Job 29:25
in Job 29I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I chose out their way, and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.
KJV
I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
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This verse in Job 29
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I chose out their way - That is, I became their guide and counsellor. Rosenmuller and Noyes explain this as meaning, “When I came among them;” that is, when I chose to go in their way, or in their midst. But the former interpretation better agrees with the Hebrew, and with the connection.
This site's exposition
If I smiled at them
on Job 29:24-25
Henry notes that “as a comforter of the mourners” folds even Job's highest office back into the compassion the chapter has listed. The honor Job recites is measured in what he gave away, the record that the charges of Eliphaz in chapter 22 tried to invert.
This site's exposition
a comforter of the mourners
Barnes reads I chose their course as Job guiding them in counsel. Wesley sees a king whose presence heartens his troops. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown hear in a comforter of the mourners a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
If I was minded to go to them, I sat chief. And when I sat as a king with an army standing round, nevertheless I was the Comforter of those that mourned. Because in the heart of lost sinners, the actions of the flesh are in the first place, and of the soul in the second, surely in their thoughts Christ 'sits' not 'first' but 'last.'
Third, he shows that he was not immoderate in honors, because he did not even desire them, and so he says, "If I wished to go to them," which I did not do easily, "I used to sit in the first place," for I was …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Sat - As a prince or judge, while they stood waiting for my counsel. A king - Whose presence puts life, and courage, into the whole army. As one - As I was ready to comfort any afflicted persons, so my consolations were always welcome to them.
I know not but we may look upon Job as a type and figure of Christ in his power and prosperity. Our Lord Jesus is such a King as Job was, the poor man's King, who loves righteousness and hates iniquity, and upon whom the blessing of a world ready to perish comes; see Ps. lxxii.
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; 4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; 5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
I chose out their way,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
I chose out their way--that is, I willingly went up to their assembly (from my country residence, Job 29:7). in the army--as a king supreme in the midst of his army. comforteth the mourners--Here again Job unconsciously foreshadows Jesus Christ (Isa 61:2, 3). Job's afflictions, as those of Jesus Christ, were fitting him for the office hereafter (Isa 50:4;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
I chose out their way, and sat chief - as a king in the army - I cannot see, with some learned men, that our version of the original is wrong. I have not seen it mended, and I am sure I cannot improve it. The whole verse seems to me to point out Job in his civil, military, and domestic life. As supreme magistrate he chose out their way, adjusted their differences, and sat chief, presiding in all their civil assemblies. As captain general he dwelt as a king in the midst of his troops, preserving order and discipline, and seeing that his fellow soldiers were provided with requisites for their warfare, and the necessaries of life. As a man he did not think himself superior to the meanest offices in domestic life, to relieve or support his fellow creatures; he went about comforting the mourners - visiting the sick and afflicted, and ministering to their wants, and seeing that the wounded were properly attended. Noble Job! Look at him, ye nobles of the earth, ye lieutenants of counties, ye generals of armies, and ye lords of provinces. Look at Job! Imitate his active benevolence, and be healthy and happy. Be as guardian angels in your particular districts, blessing all by your example and your bounty. Send your hunting horses to the plough, your game cocks to the dunghill; and at last live like men and Christians.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֶֽבֲחַ֣ר | ʾevachar | I chose | H977 → | 171 times |
| דַּרְכָּם֮ | darkam | way their | H1870 → | 707 times |
| וְאֵשֵׁ֪ב | veeshev | so I may sit | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| רֹ֥אשׁ | rosh | [as] chief | H7218 → | 599 times |
| וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹן | veeshkon | so I may dwell | H7931 → | 129 times |
| כְּמֶ֣לֶךְ | kemelekh | like a king | H4428 → | 2525 times |
| בַּגְּד֑וּד | bagedud | among the troop[s] | H1416 → | 33 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אֲבֵלִ֣ים | ʾavelim | mourners | H57 → | |
| יְנַחֵֽם׃ | yenachem | someone comforts | H5162 → | 108 times |
אֶֽבֲחַ֣רI chose
ʾevacharH977 →171 times
דַּרְכָּם֮way their
darkamH1870 →707 times
וְאֵשֵׁ֪בso I may sit
veeshevH3427 →1079 times
רֹ֥אשׁ[as] chief
roshH7218 →599 times
וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹןso I may dwell
veeshkonH7931 →129 times
כְּמֶ֣לֶךְlike a king
kemelekhH4428 →2525 times
בַּגְּד֑וּדamong the troop[s]
bagedudH1416 →33 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
אֲבֵלִ֣יםmourners
ʾavelimH57 →
יְנַחֵֽם׃someone comforts
yenachemH5162 →108 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 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
Genesis 41:40You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
it leads to
- Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
- Acts 7:10
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
- Psalms 105:21–22
He made him master of his household, ruler over all his substance,
- Psalms 2:12
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
- Genesis 39:4–6
Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted him with everything he owned.
- Proverbs 22:29
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 Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Job; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XX; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; 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.