Job 6:19
Job 6:19 in Multiple Translations
The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.
The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:
Caravans from Tema looked, travelers from Sheba were confident,
They that go to Tema, considered them, and they that goe to Sheba, waited for them.
Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
The men in those caravans search for some water because they are sure that they will find some.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 6:19
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 6:19 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הִ֭בִּיטוּ
אָרְח֣וֹת
תֵּמָ֑א
הֲלִיכֹ֥ת
שְׁ֝בָ֗א
קִוּוּ
לָֽ/מוֹ
הִ֭בִּיטוּ
nâbaṭ
H5027
to look
V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp
אָרְח֣וֹת
ʼôrach
H734
way
N-cp
תֵּמָ֑א
Têymâʼ
H8485
Tema
N-proper
הֲלִיכֹ֥ת
hălîykâh
H1979
walk
N-fp
שְׁ֝בָ֗א
Shᵉbâʼ
H7614
Sheba
N-proper
קִוּוּ
qâvâh
H6960
to await
V-Piel-Perf-3cp
לָֽ/מוֹ
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 6:19
הִ֭בִּיטוּ
nâbaṭ
H5027
"to look"
V-Hiphil-Perf-3cp
This verb means to look or regard something carefully. It can also mean to show favor or care for someone. In the Bible, it is used to describe how God looks at his people with favor and care, as seen in Psalm 138:6.
Definition: 1) to look, regard 1a) (Piel) to look 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) tolook 1b2) to regard, show regard to, pay attention to, consider 1b3) to look upon, regard, show regard to
Usage: Occurs in 67 OT verses. KJV: (cause to) behold, consider, look (down), regard, have respect, see. See also: Genesis 15:5; Psalms 104:32; Psalms 10:14.
אָרְח֣וֹת
ʼôrach
H734
"way"
N-cp
A way or path, describing a road or journey, whether physical or metaphorical. This term is used to talk about travel, direction, and life's journey, often in wisdom literature and prophetic writings. It is found in books like Proverbs and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) way, path 1a) path, road 1b) the path, way, passing of life (fig.) 1c) way of living (fig.) 1d) traveller, wayfarer (meton) Aramaic equivalent: o.rach (אֹ֫רַח "way" H0735)
Usage: Occurs in 58 OT verses. KJV: manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop, (by-, high-) way. See also: Genesis 18:11; Proverbs 1:19; Psalms 8:9.
תֵּמָ֑א
Têymâʼ
H8485
"Tema"
N-proper
Tema refers to a son of Ishmael and the desert region he settled. It appears in Genesis as a place name. This area is associated with Ishmael's descendants.
Definition: § Tema = "desert" the land settled by Tema the son of Ishmael
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: Tema. See also: Genesis 25:15; Job 6:19; Isaiah 21:14.
הֲלִיכֹ֥ת
hălîykâh
H1979
"walk"
N-fp
Refers to the act of walking or traveling, often in a group or procession. It can also describe a company of people on the move. Used in the Bible to describe the Israelites' journeys.
Definition: 1) going, doing, travelling company, way 1a) going, walk, marching, doings 1b) travelling company, caravan
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: company, going, walk, way. See also: Job 6:19; Proverbs 31:27; Psalms 68:25.
שְׁ֝בָ֗א
Shᵉbâʼ
H7614
"Sheba"
N-proper
Sheba was a region in southern Arabia, also the name of a man who was an ancestor of a tribe. The Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon, as told in 1 Kings 10. The region of Sheba was known for its wealth and trade.
Definition: § Sheba = "seven" or "an oath" a nation in southern Arabia
Usage: Occurs in 23 OT verses. KJV: Sheba, Sabeans. See also: Genesis 10:7; 2 Chronicles 9:3; Psalms 72:10.
קִוּוּ
qâvâh
H6960
"to await"
V-Piel-Perf-3cp
This Hebrew word means to collect or gather things together, and can also mean to wait patiently for something. It is used in Psalms and Proverbs to describe waiting on God.
Definition: 1) to wait, look for, hope, expect 1a) (Qal) waiting (participle) 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to wait or look eagerly for 1b2) to lie in wait for 1b3) to wait for, linger for
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon). See also: Genesis 1:9; Isaiah 5:2; Psalms 25:3.
לָֽ/מוֹ
""
Prep | Suff
Study Notes — Job 6:19
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 6:19 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 6:19
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 6:19
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 6:19
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 6:19
- Ellicott's Commentary on Job 6:19
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 6:19
- Cambridge Bible on Job 6:19
- Barnes' Notes on Job 6:19
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 6:19
- Sermons on Job 6:19
Context — Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just
17but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.
18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.
19The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
20They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment. 21For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 21:14 | Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food. |
| 2 | Genesis 25:15 | Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 25:23 | Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair; |
| 4 | 1 Kings 10:1 | Now when the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to test him with difficult questions. |
| 5 | Genesis 25:3 | Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites. |
| 6 | Psalms 72:10 | May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. |
| 7 | Ezekiel 27:22–23 | The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged gold, the finest of all spices, and precious stones. Haran, Canneh, and Eden traded with you, and so did the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad. |
| 8 | Genesis 10:7 | The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. |
Job 6:19 Summary
This verse is saying that even the strongest and most confident people, like the caravans of Tema and Sheba, can become weak and desperate when they are searching for something that they cannot find. It's like when we are really thirsty and can't find any water - we become desperate and will do just about anything to get a drink. The Bible is using this example to show us that we all need help and comfort, and that true satisfaction can only be found in God, as seen in Jeremiah 2:13, where God is called the 'spring of living water'. Just like the caravans, we can become disappointed and disillusioned when we look to the world for fulfillment, but God is always available to us, as seen in Hebrews 4:16, where we are encouraged to come to Him for help in our time of need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of Tema and Sheba in this verse?
