Job 6 22

Job 6:22 kjv

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

Job 6:22 nkjv

Did I ever say, 'Bring something to me'? Or, 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth'?

Job 6:22 niv

Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth,

Job 6:22 esv

Have I said, 'Make me a gift'? Or, 'From your wealth offer a bribe for me'?

Job 6:22 nlt

But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift?
Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?

Job 6 verses

Job 6 22 Meaning

Job 6:22 is a rhetorical question posed by Job, denying that he ever sought material gain or financial assistance from his friends. He is asserting his independence and integrity, emphasizing that he is not in their presence asking for monetary support or attempting to bribe them, and therefore their judgmental posture is unwarranted and lacks a factual basis regarding his intentions. His distress is spiritual and emotional, not financial.

Job 6 22 Context

Job 6:22 is part of Job's second discourse, a passionate response to Eliphaz's accusatory speech in Chapter 5. Eliphaz suggested Job's suffering must be a result of his sin, implying that the innocent do not suffer. Job vehemently refutes this in Chapter 6. He expresses the profound agony of his suffering (Job 6:1-7) and laments the lack of true comfort from his friends (Job 6:8-13). He directly confronts their betrayal, comparing them to deceptive wadis (dry riverbeds that fail in times of need) in Job 6:14-20.

In verses 21-23, Job directly addresses his friends, contrasting his expectations of comfort with their actual behavior. He clarifies that he is not looking for their financial support or to gain anything from them, rhetorically asking, "Did I say, 'Give me,' or 'From your wealth offer a bribe for me'?" He asserts he needs no ransom for his deliverance or a share of their resources. This denial highlights his spiritual and emotional plight, not a material one. He seeks understanding and empathy, not charity. This setup further emphasizes their failure as comforters and underscores Job's unmerited suffering, stripping away any potential mercenary motives on his part.

Job 6 22 Word analysis

• Did I say (הַהֲכִ֥י - ha-hachī):

  • הַ (ha-): A direct interrogative particle, signifying a question.
  • הֲכִ֥י (hachī): An emphatic adverbial particle, meaning "is it that," or "have I." It introduces a rhetorical question expecting a "no" answer. Job is forcefully denying the premise.
  • Significance: This opening immediately establishes Job's indignant, rhetorical stance. He is not genuinely asking but challenging their perception of him.

• 'Give me,' (לִ֨י תֵנ֡וּ - lī tēnu):

  • לִי (lī): Hebrew preposition "to" or "for" + first-person singular pronoun "me." "To me."
  • תֵנּוּ (tēnu): Second-person plural imperative form of the verb נָתַן (natan), meaning "to give." It implies a command, "You all give!"
  • Significance: Job denies issuing a command or plea for charity. He's not seeking alms or demanding payment for his situation. This phrase refers to direct, simple material aid.

• or (וְאִמְר֪וּ - ve’imrū):

  • וְ (ve-): The conjunction "and," often functions here as "or."
  • אִמְרוּ (imrū): Second-person plural imperative form of אָמַר (amar), meaning "to say," "to tell." Can also function as "or did I ask you to say."
  • Significance: Links the two types of requests Job denies making. The form of amar here points to a possible implication: "or did I instruct you to go somewhere..." though the following phrase clarifies it as about a bribe.

• 'From your wealth (מֵכֶ֣ח - mê-chach):

  • מֵ (mê-): Preposition "from."
  • כֹּחַ (koach): Noun meaning "strength," "might," "power," "ability," but often refers to "resources," "substance," "wealth." It indicates one's capacity to do something, often implying financial or material capability.
  • Significance: Job specifically denies asking for their personal resources. This is not about their counsel or pity, but their tangible assets. It differentiates the source of a potential "bribe."

• offer a bribe for me' (שֹׁ֖חַד תִּתְנ֣וּ לִּֽי - shōḥad tittenū lī):

  • שֹׁחַד (shōḥad): Noun meaning "bribe," "gift," or "present." While it can mean "gift," in legal or relational contexts, it often carries the negative connotation of an illicit payment intended to influence, corrupt, or buy favor, pervert justice (as seen in Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:19).
  • תִּתְנוּ (tittenū): Second-person plural imperative form of נָתַן (natan), "to give."
  • לִּֽי (lī): "for me," emphasizing the recipient.
  • Significance: This is the critical word. Job categorically denies not just asking for general wealth, but for a "bribe" – something to buy his way out, to silence accusations, or to curry favor. This underscores his moral integrity against any suggestion of seeking illegitimate means to escape his predicament. It deepens his indignation; they accuse him of sin, yet he's not even stooping to corrupt means to fix it.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Did I say, 'Give me,'": Job refutes the notion that he is a beggar or has sought personal handouts. This denies any base, opportunistic motivation on his part, or that his complaints are a ploy for financial gain. It speaks to his previous standing as a man of great wealth and generosity.

• "or 'From your wealth offer a bribe for me'": This phrase intensifies the denial. It moves beyond simple begging to the outright rejection of seeking illicit or corrupt payments. The term shochad (bribe) strongly implies attempting to manipulate the situation, influence their judgment, or buy a favorable outcome. Job stresses he has not tried to manipulate or gain from his friends by any dishonest means, making their lack of compassion even more painful and unjust. His pursuit is not earthly wealth or escape through bribery, but understanding from God and genuine solace.

Job 6 22 Bonus section

The historical and cultural context reinforces Job's words. In ancient Near Eastern societies, hospitality and providing for the distressed were duties, but so was justice. Bribery was explicitly condemned in Israelite law (Ex 23:8; Dt 16:19), because it perverted justice and blurred moral lines. By explicitly using "bribe," Job aligns himself with righteousness and highlights the false accusations against him by denying any engagement in such a morally condemned practice. His friends, by judging him guilty of sin (and thus implicitly deserving his plight), were in a position of authority in their minds. Job is denying that he sought to corrupt their 'judgment' in any way through a bribe, asserting his innocence and transparent motives. He asks for neither charity nor corrupt means. This emphasizes the spiritual and emotional crisis Job faced, which money or a "bribe" could not resolve.

Job 6 22 Commentary

Job 6:22 serves as a pivotal moment where Job exposes the insidious nature of his friends' "comfort." They aren't comforting; they are accusing. By asking this rhetorical question, Job dismisses any possibility that his desperate cries are merely a plea for financial aid or a subtle attempt to buy his way out of their scrutiny. He isn't soliciting material assistance or trying to silence them with payments, as implied by the term "bribe" (shochad), which inherently carries connotations of perverting judgment or gaining unfair advantage.

This verse reveals Job's profound anguish and integrity. He is not driven by greed or worldly self-preservation through illicit means. His distress is spiritual – the crushing burden of seemingly unmerited suffering, the inexplicable silence of God, and the painful judgment of his closest companions. He wants understanding and empathy, not money. The friends' failure lies in their inability to comprehend this deeper struggle, reducing Job's lament to a presumed plea for material help or an attempt to manipulate their judgment, a clear sign they misunderstand the true nature of his pain and righteousness. Job asserts his dignity; his plea is for truth and vindication, not for handouts.