Tyndale Open Study NotesJob 17

My spirit is broken: This can mean a truly sorry attitude (Psalm 51:17). But it usually means a very sad "spirit" (Proverbs 18:14).

mockers surround me: songs of grief (laments) often describe making fun of someone as how evil people respond to the suffering of righteous people (Psalms 22:7; 69:10–12; 89:50–52). In wisdom literature, people make fun of right behavior (Proverbs 1:22; 9:7).

Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand (literally please keep my pledge with yourself): A pledge (Hebrew ‘erabon) can be a deposit that guarantees payment (Genesis 38:17–20; Exodus 22:26–27; Deuteronomy 24:10–14; see Proverbs 20:16; 27:13). So, this might suggest God forgiving sin (making atonement). It might also refer to Job’s wish for an advocate to support his cause (see study note on Job 16:19–21).

Spitting in someone's face was more insulting than a slap because it made the person ceremonially unclean (16:10; Numbers 12:14).

Some scholars think these verses are out of place. However, Job might have been quoting his opponents' words ironically.

Job no longer trusted his friends and thought he would die without hope (6:15–21; 13:4–5; 16:2–3; compare 12:2).

for Sheol: People imagined the realm of dead people as a home (30:23; Psalm 49:11; Ecclesiastes 12:5).

my father … mother … sister: This sad imitation of a family gathering in a cemetery shows how Job imagined his coming death.

the gates of Sheol: Sheol is the place where dead people reside. Ancient people thought it had a gate with bars that allowed no escape.