job 6 and 7

Read Job 6 and 7 at Bible Gateway.

Hebrew paragraph divisions

For the series of speeches from Job 3:2-28:10, the Hebrew paragraph divisions for each man’s speech are like the divisions in the Psalms that we studied in 2014. There is an understood {s} division at the end of each numbered line, with an {n} marking where a new line begins within a numbered line. There are five {n} division in Job’s speech from Job 6:1-7:21:

6:10a Then I would still have comfort; in anguish I would exult, though He spare not; {n}
7:4a When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise,’ but the night is long; {n}
7:11a “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; {n}
20a If I have sinned, What have I done to You, O watcher of men? {n}
21a Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity? {n}

Outline of Job’s speech

Job 6:1-7, Job: My grief is heavier than I can bear;
Job 6:8-13, My only comfort is that I have not denied the words of the Holy One;
Job 6:14-23, A man’s friends ought to comfort him, not be like dry river beds;
Job 6:24-30, Show me my error, and I will be silent. You cannot, because there is none!
Job 7:1-6, The futility of my days;
Job 7:8-10, My life a breath;
Job 7:11-21, Who am I, that You have targeted me?

Job 6:1-7:21 chiastic structure

1a) Job 6:1-10, Job’s rash words pleading to end his futile life;

1a) Job 6:1-3a, Oh, that my grief were fully weighed;
1b) Job 6:3b-4, My words have been rash, for the arrows of the Almighty are within me;
central axis) Job 6:5-7, I have cause for complaint: Eliphaz, your words are unpalatable;
2b) Job 6:8-9, Job’s rash words: That God would end my futile life;
2a) Job 6:10, Then I would have comfort {n} for I have not concealed His words;

1b) Job 6:11-27, Why should I have hope;

1a) Job 6:11-14a, Why should I have hope/ a friend should show kindness to him who is afflicted;
central axis) Job 6:14b, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty;
2a) Job 6:15-27, My bothers have dealt deceitfully/ you undermine your friend;

1a) Job 6:15-21, My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook that passes away;
1b) Job 6:22-23, Did I ever vainly ask you for anything?
central axis) Job 6:24-25, Teach me + cause me to understand my error, but what does your arguing prove?
2b) Job 6:26, Will you rebuke my desperate words which are as the wind;
2a) Job 6:27, You overwhelm the fatherless + undermine your friend;

1c) Job 6:28, Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; for I would never lie to your face;

central axis) Job 6:29, Yield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands!

2c) Job 6:30, Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?

2b) Job 7:1-6, My futile days + wearisome nights spent without hope;

2a) Job 7:7-21, Job’s bitter complaint waiting for his life to end;

1a) Job 7:7-8, My eye will never again see good/ I shall no longer be;
1b) Job 7:9-10, As the cloud disappears, so does he who goes down the grave;
1c) Job 7:11-13, Job’s bitter complaint: You have set a guard over me;
central axis) Job 7:16a, I loathe my life + I would not live forever;
2c) Job 7:16b-21a, Job’s bitter complaint: Why have You set me as Your target;
2b) Job 7:21b, For now I will lie down in the dust;
2a) Job 7:21c, You will seek me diligently, but I will no longer be.

For further study off site

The Remarkable Record of Job by Dr. Henry Morris (audio)
The Remarkable Record of Job by Dr. Henry Morris (book)