Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud. “And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "my honor is pursued" is crucial here. It's not just about losing good fortune, but actively having his dignity and noble character attacked and scattered, like something being chased relentlessly by a fierce wind. This highlights that for Job, the deepest pain isn't just the loss of things, but the devastation of his reputation and inner sense of worth.
Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud. “And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job is lamenting the complete reversal of his fortunes, feeling attacked by fears and pursued by his enemies as his former status and prosperity vanish like a fleeting cloud. This comes after he's been recounting the scorn he faces from his former associates and the lowest classes of society, who now mock his suffering.
Job feels like a fortress under siege, with every weapon turned against him. What does it mean when 'terrors are turned upon me'?
Job isn't just facing external problems; he feels an overwhelming internal onslaught of fear. The phrase 'terrors are turned upon me' paints a picture of overwhelming force directed specifically at him. It's as if all the fears and anxieties in the world have been gathered and are now aimed directly at his heart and mind. This isn't a gentle breeze of worry; it's a targeted barrage.
Job laments that his 'honor is pursued as by the wind.' What is being chased, and why is it so elusive?
The original language suggests that what is being pursued is not just a fleeting feeling, but Job's very dignity, his noble standing, and his reputation. It's the essence of his honorable life that enemies (or perhaps even God, in his perception) are relentlessly chasing.
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Job's entire world, his 'welfare,' has disappeared 'like a cloud.' What does this imagery tell us about the nature of earthly security?
The image of prosperity or welfare vanishing 'like a cloud' is profoundly poignant. It speaks to the ephemeral nature of earthly blessings and security. Clouds are temporary, constantly changing shape, and can disappear as quickly as they form.
Understand the original words
ballāhâ · Hebrew Noun
Biblically, these are experiences of intense dread, overwhelming fear, or divine judgment that strike the human spirit. They represent the chaotic and destructive forces that threaten the stability and peace of a person's life.
kābôd · Hebrew Noun
The weight, glory, or reputation of a person. It denotes a person’s dignity, social standing, or the intrinsic value ascribed to them, which can be fleeting or stripped away in the eyes of others.
yĕšûʿâ · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the state of being successful, blessed, or flourishing in life, often understood in the Old Testament as a sign of divine favor or covenantal blessing. Its absence or withdrawal is frequently associated with times of suffering or spiritual trial.
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the immaterial part of a human being, the seat of emotions, will, and life itself. In the Bible, it often represents the whole person in their deepest internal experiences, joys, and sufferings.
oni · Hebrew Noun
A state of distress, suffering, or hardship. In Scripture, it often describes the trials faced by the faithful, which serve to test, refine, or humble the individual before God.
This passage echoes Job's feeling of overwhelming distress, stating 'thy wrath lieth hard upon me; and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves,' mirroring Job's sense of being besieged by terrors.
Jeremiah 4:19The prophet Jeremiah cries out, 'My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart!' This expresses a similar internal torment and sense of collapse that Job is experiencing.
Psalm 143:4Here, the Psalmist declares, 'My spirit faints within me; my heart within me is stunned,' which captures the feeling of one's inner strength and well-being being utterly crushed, just as Job describes his welfare passing away.
Lamentations 3:10In this verse, the prophet laments, 'He lies in wait for me like a lion, like a leopard in hiding places,' vividly portraying the sense of being pursued by unseen, relentless terrors, much like Job feels pursued by the wind.
clarkeJob 30:15: "Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud."
Terrors are turned upon me - Defence is no longer useful; they have beat down my walls. They pursue my soul as the wind - I seek safety in flight, my strong holds being no longer tenable; but they pursue me so swiftly, that it is impossible for me to escape. They follow me like a whirlwind; and as fast as that drives away the clouds before it, so is my prosperity destroyed. The word…
wesleyJob 30:15: "Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud."
30:15 Terrors - If he endeavoured to shake them off, they turned furiously upon him: if he endeavoured to out run them, they pursued his soul, as swiftly and violently as the wind.
The phrase "my honor is pursued" is crucial here. It's not just about losing good fortune, but actively having his dignity and noble character attacked and scattered, like something being chased relentlessly by a fierce wind. This highlights that for Job, the deepest pain isn't just the loss of things, but the devastation of his reputation and inner sense of worth.
Job is lamenting the complete reversal of his fortunes, feeling attacked by fears and pursued by his enemies as his former status and prosperity vanish like a fleeting cloud. This comes after he's been recounting the scorn he faces from his former associates and the lowest classes of society, who now mock his suffering.
Job is lamenting the complete reversal of his fortunes, feeling attacked by fears and pursued by his enemies as his former status and prosperity vanish like a fleeting cloud. This comes after he's been recounting the scorn he faces from his former associates and the lowest classes of society, who now mock his suffering.
"Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud. “And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me." — The phrase "my honor is pursued" is crucial here. It's not just about losing good fortune, but actively having his dignity and noble character attacked and scattered, like something being chased rele…
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Last reviewed October 2026