Job 30


Job 30 is the 30th chapter of the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is anonymous; most scholars believe it was written around 6th century BCE. This chapter records the speech of Job, which belongs to the Dialogue section of the book, comprising Job 3:1–31:40.

Text

The original text is written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 31 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex, and Codex Leningradensis.
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version include Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, and Codex Alexandrinus.

Analysis

The structure of the book is as follows:
  • The Prologue
  • The Dialogue
  • The Verdicts
  • The Epilogue
Within the structure, chapter 30 is grouped into the Dialogue section with the following outline:
  • Job's Self-Curse and Self-Lament
  • Round One
  • Round Two
  • Round Three
  • Interlude – A Poem on Wisdom
  • Job's Summing Up
  • *Job's Former Prosperity
  • **Job's Former Blessings
  • **Job's Former Honor
  • **Job's Former Role in Administering Justice
  • **Job's Expectation of Ongoing Peace
  • **Job's Prominence in the Community
  • *Job's Present Suffering
  • **How Job Would Have Viewed His Mockers
  • **The Attacks of His Enemies
  • **God Is Causing His Present Sufferings
  • **Accusing God
  • **Withdrawing into Despair
  • *Job's Final Defense
  • **His Rejection of Lust
  • **His Denial of Falsehood and Deceit
  • **His Avoidance of Adultery
  • **His Care for His Servants
  • **His Righteousness in Dealing with the Poor and Marginalized
  • **His Refusal to Worship Money or Other Gods
  • **Not Guilty of a Variety of Wrongs
  • **The Call for God to Answer
  • **His Right Treatment of the Land
The Dialogue section is composed in the format of poetry with distinctive syntax and grammar. At the end of the Dialogue, Job sums up his speech in a comprehensive review, with Job 29 describes Job's former prosperity, Job 30 focuses on Job's current suffering and Job 31 outlines Job's final defense. The whole part is framed by Job's longing for a restored relationship with God and the legal challenge to God. Chapter 30 describes Job's suffering after his world was turned upside down, from enjoying "the respect of the most respectable" to undergo "the contempt of the most contemptible". Job complains to God directly about his condition as he believes God determines all aspects of his life, before withdrawing in despair that no one, not even God, has shown him mercy or care.

Job speaks of the attack of mockers (30:1–15)

The first part of the section describes Job's mockers from Job's point-of-view, Job returns to the complaint about the treatment of him by his "enemies", who include the outcasts of the community. The attacks are depicted as overwhelming in its severity and persistence.

Verse 1

  • "But now": gives a contrast between Job's past and present reality.
  • "Younger": literally in Hebrew: "of fewer days"
The last statement means that Job did not think highly enough of their father to put them with the dogs.

Job shows despair of God's treatment to him (30:16–31)

In this section Job reiterates his conviction that God is in total control of his life, so he complains that he was not given mercy by God. Job hopes for restoration but only faces disaster, so he can only see bleak pictures of his future life.

Verse 31

The mention of the musical instruments may parallel with the naming of jackals and owls in verse 29 which are known for emitting screeching sounds, instead of life-enhancing tones like lyre and pipes.