a companion of ostriches
Ostriches are known for their solitary nature and are often found in barren, desert regions. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, ostriches were seen as symbols of neglect and abandonment, as referenced in Lamentations 4:3, where they are described as neglectful of their young. By calling himself a "companion of ostriches," Job emphasizes his sense of being forsaken and left in a barren emotional and spiritual landscape. This imagery complements the previous mention of jackals, reinforcing the theme of desolation and isolation. The use of such vivid animal imagery highlights Job's profound suffering and alienation from his former life of prosperity and community.

Job opens with a deeply personal lament, signaling a shift from who he once was to who he now feels himself to be.

• His “becoming” is the language of change—much like Naomi’s “Call me Mara” in Ruth 1:20, or David’s confession “my strength fails me” in Psalm 31:10.

• Job is not exaggerating; he is acknowledging the literal collapse of every social and emotional support. Compare Job 19:13-19, where friends, relatives, and servants alike have withdrawn.

• This confession underscores the authenticity of biblical lament: Scripture records both triumphant praise and raw sorrow (Psalm 42:3; Lamentations 3:17-18).

Jackals are nighttime scavengers associated with desolation.

• Isaiah 34:13-14 pictures abandoned Edom: “It will be a haunt for jackals.” Job sees himself joined to those creatures that roam ruined places.

• Brotherhood implies shared identity. Like jackals that howl over what is broken, Job feels kin to ruins more than to people.

• The image drives home the literal devastation of his surroundings—razed property (Job 1:19), children’s graves, and a household reduced to silence.

• Cross-reference Psalm 44:19: “You have crushed us in the place of jackals.” The same linkage of jackals with suffering reinforces Job’s sense that God’s hand is behind the scene, though God has not spoken yet.

Ostriches are portrayed as harsh, isolated birds (Job 39:13-18).

• They lay eggs in the sand and “forget that a foot may crush them” (Job 39:15). Companionship with ostriches speaks of abandonment and the absence of tender care—exactly how Job feels toward his friends (Job 16:2).

• Ostrich calls are eerie, echoing across empty landscapes. Job’s companionship with them suggests his own cries (Job 30:20) resound unanswered.

• Micah 1:8 uses the same pairing—“I will wail like jackals and mourn like ostriches”—highlighting that both animals symbolize mournful, lonely outcries in barren places.

Job 30:29 captures the moment a once-honored man recognizes that devastation has made him family to scavengers and solitary birds. He has shifted from community to desolation, from human fellowship to the company of creatures linked with ruins. The verse confronts us with the real depth of suffering while assuring us that Scripture truthfully records such valleys. Even here, Job’s honest lament becomes part of God’s flawless Word, pointing us forward to the God who hears cries in desert places and ultimately restores the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18; James 5:11).

Parallel Commentaries ...