Job 29:4

Job 29:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
• New International Version (NIV)Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house,
• English Standard Version (ESV)as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;

Context of Job 29:4

2“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me, 3When His lamp shone upon my head And by His light I walked through darkness; As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship and counsel of God were over my tent, 5When the Almighty was still with me And my boys were around me, 6When my steps [through rich pastures] were washed with butter and cream [from my livestock], And the rock poured out for me streams of oil [from my olive groves].

Job 29:4 word by word

כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר הָ֭יִיתִי בִּימֵ֣י חָרְפִּ֑י בְּס֥וֹד אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַּ עֲלֵ֣י אָהֳלִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• As I was in the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of my youthחֹ֫רֶףchôreph · autumnH2779
• when the secretסוֹדsôd · counselH5475
• of Godאֱלֹהַּ'ĕlôahh 'ĕlôahh · godH433
• upon my tabernacleאֹ֫הֶל'ôhel · tentH168

Cross-references for Job 29:4

• Job 1:10Have You not put a hedge [of protection] around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands [and conferred prosperity and happiness upon him], and his possessions have increased in the land.
• Job 15:8Do you hear the secret counsel of God, And do you limit [the possession of] wisdom to yourself?
• Psalms 25:14The secret [of the wise counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.
• Psalms 27:5For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.
• Psalms 91:1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand].
• Proverbs 3:32For the devious are repulsive to the Lord; But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].
• Colossians 3:3For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

Commentaries on Job 29:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The days of my youth - The original word rather means in the days of my winter, חרפי charpi, from חרף charaph, "to strip or make bare." Mr. Harmer supposes the rainy season is intended, when the fields, etc., parched up by long drought, are revived by the plentiful showers. Mr. Good thinks the word as found in the Arabic, which means top or summit, and which he translates perfection, is that which should be preferred. Others think the autumnal state is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4As I was in the days of my youth - The word here rendered “youth” (חרף chôreph ), properly means “autumn - from” (חרף châraph ), to “pluck, pull,” as being the time when fruits ace gathered. Then it means that which is mature; and the meaning here is probably “mature” or “manly” - “As I was in the days of my ripeness;” that is, of my vigor or strength. The whole passage shows that it does not mean “youth,” for he goes on to describe the honor and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-25Job compares his past happiness, honor, and wealth with his current loss of social dignity and divine friendship (chapters 29 and 30). He ends his speech with broad vows of innocence (chapter 31).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. youth--literally, "autumn"; the time of the ripe fruits of my prosperity. Applied to youth, as the Orientalists began their year with autumn, the most temperate season in the East. secret--when the intimate friendship of God rested on my tent (Pr 3:32; Psa 31:20; Ge 18:17; Joh 15:15). The Hebrew often means a divan for deliberation.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 29:4

• Children
• God

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Aged
• Chief
• Ready
• Job, Book of

Commentaries on Job 29

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings