New English Translation
Job 30:2
2Moreover, the strength of their hands – what use was it to me? Men whose strength had perished;
Job 30:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?
- New International Version (NIV)Of what use was the strength of their hands to me, since their vigor had gone from them?
- English Standard Version (ESV)What could I gain from the strength of their hands, men whose vigor is gone?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Indeed, what profit is the strength of their hands to me? Their vigor has perished.
Context of Job 30:2
1“But now they mock me, those who are younger than I, whose fathers I disdained too much to put with my sheep dogs. Moreover, the strength of their hands – what use was it to me? Men whose strength had perished; 3gaunt with want and hunger, they would gnaw the parched land, in former time desolate and waste. 4By the brush they would gather herbs from the salt marshes, and the root of the broom tree was their food.
Read all of Job 30Job 30:2 word by word
גַּם־כֹּ֣חַ יְ֭דֵיהֶם לָ֣מָּה לִּ֑י עָ֝לֵ֗ימוֹ אָ֣בַד כָּֽלַח׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Commentaries on Job 30:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The strength of their hands profit me - He is speaking here of the fathers of these young men. What was the strength of their hands to me? Their old age also has perished. The sense of which I believe to be this: I have never esteemed their strength even in their most vigorous youth, nor their conduct, nor their counsel even in old age. They were never good for any thing, either young or old. As their youth was without profit, so their old age was without…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me - There has been much difference of opinion respecting the meaning of this passage. The general sense is clear. Job means to describe those who were reduced by poverty and want, and who were without respectability or home, and who had no power in any way to affect him. He states that they were so abject and worthless as not to be worth his attention; but even this fact is intended to show how low he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2-3In the past, the most important members of society praised Job (29:11). Now, the least important made fun of him and spit in his face (30:1, 10). Compare with Psalms 35:15; 69:12; Mark 14:65; 15:17–20.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. If their fathers could be of no profit to me, much less the sons, who are feebler than their sires; and in whose case the hope of attaining old age is utterly gone, so puny are they (Job 5:26) [Maurer]. Even if they had "strength of hands," that could be now of no use to me, as all I want in my present affliction is sympathy.Read the comment
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In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 30
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries