Look at me and be appalled;
Job is speaking to his friends, who have been accusing him of wrongdoing as the cause of his suffering. This phrase highlights Job's physical and emotional state, which is so dire that it should shock and appall anyone who sees him. In the cultural context of the Ancient Near East, physical suffering was often seen as a sign of divine displeasure, which is why Job's friends are so insistent on his guilt. The phrase also reflects the broader theme of the book of Job, which challenges the simplistic understanding of retributive justice. Job's suffering, despite his righteousness, points to the complexity of God's governance of the world. This phrase can be connected to Isaiah 52:14, where the suffering servant is described as being appalling in appearance, a type of Christ who would suffer innocently.

put your hand over your mouth.
This expression is a call for silence and reflection. In the cultural context, putting one's hand over the mouth was a gesture of astonishment or submission, often used when one was confronted with something beyond understanding or when one needed to refrain from speaking out of turn. Job is urging his friends to stop their accusations and consider the gravity of his situation. This gesture is also seen in Proverbs 30:32, where it is advised to put a hand over the mouth to avoid speaking foolishly. The call for silence can be seen as a precursor to the divine speeches later in the book, where God Himself will speak and reveal deeper truths about His nature and the world. This anticipates the ultimate revelation of Christ, who is the Word made flesh, bringing the final and complete revelation of God's purposes.

1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and integrity who undergoes severe trials and suffering. In this chapter, Job is responding to his friends, who have been offering explanations for his suffering.

2. Job's Friends
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who have come to comfort Job but instead accuse him of wrongdoing, suggesting that his suffering is a result of sin.

3. Uz
The land where Job lived, often associated with the region east of Israel, possibly in Edom or northern Arabia.

4. Job's Suffering
The series of calamities that befall Job, including the loss of his children, wealth, and health, which serve as the backdrop for the dialogues in the book.

5. The Dialogue
The ongoing conversation between Job and his friends, where Job defends his innocence and questions the justice of his suffering.The Power of Silence
Silence can be a powerful response in the face of suffering. It allows for reflection and prevents hasty judgments or hurtful words.

Empathy in Suffering
Job's plea for his friends to be appalled and silent highlights the need for empathy. True comfort comes from understanding and sharing in another's pain, not from offering unsolicited advice.

The Mystery of Suffering
Job's situation reminds us that suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin. It challenges us to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty, even when we do not understand our circumstances.

The Importance of Listening
Job's friends failed to truly listen to him. As believers, we are called to listen with compassion and patience, offering support rather than judgment.

Reverence Before God
The call to put a hand over one's mouth can also be seen as a call to reverence before God, acknowledging His ultimate authority and wisdom.Verses 5, 6. - Here we have an abrupt transition. Job is about to controvert Zophar's theory of the certain retribution that overtakes the wicked man in this life, and to maintain that, on the contrary, he usually prospers (vers. 7-18). Knowing that, in thus running counter to the general religious teaching, he will arouse much horror and indignation on the part of those who hear him, he prefaces his remarks with a notice that they will cause astonishment, and an acknowledgment that he himself cannot reflect upon the subject without a feeling of alarm and dismay. He thus hopes partially to disarm his opponents. Verse 5. - Mark me; literally, look to me; i.e. "attend to me," for I am about to say something well worth attention. And be astonished. Prepare yourselves, i.e., for something that will astonish you. And lay your hand upon your mouth. Harpocrates, the Egyptian god of silence, was often represented with his finger on his lips (see the author's 'History of Ancient Egypt,' vol. 1. p. 362). The symbolism is almost universal. Job begs his auditors to "refrain their lips," and, however much astonished, to keep silence until he has concluded.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Look
פְּנוּ־ (pə·nū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6437: To turn, to face, appear, look

at me
אֵלַ֥י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

and be astonished;
וְהָשַׁ֑מּוּ (wə·hā·šam·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8074: To stun, devastate, stupefy

put
וְשִׂ֖ימוּ (wə·śî·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

your hand
יָ֣ד (yāḏ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

your mouth.
פֶּֽה׃ (peh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to


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OT Poetry: Job 21:5 Look at me and be astonished (Jb)