Tema and Sheba were important trade centers in the ancient world, known for their wealth and commerce, as mentioned in Genesis 10:7 and 1 Kings 10:1-2, and their caravans searching for water illustrate the desperation of those seeking relief in times of hardship.
Why does the Bible use the example of caravans looking for water?
The Bible uses this example to convey the idea that even those who are strong and self-sufficient, like the caravans of Tema and Sheba, can become desperate and helpless in the face of adversity, as seen in Psalm 107:4-5, where travelers in the wilderness cry out to God for help.
How does this verse relate to Job's situation?
This verse is part of Job's lament, where he is expressing his own feelings of desperation and disappointment, as seen in Job 6:20, where he says that his friends' arrival brings disappointment, and he feels that they are of no help to him.
What can we learn from the disappointment of the travelers in this verse?
We can learn that true satisfaction and comfort can only be found in God, as stated in Psalm 42:1-2, where the psalmist expresses his longing for God, and that worldly things, like water for the caravans, can never fully satisfy our deepest needs, as seen in Ecclesiastes 1:8, where the author notes that worldly pursuits are ultimately vain.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have been like the caravans of Tema and Sheba, searching for satisfaction in things that cannot truly fulfill me?
- How can I apply the lesson of this verse to my own life, recognizing that true comfort and strength come from God alone, as seen in Isaiah 40:31?
- What are some times in my life when I have felt like Job, disappointed and helpless, and how can I trust in God's sovereignty and goodness during those times, as seen in Romans 8:28?
- In what ways can I be a source of comfort and help to others, rather than a disappointment, as seen in Galatians 6:2, where we are called to bear one another's burdens?
Gill's Exposition on Job 6:19
The troops of Tema looked,.... A city in Arabia, so called from Tema a son of Ishmael, Genesis 25:15; these troops or companies were travelling ones, either that travelled to Tema, or that went from
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 6:19
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. The troops - i:e., caravans. Tema, north of Arabia Deserta, near the Syrian desert, called from Tema son of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15; Isaiah 21:14; Jeremiah 25:23).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 6:19
The troops, as this word is used, . Heb. the ways, put for the travellers in the ways, by a usual metonymy. And so it must needs be meant here, and in the next clause, because the following verse, They were confounded, &c., plainly showeth that he here speaks of persons, not of senseless things. Tema: this place and Sheba were both parts of the hot and dry country of Arabia, in which waters were very scarce, and therefore precious and desirable, especially to travellers, who by their motion, and the heat to which they were exposed, were more hot and thirsty than other men. The companies; as before, the troops. And thus he speaks, because men did not there travel singly, as here we do, but in troops and companies, for their greater security against wild beasts and robbers, of which they had great store.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 6:19
Job 6:19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.Ver. 19. The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them] The troops, that is, the travellers, the caravan or company of merchants from those parts, passing through dangerous and dry deserts, expected relief from those brooks which they had marked out for themselves against summer; but with what success?
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 6:19
(19) The troops of Tema.—Fürst says of Tema that it was a tract in the north of the Arabian Desert, on the borders of the Syrian one, where traffic was carried on from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean by caravans (Isaiah 21:14; Jeremiah 25:23; Job 6:19). Sheba, as understood here, was probably a district on the Arabian Gulf (see Job 1:15), where merchants trafficked with the distant cities of the East, as well as enriched themselves with the plunder of their neighbours, as in Job 1:15.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 6:19
Verse 19. The troops of Tema looked] The caravans coming from Tema are represented as arriving at those places where it was well known torrents did descend from the mountains, and they were full of expectation that here they could not only slake their thirst, but fill their girbas or water-skins; but when they arrive, they find the waters totally dissipated and lost. In vain did the caravans of Sheba wait for them; they did not reappear: and they were confounded, because they had hoped to find here refreshment and rest.
Cambridge Bible on Job 6:19
19. Tema lies in the northern highlands of Arabia, towards the Syrian desert, Isaiah 21:14; Jeremiah 25:33. On Sheba see Job 1:15.
Barnes' Notes on Job 6:19
The troops of Tema looked - That is, looked for the streams of water. On the situation of Tema, see Notes, Job 2:11. This was the country of Eliphaz, and the image would be well understood by him.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 6:19
19. Troops of Tema — The caravans of Tema. Job now enlarges, according to Oriental usage, upon the thought of the preceding verse, and specifies the mighty caravans of Tema and Sheba.
Sermons on Job 6:19
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(1 Kings) the Wisdom of Solomon by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of organization and order in the Bible. He uses the example of God organizing the Israelites in the book of Numbers to emphasiz |
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The Church's Threefold Temptation by Vance Havner | The sermon transcript discusses the importance of approaching church and sermons with a hungry heart, seeking blessings rather than finding faults. The speaker criticizes the tende |
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How Quickly We Turn Away by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher begins by acknowledging his unworthiness to stand in the pulpit and emphasizes his reliance on the righteousness of Jesus. He prays for the conviction |
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Christ Is Greater 03 Greater Than Solomon by Neil Fraser | In this sermon, the preacher begins by describing a scene of a man trapped in a burning building, desperately calling for help. Eventually, a fireman arrives and extends a ladder t |
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The Queen of Sheba by Phil Beach Jr. | Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the importance of recognizing the greatness of Jesus Christ compared to the Queen of Sheba's admiration for King Solomon. He challenges the congregation t |
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His Excellent Greatness by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the excellent greatness of the Lord Jesus, drawing parallels between Him and Solomon's dominion, bounty, and glory. He highlights that only the Father f |
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She Came to Prove Solomon With Hard Questions. by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of bringing our difficult questions to Christ, who surpasses even Solomon in wisdom. He encourages believers to approach Christ with a spirit o |