Job 2:12
And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The intensity of their grief is striking: they didn't just see a sick friend; they were so shocked by Job's disfigurement that they didn't recognize him at first, leading to an unrestrained outburst of weeping and traditional signs of profound mourning like tearing robes and scattering dust toward heaven. This shows that their sorrow wasn't just for Job's troubles, but a visceral reaction to the sheer magnitude of his suffering, indicating how deeply his plight affected them.
Job's three friends have arrived to comfort him after hearing about his terrible suffering. Seeing him from a distance, they are so shocked by his disfigurement from the boils that they don't recognize him. Their hearts immediately go out to him, and they express their profound grief with loud weeping and outward signs of mourning like tearing their clothes and sprinkling dust on their heads, following ancient customs of deep sorrow.
Understand the original words
bakah · Hebrew Verb
A formal expression of intense grief or lamentation. It often involves shedding tears, audible crying, and physical actions, serving as an outward sign of inward agony.
qara' simlah · Hebrew Verb phrase
A common Near Eastern practice symbolizing extreme mourning, repentance, or humiliation. Tearing one’s outer garment (mantle/cloak) represented the "rending" of the heart or the overwhelming nature of the tragedy.
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aphar · Hebrew Noun
A gesture of profound sorrow, mourning, or self-abasement before God. Casting dust on one’s head symbolizes human frailty, mortality, and the recognition that one is but dust before the Creator.
bensonJob 2:12: "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."
Job 2:12 . When they lifted up their eyes afar off — Namely, at some convenient distance from him; whom they found sitting upon the ground, probably in the open air. And knew him not — His countenance being so dreadfully changed and disfigured by the ulcers. They lifted up their voice and wept — Th…
jfbJob 2:9-13: "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die."
Job 2:9-13. Job Reproves His Wife.9. curse God—rather, "renounce" God. (See on [493]Job 1:5) [Umbreit]. However, it was usual among the heathens, when disappointed in their prayers accompanied with offerings to their gods, to reproach and curse them.and die—that is, take thy farewell of God and so die. For no good is to be got out of religion, either here or hereafter; or, at least, not in thi…
The intensity of their grief is striking: they didn't just see a sick friend; they were so shocked by Job's disfigurement that they didn't recognize him at first, leading to an unrestrained outburst of weeping and traditional signs of profound mourning like tearing robes and scattering dust toward heaven. This shows that their sorrow wasn't just for Job's troubles, but a visceral reaction to the sheer magnitude of his suffering, indicating how deeply his plight affected them.
Job's three friends have arrived to comfort him after hearing about his terrible suffering. Seeing him from a distance, they are so shocked by his disfigurement from the boils that they don't recognize him. Their hearts immediately go out to him, and they express their profound grief with loud weeping and outward signs of mourning like tearing their clothes and sprinkling dust on their heads, following ancient customs of deep sorrow.
Job's three friends have arrived to comfort him after hearing about his terrible suffering. Seeing him from a distance, they are so shocked by his disfigurement from the boils that they don't recognize him. Their hearts immediately go out to him, and they express their profound grief with loud weeping and outward signs of mourning like tearing their clothes and sprinkling dust on their heads, following ancient customs of deep sorrow.
"And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven." — The intensity of their grief is striking: they didn't just see a sick friend; they were so shocked by Job's disfigurement that they didn't recognize him at first, leading to an unrestrained outburst…
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