Job 29

29:1–31:40 Job contrasts his former happiness, honor, and wealth (ch 29) with his loss of social dignity and divine friendship (ch 30). He concludes his speech with wide-ranging oaths of innocence (ch 31).

29:2 Although elsewhere Job uses the Hebrew shamar to describe what he perceived as God’s oppressive surveillance (10:14; 13:27; 14:16), here it refers to God’s kindly care (“watch(es) over,” Ps 121:3-8).

29:7 The city gate was a town’s administrative center (see Ruth 4:1-2, 11).

29:14 Job described his righteousness in royal terms. A robe is a common biblical image for righteousness (Ps 132:9; Isa 59:17; 61:10; Rom 13:14; Rev 19:8).

29:16 Job actively searched out and assisted strangers who needed help.

29:18 after a long, good life (literally after I have counted my days like sand): Job thought the length of his years would signify God’s blessing, like the great number of Abraham’s offspring (Gen 15:5; 32:12) or the abundance of Joseph’s supplies in Egypt (Gen 41:49).

29:25 In the past, Job had comforted those who mourned (4:3-4). This verse is a prophetic mandate closely associated with the work of the Messiah (Isa 40:1; 61:1-3; Luke 4:18-19; cp. 2 Cor 1:3-4).