Translations
Modern
When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.
Traditional
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
Literal
And they lifted their eyes from afar, and they did not recognize him. And they lifted their voices and wept, and each man tore his robe, and they scattered dust upon their heads toward the heavens.
Latin
Cumque elevassent procul oculos suos, non cognoverunt eum, et exclamantes ploraverunt, scissisque vestibus sparserunt pulverem super caput suum in cælum.
Original
Hebrew
English
When they lifted up their eyes from afar, they could barely recognize Job. They began to weep aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust in the air over his head.
Notes
They could barely recognize Job: This expression shows how much Job had suffered (compare Isaiah 52:14; 53:3).
Job’s friends showed their grief and began to weep aloud, as if Job was dead.
Throwing dust sometimes showed anger or hate (see 2 Samuel 16:13; Acts 22:23). But here it showed grief (see Joshua 7:6; 1 Samuel 4:12; Nehemiah 9:1; Lamentations 2:10).
Theme notes and profiles
Events
- Job's Trialc. 1650 BC
Glossary
Topics
Dust: Put on the Head in Mourning Friendship: Job and his Three |Friends| Job: A Man Who Lived in Uz: Visited by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar As Comforters Mantle: Ripped As a Token of Grief Mourning for Calamities and Other Sorrows: Ripping the Garments Rending: (Ripping, Tearing) of Garments, an Outward Sign of Affliction Sympathy: General Scriptures Concerning