Tyndale Open Study NotesJob 16

Job might have wanted to shake his head in to make fun or in horror (2 Kings 19:21; Psalms 22:7; 109:25; Isaiah 37:22; Jeremiah 18:16; Lamentations 2:15; Matthew 27:39).

Job's family includes by extension his household and his servants (1:15–19).

• They open their mouths against me: Job was mocked (compare Psalm 35:21; Isaiah 57:4; Lamentations 2:16; 3:46).

• strike my cheeks: This was more of an insult than an act of violence (Psalm 3:7; Micah 5:1; see also 1 Kings 22:24; Isaiah 50:6; Lamentations 3:30; Matthew 26:67).

He seized me by the neck: This might refer to a wild animal capturing its prey (see 16:9). However, it is more likely a military image signaling defeat (Genesis 49:8; Psalm 18:40).

my gall: This describes injuries to important organs.

He breaks me with wound upon wound: Job imagines himself as a defensive military station with God attacking. Job regarded God as a warrior who neither defended nor saved him (see Exodus 15:3; Psalm 24:8; see Jeremiah 20:11; Zephaniah 3:17). Instead, God attacked him as if he were a threat (see Job 6:12; Isaiah 42:13).

• Since Job insisted he was innocent, wearing sackcloth showed grief, not asking God to forgive him. He might have worn it to show he would never take it off because no one could comfort him (Genesis 37:34–35).

• I have buried my horn in the dust: A horn symbolized dignity and power (1 Samuel 2:1; Psalms 75:4–5; 89:17, 24; 92:10; 112:9; 148:14). Cutting it off caused deep humiliation (Psalm 75:10; Jeremiah 48:25; Zechariah 1:12).

• Free of violence (Hebrew lo’-khamas): If violence is the meaning, Job might have been denying that he was a dangerous warrior who God should attack (16:12–14; see also Isaiah 59:6; Jonah 3:8).

• Contrary to Eliphaz’s accusation and Bildad’s assumption, Job’s prayer was sincere because he was innocent (Job 15:4–5; 8:6; Genesis 20:5; Isaiah 59:3).

Job thought his suffering would lead to his death (7:7, 21; 10:20–22). He asked God to show his innocence, even if he died before that happened.

Job's blood would testify that he was innocent and suffered without cause (compare Genesis 4:10–11; Isaiah 26:21; Ezekiel 24:7–8).

my witness is in heaven: Job wished for a kind third party to be "a mediator" between him and God (see 9:32–35). Job wanted a heavenly advocate who would eventually stand on the earth (16:19; compare Zechariah 3:1; Job 19:25; compare 1 Samuel 24:15; John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; 1 John 2:1).