Job 30:21 — Word Study
WLCתֵּהָפֵ֣ךְ לְאַכְזָ֣ר לִ֑י בְּעֹ֖צֶם יָדְךָ֣ תִשְׂטְמֵֽנִי׃
BSAYou have ruthlessly turnedhâphak▸ [turned to be cruel] You oppose mesâṭam▸ [with hostility, in opposition] with Your strongʻôtsem [mighty, powerful] handyâd [symbolizing power, direction]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| תֵּהָפֵ֣ךְ | you change yourself | Verb, Niphal, imperfect second person masculine singular |
| לְאַכְזָ֣ר | into [one] cruel | Preposition |
| לִ֑י | to me | Preposition, suffix |
| בְּעֹ֖צֶם | with [the] might of | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct |
| יָדְךָ֣ | hand your | Noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| תִשְׂטְמֵֽנִי׃ | you are hostile to me | Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand. |
| KJV | Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me. |
| ASV | Thou art turned to be cruel to me; With the might of thy hand thou persecutest me. |
| YLT | Thou art turned to be fierce to me, With the strength of Thy hand, Thou oppressest me. |
| WEB | You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me. |
| BBE | You have become cruel to me; the strength of your hand is hard on me. |
The translations agree on the essential meaning of the verse, with no significant differences noted.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by several phrases that elaborate on Job's feelings of cruelty and opposition from God.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbהָפַךְ
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 30:21
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Lamentgenerated
Job 30:21 captures Job's despair as he feels that God has turned against him, treating him with cruelty and hostility. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job expresses his suffering and seeks an explanation for his plight, feeling abandoned by God and tormented by his circumstances. Job's words resonate with themes of suffering and the search for divine justice, which are central to the Book of Job.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 7:20–21 | If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You ? |
| 2 | Job 10:14–17 | If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity. |
| 3 | Job 13:25–28 | Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff? |
| 4 | Job 16:9–14 | His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes. |
| 5 | Job 19:6–9 | then understand that it is God who has wronged me and drawn His net around me. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תֵּהָפֵ֣ךְ, te.ha.Fekhgenerated
The verb הָפַךְ (haphak) means to turn or overturn, indicating a significant change or transformation. In this context, it expresses Job's feeling that God has turned from being a protector to an adversary, implying a reversal of relationship.
The Niphal form suggests a passive or reflexive action, which emphasizes that Job perceives this change as being done to him rather than an action he has caused. This highlights Job's sense of helplessness in the face of divine power.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses turned for תֵּהָפֵ֣ךְ and oppose for תִשְׂטְמֵֽנִי.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb תֵּהָפֵ֣ךְ governs the structure of the verse, with two phrases following it: a prepositional phrase indicating the nature of the change and a clause describing the opposition Job feels. This structure emphasizes Job's direct appeal to God.
The word order places emphasis on the actions of God against Job, highlighting the emotional weight of Job's plea.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates תֵּהָפֵ֣ךְ as ἀνελεημόνως, which conveys a sense of ruthlessness or lack of mercy. This choice reflects a narrowing of the Hebrew term's meaning, focusing on the harshness of God's actions as perceived by Job.
This rendering underscores the emotional intensity of Job's complaint, aligning with the overall theme of suffering and divine justice in the text.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 30:21 shows Job crying out to God, feeling that He has turned against him with cruelty and hostility. Job expresses his pain and confusion, highlighting the deep sense of abandonment he feels in his suffering.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job feels that God, who was once his protector, has now become an adversary, treating him with cruelty and hostility.
Job expresses his feelings of abandonment through his lament, where he pleads for understanding and feels that God is opposing him.
The 'hand' symbolizes God's power and authority, and Job feels that this power is now being used against him.
Job perceives his suffering as evidence of God's opposition, leading him to believe that God has turned against him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I felt abandoned or opposed in my own struggles?
- How can I find comfort in my faith during times of suffering?
- What does it mean for me to trust in God's goodness when I feel like Job?
- How can I better understand the nature of God's power and its implications in my life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early interpretations of Job's lament highlight the struggle to understand divine justice, as seen in quotes from Gregory the Dialogist.
Thou art changed to cruel unto me; and in the hardness of Thy hand Thou opposest Thyself against me. In Holy Scripture when any thing is said of God unworthy, the mind of the reader is affected,Early Church Fathers on Job 30 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 30:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThou art become cruel to me,.... Or "turned", or "changed" (g), to be cruel to me.
