They abhor me; they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse paints a picture of utter rejection, where spitting isn't just a physical act, but a deeply cultural expression of extreme disgust and contempt, done "before my face" as a deliberate insult. This isn't simply about unpleasantness; it signifies being deemed so vile that even proximity to Job is considered defiling by those who once held him in contempt.
They abhor me; they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job is recounting how his former inferiors now mock and scorn him, a stark contrast to his past elevated status. These young men, whom he wouldn't have even associated with his dogs, now hold him in contempt. They actively distance themselves from him, expressing extreme disgust, even to the point of spitting in his presence as a sign of utter revulsion.
Job's suffering isn't just physical pain; it's the crushing weight of human rejection. What does it mean to be 'abhorred'?
In Job's time and in many cultures today, 'abhorrence' is a visceral, deep-seated disgust. It's not simply not liking someone; it's finding them repulsive, utterly unacceptable. The Hebrew word here conveys a sense of something detestable, offensive, and loathsome.
Job's former friends and now this low-life group feel this intense revulsion. It's a rejection that goes beyond mere opinion; it's an emotional and almost physical recoil. This level of contempt strips away a person's dignity and worth in the eyes of others.
Spitting in someone's face sounds extreme, almost unbelievable. What did this act truly signify in the ancient world, and why was it so devastating?
The act of spitting, especially in the face or even in the presence of someone, was a universal symbol of the utmost contempt and disgust in ancient Near Eastern cultures.
It wasn't just a minor insult; it was a public declaration that the person was worthless, unclean, and utterly detestable. Some scholars suggest that even spitting on the ground while talking about someone was a sign of deep disdain. To spit at or in the face of someone was to utterly dehumanize them.
This is why the New Testament records Jesus being spit on – it was the ultimate indignity, fulfilling prophecies and demonstrating the depth of hatred he faced.
Understand the original words
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ta'ab · Hebrew Verb
To loathe or consider something detestable; it implies a deep, visceral sense of repulsion or rejection. It is often used to describe how enemies or the wicked view the righteous or how God views sin.
This passage directly foretells the suffering servant being struck and spat upon, highlighting the extreme humiliation and rejection that Job experiences as a prophetic foreshadowing of Christ.
Matthew 26:67This New Testament account shows the fulfillment of spitting as an act of profound contempt against Jesus, underscoring the deep shame and dehumanization Job describes.
Luke 18:32Jesus himself speaks of being delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, treated shamefully, and spat upon, explicitly linking this act of derision to his own suffering and aligning Job's experience with divine suffering.
Psalm 22:6The psalmist's lament, 'But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people,' echoes Job's profound sense of worthlessness and public shame.
Zechariah 11:8This verse describes the shepherd (a prophetic figure) being rejected and considers the sheep who reject him as 'worthless,' mirroring the utter contempt and revulsion Job faces from his community.
clarkeJob 30:10: "They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face."
They abhor me - What a state must civil society be in when such indignities were permitted to be offered to the aged and afflicted! Job 30:10."And Jehovah said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days?" Numbers 22:14. On which place Sir John Chardin remarks, that "spitting before any one, or spitting upon the ground in speaking of any one's actions, is through the…
wesleyJob 30:10: "They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face."
30:10 Spit - Not literally, for they kept far from him, but figuratively, they use all manner of reproachful expressions, even to my face. Herein, also we see a type of Christ, who was thus made a reproach of men, and despised of the people.
The verse paints a picture of utter rejection, where spitting isn't just a physical act, but a deeply cultural expression of extreme disgust and contempt, done "before my face" as a deliberate insult. This isn't simply about unpleasantness; it signifies being deemed so vile that even proximity to Job is considered defiling by those who once held him in contempt.
Job is recounting how his former inferiors now mock and scorn him, a stark contrast to his past elevated status. These young men, whom he wouldn't have even associated with his dogs, now hold him in contempt. They actively distance themselves from him, expressing extreme disgust, even to the point of spitting in his presence as a sign of utter revulsion.
Job is recounting how his former inferiors now mock and scorn him, a stark contrast to his past elevated status. These young men, whom he wouldn't have even associated with his dogs, now hold him in contempt. They actively distance themselves from him, expressing extreme disgust, even to the point of spitting in his presence as a sign of utter revulsion.
"They abhor me; they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me." — The verse paints a picture of utter rejection, where spitting isn't just a physical act, but a deeply cultural expression of extreme disgust and contempt, done "before my face" as a deliberate insult…
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Last reviewed October 2026