Job 29:13
in Job 29The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
KJV
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
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This verse in Job 29
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The blessing of him that was ready to perish ... - Of the man who was falsely accused, and who was in danger of being condemned, or of him who was exposed to death by poverty and want. And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy - By becoming her patron and friend; by vindicating her cause, and saving her from the oppressive exactions of others; compare Isa 1:17.
This site's exposition
those who heard me called me blessed
on Job 29:11-13
Two witnesses praise Job for rescuing “the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper”. Henry notes that these are the very sufferers Eliphaz had accused Job of sending away empty in 22:9.
This site's exposition
The dying man blessed me
The dying man, says Barnes, was one falsely accused and near death, or one dying of want. Ephrem pictures a poor man without a coat whom Job clothed. Henry notes such men and widows could never repay Job.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"The blessing of the one about to die will come upon me," that is, the blessings of the poor, who, being without a coat, was about to die, will come upon me, as I provided him with a garment. In a different sense, you may …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I comforted the widow's heart. [HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION] Great mercifulness these deeds are proofs of, to 'deliver the poor that crieth,' to minister aid to the 'fatherless,' to rescue one on the point to perish, to 'cheer the heart of the widow.' For above it was said what he put forth in respect of instruction.
Third as to men who live in dangers, and so he says, "The blessing of the man perishing came upon me," that is, the man who had been helped by me in dangers, blessed me. Fourth as to widows, and so he says, "and I …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Darkness - I passed safely through many difficulties, and dangers, and common calamities. Seat - When I caused the seat of justice to be set for me. By this, and several other expressions, it appears that Job was a magistrate.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Those are ungrateful indeed who grudge these small returns. He valued himself by the care he took of those that were least able to help themselves, the poor and the needy, the widows and fatherless, the blind and the lame, who could not be supposed either to merit his favour or ever to be in a capacity to recompense it.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The grounds on which Job was praised (Job 29:11), his helping the afflicted (Ps 72:12) who cried to him for help, as a judge, or as one possessed of means of charity. Translate: "The fatherless who had none to help him."
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
The blessing of the lost who died because of his iniquity and was banished.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
I put on righteousness and it clothed me I pursued righteousness and it is present with me as a coat and a turban, which are beautiful ornaments; so was my judgment beautiful and pure.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בִּרְכַּ֣ת | birkat | [the] blessing of | H1293 → | |
| אֹ֭בֵד | ʾoved | [one] about to perish | H6 → | 184 times |
| עָלַ֣י | ʾalai | on me | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| תָּבֹ֑א | tavo' | it came | H935 → | 2568 times |
| וְלֵ֖ב | velev | and [the] heart of | H3820 → | 595 times |
| אַלְמָנָ֣ה | ʾalmanah | a widow | H490 → | 56 times |
| אַרְנִֽן׃ | ʾarnin | I made sing for joy | H7442 → |
בִּרְכַּ֣ת[the] blessing of
birkatH1293 →
אֹ֭בֵד[one] about to perish
ʾovedH6 →184 times
עָלַ֣יon me
ʾalaiH5921 →5755 times
תָּבֹ֑אit came
tavo'H935 →2568 times
וְלֵ֖בand [the] heart of
velevH3820 →595 times
אַלְמָנָ֣הa widow
ʾalmanahH490 →56 times
אַרְנִֽן׃I made sing for joy
ʾarninH7442 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philemon 1:7I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:13
On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
- 2 Corinthians 7:4
Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:9
How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
- Philemon 1:20
Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
- 3 John 1:3–6
For I was overjoyed when the brothers came and testified about your devotion to the truth, in which you continue to walk.
- 2 Corinthians 7:13
Through
Isaiah 27:13And in that day a great ram’s horn will sound, and those who were perishing in Assyria will come forth with those who were exiles in Egypt. And they will worship the LORD on…
it leads to
- Matthew 24:31
And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
- Leviticus 25:9
Then you are to sound the horn far and wide on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement. You shall sound it throughout your land.
- Isaiah 19:23–25
In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt, and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.
- Matthew 24:31
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Job
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON JOB 29:13; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XIX; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.