Job 6: Weigh My Anguish
Job answers Eliphaz, defending his bitter words as the cry of real pain and lamenting friends who have failed him like a dried-up stream.
Job 6 (WEB)
1 Then Job answered,
2 “Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
6 Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.
8 “Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,
9 even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
13 Isn’t it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?
14 “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.
17 In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The caravans that travel beside them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.
21 For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, ‘Give to me?’ or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance?’
23 or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand?’ or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?’
24 “Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
26 Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.
29 Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?
Job 6 (KJV)
1 But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
Job 6 (ASV)
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuseth to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.
8 Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grantmethe thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?
14 To him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 Which are black by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow hideth itself:
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The caravansthat travelby the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.
21 For now ye are nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the adversary’s hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?
26 Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?
27 Yea, ye would castlotsupon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
Summary
Job answers Eliphaz with a longing to have his anguish weighed in the balances, for it would prove heavier than the sand of the seas, which is why his words have been rash. He feels the arrows of the Almighty within him, their poison drinking up his spirit, and the terrors of God arrayed against him. He defends his complaint with a homely image: even animals do not bray without cause, and tasteless food cannot be eaten without salt—his groans are the natural cry of real suffering. He even wishes God would grant his request to crush him and cut him off, finding consolation that he has not denied the words of the Holy One. But what cuts deepest is the failure of his friends. He likens them to a seasonal brook that runs full with melting ice but vanishes in the heat, leaving thirsty caravans confounded when they arrive expecting water. So Job has come to his friends in need and found nothing; they see his terror and are afraid. He never asked them for gifts or rescue, only for honest understanding. He pleads with them to teach him where he has truly erred, insisting his cause is righteous and that he can still discern truth from mischief. The chapter is a moving cry for compassion from those who should have offered it.
Voices
- Job (speaking) — The sufferer who defends his bitter words as the honest cry of overwhelming pain, longs for relief even in death, and grieves his friends' failure to comfort him.
- Eliphaz and the friends (addressed) — The companions Job compares to a deceitful, seasonal brook, asked to show kindness, to teach him honestly, and to stop accusing him.
Key Verse
Job 6:14 (WEB)
“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Lessons Learned
- The desperate need understanding and kindness, not lectures and accusation.
- Honest words spoken from deep pain should be weighed with compassion, not pounced upon.
- Friends who fail us in crisis are like a stream that dries up just when we are most thirsty.
- We can long for relief, even death, and still refuse to deny the words of God.
- Pain has weight that words alone can't capture. Job wishes his anguish were “weighed… heavier than the sand of the seas” (Job 6:2-3, WEB), explaining why his speech has been rash.
- The suffering deserve kindness. “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend” (Job 6:14, WEB); compassion, not correction, is what a sufferer needs.
- Fair-weather friends fail in the heat. Job compares his friends to brooks that “vanish” when “it is hot” (Job 6:17, WEB), present in ease but absent in real need.
- Honesty welcomes correction it can verify. “Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred” (Job 6:24, WEB); Job is open to truth, but not to baseless blame.
- How does Job justify the rashness of his earlier words in this chapter?
- What does the image of the dried-up brook (6:15-20) reveal about how Job feels let down by his friends?
- What does Job actually ask of his friends, and how does it differ from what they have given?
- How can Job long for death (6:8-9) while still affirming he has not denied God's words (6:10)?
- Think of a friend going through hardship. How might you be a steady stream rather than a brook that dries up?
- Job pleads that if his anguish could be weighed, it would outweigh the sand of the sea, which is why his words have come out reckless (6:2-3). He feels the arrows of the Almighty poisoning his spirit (6:4). His point is that his speech should be read in light of his agony, not seized upon as proof of guilt.
- Job likens the friends to wadis that run full with snowmelt but disappear in the dry heat, leaving caravans confounded (6:15-20). Just when he most needs them, they offer nothing. The image captures the bitter disappointment of friends who fail precisely when crisis arrives.
- Job did not ask them for gifts, ransom, or rescue (6:22-23); he asks only for kindness, honest teaching about any real error, and to be heard without slander (6:14, 24-25). Instead they offered accusation. Help the group feel the gap between his modest plea and their harsh response.
- Job's wish to be cut off (6:8-9) is the cry of unbearable pain, yet even there his consolation is that he has not denied the words of the Holy One (6:10). His longing for relief does not amount to apostasy; faith and despair coexist in him.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider how to remain present and dependable for hurting friends over the long haul. As leader, emphasize listening and steadfast kindness, and gently acknowledge how easy it is to drift away when others' suffering drags on.