Job 29:6
in Job 29when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out streams of oil!
KJV
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
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This verse in Job 29
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
When I washed my steps with butter - On the word rendered “butter,” see the notes at Isa 7:15. It properly means curdled milk. Umbreit renders it, Sahne; cream. Noyes, milk, and so Wemyss. The Septuagint, “When my ways flowed with butter” - βουτύρῳ bouturō. So Coverdale, “When my ways ran over with butter.” Herder, “And where I went a stream of milk flowed on.” The sense may be, that cream or butter was so plenty that he was able to make use of it for the most common purposes - even for that of washing his feet.
This site's exposition
when I was in my prime
on Job 29:4-6
The first loss Job names is closeness with God, when “the friendship of God rested on my tent”. Gill reads that friendship as friendly counsel shared in confidence, the intimacy of Psalm 25:14. Delitzsch takes “my steps were bathed in cream” and “streams of oil” as pastoral hyperbole for abundance.
This site's exposition
my steps were bathed in cream
The Hebrew word for cream is curdled milk, says Barnes. Cream bathed Job's steps and oil poured from the rock, a picture of plenty. Aquinas adds that ancient wealth lay in cattle, the source of the cream.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church2 voices
Further he continues on to the abundance of things which concern the enjoyment of life when he says, "when I washed my feet in butter." Among the ancients, riches consisted primarily in cattle, from which money takes its name, according to Augustine. Among cattle products …
When I washed my feet with butter. And the rock poured me out rivers of oil. Whereas we have already frequently said that Christ and the Church are one person, He, that is to say, the Head of that Body, and She the Body of that Head; these words are to be understood after the voice of the Head in one way, after the voice of the Body in another way. Whom then do we take for 'the feet' of the Lord, but the holy Preachers. Of whom He saith, And I will walk in them.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
When I washed my steps with butter,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Image from pastoral life. When I washed my steps--Literal washing of the feet in milk is not meant, as the second clause shows; Margin, "with me," that is, "near" my path, wherever I walked (De 32:13).
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Washed my steps with butter - See the note on Job 20:17.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בִּרְחֹ֣ץ | birchotz | when bathed | H7364 → | |
| הֲלִיכַ֣י | halikhai | steps my | H1978 → | |
| בְּחֵמָ֑ה | bechemah | in curd<s> | H2529 → | |
| וְצ֥וּר | vetzur | and a rock | H6697 → | 78 times |
| יָצ֥וּק | yatzuk | it poured out | H6694 → | |
| עִ֝מָּדִ֗י | ʾimadi | beside me | H5978 → | 42 times |
| פַּלְגֵי־ | palgei- | streams of | H6388 → | |
| שָֽׁמֶן׃ | shamen | oil | H8081 → |
בִּרְחֹ֣ץwhen bathed
birchotzH7364 →
הֲלִיכַ֣יsteps my
halikhaiH1978 →
בְּחֵמָ֑הin curd<s>
bechemahH2529 →
וְצ֥וּרand a rock
vetzurH6697 →78 times
יָצ֥וּקit poured out
yatzukH6694 →
עִ֝מָּדִ֗יbeside me
ʾimadiH5978 →42 times
פַּלְגֵי־streams of
palgei-H6388 →
שָֽׁמֶן׃oil
shamenH8081 →
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
Psalms 81:16But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 32:13–14
He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him the produce of the field. He nourished him with honey from the rock and oil from the flinty crag,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 147:14
He makes peace at your borders; He fills you with the finest wheat.
- 1 Samuel 14:25–26
Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground.
- Deuteronomy 32:13–14
Through
Deuteronomy 33:24And concerning Asher he said: “May Asher be the most blessed of sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot in oil.
it leads to
- Genesis 49:20
Asher’s food will be rich; he shall provide royal delicacies.
- Romans 14:18
For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
- Proverbs 3:3–4
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
- Psalms 128:6
that you may see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
- 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.
- Genesis 49:20
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); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Job; 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); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.