting judgment.
  • This phrase represents ultimate piety and trust in God. Job implies that even if he appeared to lose this piety, or if his friends accused him of doing so, their duty of chesed to him should not be negated. This is a critique of a legalistic or performance-based view of friendship.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend": This segment establishes a clear expectation: the suffering person is to receive loyal love from their companion. It grounds the obligation of chesed in the friend's role, particularly when the friend sees the one afflicted.
  • "even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty": This clause presents the difficult condition or perceived moral failing. Job challenges his friends’ conditional love. He states that even if one appears to abandon the most foundational religious principle—fear of God—it should not dissolve the friend's obligation to show chesed. It underscores Job's central argument that divine judgment and human compassion are not always linked simplistically.

Job 6 14 Bonus section

The deep irony in Job 6:14 is that while Job's friends believe he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty (or they infer his sin from his suffering), Job is in fact a model of unwavering, albeit deeply anguished, faith throughout the book. His suffering is not due to his sin, but is a test of his integrity. His plea for chesed in this verse reflects the very character of God, who showers His unfailing love upon humanity despite their persistent failures. This highlights that human chesed should mirror divine chesed, which is gracious and persistent even toward the unrighteous (Rom 5:8). The friends, despite their religious fervor, lacked the practical demonstration of God's heart, a failure that Job acutely feels.

Job 6 14 Commentary

Job 6:14 is a profound theological and ethical statement disguised as a personal complaint. Job articulates a principle of loyal compassion (chesed) that transcends circumstances, particularly perceived spiritual failings. His friends operate on a rigid system of retributive justice: if Job suffers, he must have sinned, thus rendering him unworthy of the unfailing love they initially might have offered. Job vehemently rejects this conditional chesed. He implicitly argues that chesed, as exemplified by God's character and required of His people, is steadfast and unconditional, extending even to the seemingly undeserving or those who falter in faith. This verse exposes the tragic flaw in the friends' theology: by prioritizing a simplistic judgment over compassionate care, they betray the very essence of true fellowship. It serves as a timeless reminder that while God's justice is perfect, human application of theological truth must be tempered with mercy and empathetic understanding, reflecting God's own unwavering chesed.

• Practical Usage Example: When a believer undergoes deep distress and begins to question God, or appears to lose faith in the eyes of their community, true Christian friendship dictates coming alongside them with empathetic listening, practical support, and persistent prayer, rather than judgmental accusation or spiritual shaming.