Job 30:1
New International Version
“But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.

New Living Translation
“But now I am mocked by people younger than I, by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs.

English Standard Version
“But now they laugh at me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

Berean Standard Bible
“But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.

King James Bible
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

New King James Version
“But now they mock at me, men younger than I, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.

New American Standard Bible
“But now those who are younger than I mock me, Whose fathers I refused to put with the dogs of my flock.

NASB 1995
“But now those younger than I mock me, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.

NASB 1977
“BUT now those younger than I mock me, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But now those younger than I laugh at me, Whose fathers I rejected even to put with the dogs of my flock.

Amplified Bible
“But now those younger than I mock and laugh at me, Whose fathers I refused to put with the sheepdogs of my flock.

Christian Standard Bible
But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.

American Standard Version
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, Whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

Contemporary English Version
Young people now insult me, although their fathers would have been a disgrace to my sheep dogs.

English Revised Version
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But now those who are younger than I am laugh at me. I didn't think their fathers were fit to sit with the dogs of my flock.

Good News Translation
But men younger than I am make fun of me now! Their fathers have always been so worthless that I wouldn't let them help my dogs guard sheep.

International Standard Version
"But now they mock me; men who are far younger than I, whose fathers I would have hated to entrust with my own sheep dogs.

Majority Standard Bible
?But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs.

NET Bible
"But now they mock me, those who are younger than I, whose fathers I disdained too much to put with my sheep dogs.

New Heart English Bible
"But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.

Webster's Bible Translation
But now they that are younger than I, have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

World English Bible
“But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“And now, laughed at me, "" Have the younger in days than I, "" Whose fathers I have loathed to set "" With the dogs of my flock.

Young's Literal Translation
And now, laughed at me, Have the younger in days than I, Whose fathers I have loathed to set With the dogs of my flock.

Smith's Literal Translation
And now the younger than I laughed upon me, which I rejected their fathers to set with the dogs of my flock.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But now the younger in time scorn me, whose fathers I would not have set with the dogs of my flock:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But now, those younger in years scorn me, whose fathers I would not have seen fit to place with the dogs of my flock,

New American Bible
But now they hold me in derision who are younger than I, Whose fathers I should have disdained to rank with the dogs of my flock.

New Revised Standard Version
“But now they make sport of me, those who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
BUT now they laugh at me, those who are less than I,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And now, behold, those that are inferior to me have laughed at me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, Whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in their turn, whose fathers I set at nought; whom I did not deem worthy to be with my shepherd dogs.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Honor Turned into Contempt
1“But now they mock me, men younger than I am, whose fathers I would have refused to entrust with my sheep dogs. 2What use to me was the strength of their hands, since their vigor had left them?…

Cross References
Job 12:4
I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.

Job 29:8
the young men saw me and withdrew, and the old men rose to their feet.

Job 29:21-25
Men listened to me with expectation, waiting silently for my counsel. / After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew. / They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers. ...

Job 19:13-19
He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me. / My kinsmen have failed me, and my friends have forgotten me. / My guests and maidservants count me as a stranger; I am a foreigner in their sight. ...

Job 17:6
He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.

Job 16:10
They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.

Psalm 35:15-16
But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing. / Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.

Psalm 69:12
Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of drunkards.

Psalm 123:3-4
Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have endured much contempt. / We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.

Lamentations 3:14
I am a laughingstock to all my people; they mock me in song all day long.

Isaiah 53:3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Proverbs 30:17
As for the eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, may the ravens of the valley pluck it out and young vultures devour it.

2 Kings 2:23-24
From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking up the road, a group of boys came out of the city and jeered at him, chanting, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” / Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

Matthew 27:29-31
And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” / Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. / After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him.

Mark 15:19-20
They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him. / After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.


Treasury of Scripture

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

they that are

Job 19:13-19
He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me…

Job 29:8-10
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up…

2 Kings 2:23
And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

younger than I.

Psalm 35:15,16
But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: …

Psalm 69:12
They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.

Mark 14:65
And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.

