Job 9:26 kjv
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
Job 9:26 nkjv
They pass by like swift ships, Like an eagle swooping on its prey.
Job 9:26 niv
They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
Job 9:26 esv
They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.
Job 9:26 nlt
It disappears like a swift papyrus boat,
like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
Job 9 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 39:4-5 | "Show me, Lord, my life’s end... my days are a mere handbreadth..." | Brevity and transience of human life. |
| Ps 90:9-10 | "...our years come to an end like a sigh. The length of our days is seventy years..." | Life's brevity and struggles. |
| Jas 4:14 | "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? It is even a vapor..." | Life's ephemeral, fleeting nature. |
| Ecc 1:4 | "Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever." | Constant cycle versus human transience. |
| Ps 103:15-16 | "The life of mortals is like grass... when the wind blows over it, it is gone..." | Fragility and rapid passing of life. |
| Isa 40:6-8 | "All people are like grass... The grass withers... but the word of our God endures..." | Human frailty vs. God's eternal word. |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass; the grass withers..." | Echoes Isa 40 on human impermanence. |
| Job 7:6 | "My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and come to an end without hope." | Similar imagery of life's quick end. |
| Job 14:1-2 | "Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away..." | Shortness and trouble of life. |
| Ps 31:15 | "My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies..." | God's sovereign control over life and time. |
| Deut 28:49 | "The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away... swooping down like an eagle..." | Eagle as a symbol of swift and overwhelming force. |
| Prov 23:5 | "Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." | Eagle symbolizing quick disappearance. |
| Isa 40:31 | "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles..." | Eagle for soaring, but here, the negative swiftness is implied. |
| Jer 48:40 | "This is what the Lord says: Look! An eagle is swooping down, spreading its wings over Moab." | Eagle as a swift harbinger of judgment. |
| Lam 4:19 | "Our pursuers were swifter than eagles; they chased us over the mountains..." | Swiftness of pursuers compared to eagles. |
| Hos 8:1 | "Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle is over the house of the Lord because my people have broken my covenant..." | Eagle bringing judgment swiftly. |
| Hab 1:8 | "Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves at dusk. Their cavalry gallops headlong; their horsemen come from afar. They fly like an eagle swooping to devour." | Eagle for quick, destructive arrival. |
| Ecc 3:1 | "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..." | Divine appointment of times and seasons. |
| Isa 5:26 | "He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. And they come swiftly, speedily!" | God's swiftness in enacting His will. |
| Heb 9:27 | "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." | Inescapable finality of death. |
Job 9 verses
Job 9 26 Meaning
Job 9:26 describes the incredibly rapid and irreversible passage of Job's life, likening it to things that move with extreme speed and purpose. His days are fleeing quickly, uncontrollably, and with a sense of urgent finality, like swift, light vessels gliding on water or an eagle plunging directly onto its prey. This imagery vividly conveys Job's deep despair and his conviction that his life is hurrying towards an inevitable and bleak end.
Job 9 26 Context
Job 9:26 is part of Job’s profound response to Bildad, following his friend's insistence that God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked, implying Job's suffering must stem from his sin. Job begins by acknowledging God's immeasurable power and wisdom (Job 9:4-10), admitting no one can contend with Him. Yet, Job's lament swiftly turns to despair regarding God's seemingly arbitrary dealings with humanity. He sees God as one who "destroys both the blameless and the wicked" (Job 9:22), suggesting divine action can be indiscriminate and overwhelming. Preceding this verse, Job bitterly reflects on the futility of his efforts to justify himself before God (Job 9:20-21) and the rapid decline of his life (Job 9:25: "My days are swifter than a runner"). This verse extends that lament, vividly portraying his perception that life is not just ending, but is accelerating toward a dreadful, inescapable conclusion, mirroring the inexorable force of God's hidden power and sovereignty over all things, including human destiny and the brevity of life.