Read John Gill on Job 30 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me. Job's outward calamities affect his mind. Poured out - in irrepressible complaints (Psalms 42:4; Joshua 7:5). Verse 17.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 30 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleBecome cruel, Heb. turned to be cruel; as if thou hadst changed thy very nature, which is kind, and merciful, and gracious; and such thou hast been formerly in thy carriage to me; but now thou art grown severe, and rigorous, and inexorable. Thou opposest thyself against me; thy power wherewith I hoped and expected that thou wouldst have supported me under my troubles thou usest against me.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 30 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 30:21 Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.Ver. 21. Thou art become cruel to me] Mutatus es mihi in tyrannum, thou art turned tyrant towards me, so Brentius rendereth it; and the like he had said before, Job 16:13; Job 19:8-10, out of the vehemency of his pain, and the sense of his flesh, which should have been silenced, and faith exalted; the property whereof is to pick one contrary out of another (as life out of death, assurance of deliverance out of deepest distresses, Deuteronomy 32:36), and to persuade the heart that God concealeth his love, out of increased love, and in very faithfulness afflicteth his darlings, that he may be true to…
Read John Trapp on Job 30 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 21. Thou art become cruel to me] Thou appearest to treat me with cruelty. I cry for mercy, trust in thy goodness, and am still permitted to remain under my afflictions. Thou opposest thyself] Instead of helping, thou opposest me; thou appearest as my enemy.
Read AdamClarke on Job 30 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThou art become cruel to me - Margin, turned to be. This language, applied to God, seems to be harsh and irreverent, and it may well be inquired whether the word cruel does not express an idea which Job did not intend.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 30 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible21. Harsh and unjustifiable charges against God, which Elihu justly reproves, Job 33:10.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 30 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.
You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
You have ruthlessly turned on me; You oppose me with Your strong hand.
You have become cruel to me; with the strength of your hand you attack me.
Tyndale line
Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.
Thou art turned to be cruel to me; With the might of thy hand thou persecutest me.
Thou art turned to be cruel to me: with the might of thy hand thou persecutest me.
Thou hast become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.
Thou turnest thy selfe cruelly against me, and art enemie vnto mee with the strength of thine hand.
Strictly literal
Thou art changed to a cruel one to me; with the strength of thy hand thou pursuest me.
Thou art turned to be fierce to me, With the strength of Thy hand, Thou oppressest me.
You are turned to be fierce to me, || With the strength of Your hand, || You oppress me.
Thou art changed into a cruel master toward me: with the strength of thy hand thou assailest me.
You have changed and become cruel to me; with the strength of your hand you persecute me.
From the Latin
Thou art changed to be cruel toward me, and in the hardness of thy hand thou art against me.
Simplified
You have turned cruel to me; you use your power to make me suffer.
You have become cruel to me; the strength of your hand is hard on me.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents תֵּהָפֵ֣ךְ לְאַכְזָ֣ר לִ֑י בְּעֹ֖צֶם יָדְךָ֣ תִשְׂטְמֵֽנִי׃. The Septuagint matches three of the six words, indicating some agreement but differing in word order and structure, which reflects its own interpretative style.
תֵּהָפֵ֣ךְ לְאַכְזָ֣ר לִ֑י בְּעֹ֖צֶם יָדְךָ֣ תִשְׂטְמֵֽנִי׃
3 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 30:21
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
הָפַךְ (haphak) is a Hebrew verb meaning to turn or overturn, with implications of change and transformation. It can describe actions like turning back, being reversed, or even being perverse. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, including reflexive and passive uses, indicating a wide range of applications in the Old Testament.
הָפַךְ vb. turn, overturn
Qal
trans.
turn, turn about, turn over
overturn, overthrow
turn = change, transform
intrans.
turn, turn back
turn = change, change into
Niph.
reflex. & intrans.
turn oneself, turn, turn back
turn = change (oneself)
be perverse
pass.
be turned, turn over to
be reversed
be turned, changed
be overturned, overthrown
be upturned, of subterran. work of miners
Hithp.
turn this way & that, every way
transform oneself
Hoph. there have been turned upon me terrors
base
H2015 הָפַךְ turn, overturn .. trans. . turn, turn about, turn over
. overturn, overthrow
. turn = change, transform
. intrans. . turn, turn back
. turn = change, change into
. . reflex. & intrans. . turn oneself, turn, turn back
. turn = change (oneself)
. be perverse
. pass. . be turned, turn over to
. be reversed
. be turned, changed
. be overturned, overthrown
. be upturned, of subterran. work of miners
. . turn this way & that, every way
. transform oneself
. there have been turned upon me terrors
2015 haphak haw-fak'
a primitive root; to turn about or over; by implication, to
change, overturn, return, pervert:--X become, change, come, be
converted, give, make (a bed), overthrow (-turn), perverse,
retire, tumble, turn (again, aside, back, to the contrary,
every way).
