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Job 17

16 verses

TL;DR

Job laments his impending death and the mockery of those around him, while expressing despair over his lost hope and questioning the presence of righteousness.

Summary

In chapter 17, Job speaks in a tone of deep sorrow, acknowledging that his breath is corrupt and his days are ending, and that the graves seem ready for him. He feels mocked by others and asks for a reliable ally, but finds none. Job speaks of the darkness that has dimmed his sight and his body, describing himself as a byword among the people. He contrasts the righteous, who hold firmly to their path, with the wicked who may be praised by God. Job laments that there is no wise man among his companions, and his hopes have vanished. He metaphorically addresses corruption as a father and the worm as a mother, further highlighting his alienation. Ultimately, he feels that his rest will be in the dust of the pit, a bleak finality.

Outline
  1. Job’s personal lament of death and mockery
  2. Contrast between the righteous and the wicked
  3. Despair over lost hope and the presence of corruption
Themes
Suffering and despairRighteousness versus wickednessIsolation and the absence of support
Keywords
sufferingdeathmockeryrighteousnesshopedarknesscorruption
People
Job
Places
gravepitdarkness
Things
breathgravesmockersflatterybywordshadowlightcorruptionwormhopebars of the pit
Key Verses
  • Job 17:3: Job seeks a firm partnership but finds none, highlighting his sense of abandonment.
  • Job 17:8: The contrast between the upright and the hypocritical emphasizes moral divisions.
  • Job 17:9: Affirms that righteousness endures and gains strength.
  • Job 17:13: Job’s metaphorical home in the grave underscores his fatalistic outlook.
  • Job 17:14: Personifying corruption and the worm reveals Job’s deep alienation from all living.
Questions
  • What does Job’s description of the grave as his house reveal about his perspective on death?
  • How does Job’s contrast between the righteous and the wicked shape the reader’s understanding of moral order?
  • In what ways does Job’s lack of a supportive companion affect his sense of agency?
  • Why might Job personify corruption as a father and a worm as a mother?
  • What can we learn from Job’s lament about the experience of despair?
Sentiment

negative
The passage is dominated by despair, isolation, and a bleak outlook.