Job 9 26 Word analysis
They pass by: The Hebrew is יַחְלְפֻוּ (yachălĕphū), from the root חָלַף (khalaph), meaning "to pass on," "to glide by," "to change." It conveys a sense of rapid movement, often without intervention or delay, signifying an unstoppable progression. This is not a gentle meandering but a quick, decisive transition.
like swift ships: The Hebrew reads עַל־אֳנִיּוֹת אֵבֶה (‘al-’ōniyyōṯ ‘ēḇe).
- אֳנִיּוֹת (‘ōniyyōṯ) means "ships" or "boats."
- אֵבֶה (‘ēḇe) is a less common word, generally interpreted as "reeds" or "papyrus." Thus, "ships of reed/papyrus." Ancient boats made of reeds, particularly papyrus, were known for their lightness and great speed, especially on rivers. They were often referred to as "swift ships" due to their design. This specific phrase enhances the image of effortless and swift gliding, underscoring the rapid, unchecked passage of time in Job's life.
like an eagle: Hebrew כְּנֶשֶׁר (kĕnešeR), where נֶשֶׁר (nesher) refers to a "vulture" or "eagle." In ancient Near Eastern literature and the Bible, the eagle is consistently used to symbolize great speed, strength, and a predatory nature. Its high flight and rapid dive for prey are proverbial.
swooping on its prey: Hebrew יֶחֱטוּ־אָכֶל (yechĕṭū-’āḵel).
- יֶחֱטוּ־ (yechĕṭū) comes from the root חָטַף (chataf), meaning "to snatch away," "to seize suddenly," "to haste," or "to tear." This verb denotes a violent, rapid, and conclusive action. It’s not just a glide, but a decisive strike.
- אָכֶל (’āḵel) means "food" or "prey."This phrase emphasizes the abrupt, inescapable, and destructive finality with which Job feels his life is heading towards its end. It portrays an almost aggressive swiftness, suggesting not just that his life is brief, but that it is being "seized" by an unknown, irresistible force, leading to a grim outcome.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "They pass by like swift ships": This part emphasizes the rapid, fluid, and seemingly effortless, yet unstoppable, passage of life. The light papyrus ships denote a speed that is not achieved by power or force but by design and minimal resistance, suggesting life's progression is inherently quick and unrestrained.
- "like an eagle swooping on its prey": This second simile intensifies the first, adding an element of predatory immediacy and definitive conclusion. The eagle's swoop is purposeful, swift, and leads directly to an end. This is not a casual movement but a sudden, inescapable pounce that marks the decisive end of its target. For Job, his life is the prey, rushing towards its capture and end. This pairing illustrates both the passive flow (swift ships) and the active, forceful hastening (eagle) of his remaining days towards doom.
Job 9 26 Bonus section
The two distinct yet complementary similes used in Job 9:26 underscore Job's multifaceted perception of time's passage in his suffering. The "swift ships" emphasize the smoothness and rapidity of the glide, highlighting how quickly and almost effortlessly life can slip away. These boats required skill to maneuver, but their intrinsic lightness made them fast. The "eagle swooping on its prey" shifts the focus to the suddenness, determination, and finality of the motion. The eagle's descent is precise, singular in its objective, and results in a definite end. Job sees his life not merely diminishing, but actively being brought to a swift, decisive close, with an almost predatory sense of its inevitable end, independent of any effort he might make to slow its pace or alter its course. This highlights the severe lack of agency Job feels in his circumstances.
Job 9 26 Commentary
Job 9:26 is a profound cry of despair from Job, illustrating the perceived relentless and uncontrollable acceleration of his life towards an anticipated bitter end. He experiences time not as a gentle flow, but as a rush towards an unavoidable calamity, devoid of hope or respite. The similes he employs are powerful: swift reed ships gliding unimpeded and an eagle swiftly and decisively seizing its prey. Both images convey an irresistible momentum. The ships move without resistance; the eagle acts with swift, lethal purpose. Job perceives his remaining days as short, fleeting, and utterly out of his control, speeding toward a conclusion—which he anticipates as death and further suffering—as surely as prey meets its end when an eagle strikes. This verse is central to Job's lament over the mystery of divine justice and the overwhelming brevity of human existence, highlighting his acute sense of vulnerability and impending doom.