← Back to Job

Job 16

22 verses

TL;DR

Job laments that he feels abandoned by his friends and by God, describing intense suffering and a longing for vindication.

Summary

Job begins by rebuking his friends for offering hollow comfort, claiming their words are vain and cannot truly ease his pain. He expresses that even if he could speak in their place, his grief would remain unsatisfied. Job then portrays himself as worn out, surrounded by enemies who mock him, and accuses God of delivering him to the wicked. He describes the physical afflictions and emotional torment he endures, with a sense that his body bears testimony to his suffering. In the latter part of the chapter, Job speaks of his desperate cry, asking that his blood be covered and that his plea reach the heavens. He laments the scorn of his companions, yet his tears are directed to God. Finally, he longs for someone to intercede on his behalf as one would for a friend, and he hints that in the future he may depart forever.

Outline
  1. Job rebukes friends and declares his grief (verses 1‑5)
  2. He describes his torment and perceived divine hostility (verses 6‑14)
  3. He expresses lament, hope for intercession, and a bleak outlook (verses 15‑22)
Themes
sufferingisolationdivine judgmenthuman faithinjustice
Keywords
sufferingcomfortfriendsGodjusticeweepingsackclothwrathenemiesintercession
People
JobGodfriendsungodlywickedarchers
Places
heavenearth
Things
sackclothhornwrinklesweepingtremorgallenemies
Key Verses
  • Job 16:3: Job questions the effectiveness of friends' words and highlights his own inability to speak with their authority
  • Job 16:8: Vivid description of physical affliction as evidence of his misery
  • Job 16:18: A plea that God cover his blood, underscoring the depth of his anguish
  • Job 16:21: A call for intercession, revealing his need for advocacy
Questions
  • Why does Job consider his friends' comforters miserable?
  • How does Job portray the role of God in his suffering?
  • What does the use of sackcloth signify in the context of his lament?
  • In what ways does Job seek divine intervention, and why does he feel it is necessary?
  • How does Job's tone change from verses 1–5 to 15–22?
  • What hope, if any, does Job find for the future?
  • What does the chapter suggest about human and divine responses to injustice?
Sentiment

negative
The chapter reflects deep sorrow, bitterness, and a sense of abandonment.