The big picture
Job 16 opens in verse 1 with “Then Job answered and said,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.”, and closes in verse 22 with “When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.” Repeated or prominent terms include witness, asunder, breach, face, grief. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Job · King James Version · 22Job 16:1-8
1–8: Job answered and said,
Job 16:1–8 opens with “Then Job answered and said,” and reaches “And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 16 develops its own movement around witness, asunder, breach, face, grief, with particular weight carried by grief, witness, words.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Then Job answered and said,” Naming Job keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Job 16:1-8
King James Version1Then Job answered and said,
2I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
4I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
Job 16:9-16
9–16: He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his…
Job 16:9–16 opens with “He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy…” and reaches “My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 16 develops its own movement around witness, asunder, breach, face, grief, with particular weight carried by asunder, breach, archers.
Context that brings the passage to life
“He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.” The line’s distinctive content terms include enemy, eyes, gnasheth. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
“God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.
Job 16:9-16
King James Version9He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
Job 16:17-22
17–22: Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
Job 16:17–22 opens with “Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.” and reaches “When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 16 develops its own movement around witness, asunder, breach, face, grief, with particular weight carried by blood, cover, earth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.” Naming Not keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Job 16:17-22
King James Version17Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
22When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Job 16:1 begins with “Then Job answered and said,”
Where the chapter turns
Job 16:7 forms a natural hinge: “But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.”
The final note
Job 16:22 leaves the reader with “When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words witness, asunder, breach, face, grief, hands help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Whose perspective receives unexpected attention?
Hagar's. The messenger finds her, names her and speaks about her future.
What does Ishmael's name commemorate?
God has heard her affliction, according to verse 11.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.