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Job 30
1. Job's honor is turned into extreme contempt
15. and his prosperity into calamity














But now they mock me
Job is expressing his current state of humiliation and suffering. Once a respected figure, he is now the subject of ridicule. This reflects the theme of reversal of fortunes, a common motif in wisdom literature. Job's lamentation here echoes the broader biblical theme of the righteous suffering unjustly, as seen in the lives of figures like Joseph and David.

men younger than I am
In ancient Near Eastern culture, age was associated with wisdom and respect. Younger men mocking an elder would have been seen as a significant social disgrace. This highlights Job's fall from a position of honor to one of derision, emphasizing the depth of his suffering and the loss of his former status.

whose fathers I would have refused to put with my sheep dogs
Job is emphasizing the low status of those mocking him by comparing them to individuals he would not have trusted even with the lowest of tasks. In the ancient world, shepherding was a humble occupation, and sheep dogs were considered lowly animals. This phrase underscores the irony and injustice of Job's situation, where those of lesser status now feel emboldened to mock him. This can be seen as a reflection of the broader biblical theme of the proud being humbled and the humble being exalted, as seen in the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A man of great faith and integrity, who undergoes severe trials and suffering. In this chapter, he laments his current state of humiliation and loss of respect.

2. Younger Men
These are the individuals who now mock Job. They are described as being of a lower social status and younger in age, highlighting Job's fall from honor.

3. Fathers of the Mockers
Job refers to the fathers of these younger men, indicating that he once considered them unworthy of even tending to his sheepdogs, emphasizing the depth of his current disgrace.

4. Sheepdogs
Symbolic of a lowly position in society, as shepherding was often considered a humble occupation. Job uses this to illustrate the extent of his fall from grace.

5. Mockery
The act of ridicule that Job experiences, which is a significant theme in this chapter, reflecting his profound sense of loss and alienation.
Teaching Points
Humility in Suffering
Job's experience teaches us the importance of maintaining humility, even when we face unjust ridicule or suffering.

The Fleeting Nature of Status
Job's fall from a position of respect to being mocked by those he once deemed unworthy reminds us that earthly status is temporary and should not be our ultimate pursuit.

Empathy for the Suffering
As believers, we are called to empathize with those who suffer and avoid the sin of mockery, recognizing that we are all vulnerable to life's trials.

Trust in God's Justice
Despite the mockery and suffering, Job's account encourages us to trust in God's ultimate justice and righteousness.

The Value of Integrity
Job's integrity remains intact despite his circumstances, teaching us the importance of holding onto our values and faith in adversity.XXX.

(1) Whose fathers I would have disdained.--Rather, whose fathers I disdained to set. The complaint is that the children of those who were so inferior to him should treat him thus.

Verses 1-31. - The contrast is now completed. Having drawn the portrait of himself as he was, rich, honoured, blessed with children, flourishing, in favour with both God and man, Job now presents himself to us as he is, despised of men (vers. 1-10), afflicted of God (ver. 11), a prey to vague terrors (ver. 15), tortured with bodily pains (vers. 17, 18), cast off by God (vers. 19, 20), with nothing but death to look for (vers. 23-31). The chapter is the most touching in the whole book. Verse 1. - But now they that are younger than I have me in derision. As Job had been speaking last of the honour in which he was once held, he beans his contrast by chewing how at present he is disgraced and derided. Men who are outcasts and solitary themselves, poor dwellers in caves (ver. 6), who have much ado to keep body and soul together (vers. 3, 4), and not men only but youths, mere boys, scoff at him, make him a song and a byword (ver. 9). nay, "spare not to spit in his face" (ver. 10). There seem to have been in his vicinity weak and debased tribes, generally contemned and looked down upon, regarded as thieves (ver. 5) by their neighbours, and considered to be of base and vile origin (ver. 8), who saw in Job's calamities a rare opportunity for insulting and triumphing over a member of the superior race which had crushed them, and thus tasting, to a certain extent, the sweetness of revenge. Whose fathers I would have disdained (rather, I disdained) to have set with the dogs of my flock. Job had not thought their fathers worthy of employing even as the lowest class of herdsmen, those reckoned on a par with the sheep-dogs.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But now
וְעַתָּ֤ה ׀ (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

they mock me,
שָֽׂחֲק֣וּ (śā·ḥă·qū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7832: To laugh, to play

men younger
צְעִירִ֥ים (ṣə·‘î·rîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6810: Little, insignificant, young

than I am,
מִמֶּ֗נִּי (mim·men·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

whose
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

fathers
אֲבוֹתָ֑ם (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯām)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

I would have refused
מָאַ֥סְתִּי (mā·’as·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3988: To spurn, to disappear

to put
לָ֝שִׁ֗ית (lā·šîṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7896: To put, set

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

my sheep
צֹאנִֽי׃ (ṣō·nî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

dogs.
כַּלְבֵ֥י (kal·ḇê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3611: A dog, a male prostitute


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OT Poetry: Job 30:1 But now those who are younger than (Jb)
Job 29:25
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