הָפַךְ (ha.phakh) — to overturn.
1) to turn, overthrow, overturn
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to overturn, overthrow
1a2) to turn, turn about, turn over, turn around
1a3) to change, transform
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to turn oneself, turn, turn back
1b2) to change oneself
1b3) to be perverse
1b4) to be turned, be turned over, be changed, be turned against
1b5) to be reversed
1b6) to be overturned, be overthrown
1b7) to be upturned
1c) (Hithpael)
1c1) to transform oneself
1c2) to turn this way and that, turn every way
1d) (Hophal) to turn on someone
V-Niphal-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Niphal · imperfect second person masculine singularHVNi2ms
The Hebrew word אַכְזָר (*akzar*) means cruel or fierce. It is derived from an unused root that suggests acting harshly and can imply violence or deadliness. The entries consistently describe it in a negative sense, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
אַכְזָר adj. cruel, fierce
base
H393 אַכְזָר cruel, fierce
393 'akzar ak-zawr'
from an unused root (apparently meaning to act harshly);
violent; by implication deadly; also (in a good sense)
brave:--cruel, fierce.
אַכְזָר (akh.zar) — cruel.
cruel, fierce
HR/Aamsa — PrepositionHR/Aamsa
נִי (ni) — me.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person singular
HR/Sp1bs — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
עֹ֫צֶם (otsem) refers to concepts of strength and power, as well as bones. It is derived from a root meaning 'to be strong' and encompasses meanings related to might and substance. The entries highlight its dual focus on physical strength and the literal aspect of bones.
עֹ֫צֶם n.[m.] might, bones
base
H6108 עֹ֫צֶם might, bones
6108 `otsem o'-tsem
from 6105; power; hence, body:--might, strong, substance.
see HEBREW for 06105
עֹ֫צֶם (o.tsem) — strength.
1) power, bones, might
1a) might
1b) bones
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular constructHR/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
יָד (yad) means 'hand' and can also refer to strength or power in a figurative sense. It encompasses various technical uses, such as a sign or monument, parts or shares, and even specific components in construction, like axle-trees and supports for the laver. The word is versatile, appearing in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
יָד 1604 n.f. hand
hand
Fig. = strength, power
Fig. = side
יָד is used in various special, technical senses:—
sign, monument
part, fractional part or share
time, repetition
axle-trees
stays, supports for laver
tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle
a (beckoning) hand
יַד with prep.
base
H3027 יָד hand . hand
. Fig. = strength, power
. Fig. = side
. יָד is used in various special, technical senses:— . sign, monument
. part, fractional part or share
. time, repetition
. axle-trees
. stays, supports for laver
. tenons on sides of boards of tabernacle
. a (beckoning) hand
. יַד with prep.
3027 yad yawd
a primitive word; a hand (the open one (indicating power,
means, direction, etc.), in distinction from 3709, the closed
one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of
applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate
and remote (as follows):--(+ be) able, X about, + armholes,
at, axletree, because of, beside, border, X bounty, + broad,
(broken-)handed, X by, charge, coast, + consecrate, +
creditor, custody, debt, dominion, X enough, + fellowship,
force, X from, hand(-staves, -y work), X he, himself, X in,
labour, + large, ledge, (left-)handed, means, X mine,
ministry, near, X of, X order, ordinance, X our, parts, pain,
power, X presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay,
draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, X thee, X by
them, X themselves, X thine own, X thou, through, X throwing,
+ thumb, times, X to, X under, X us, X wait on, (way-)side,
יָד (yad) — hand.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
1d) (various special, technical senses)
1d1) sign, monument
1d2) part, fractional part, share
1d3) time, repetition
1d4) axle-trees, axle
1d5) stays, support (for laver)
1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)
1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
1d8) wrists
יָד (yad) — hand: power.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.)
1d) (various special, technical senses)
1d1) sign, monument
1d2) part, fractional part, share
1d3) time, repetition
1d4) axle-trees, axle
1d5) stays, support (for laver)
1d6) tenons (in tabernacle)
1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure)
1d8) wrists
יָד (yad) — hand: themselves.
: hand/arm[anatomy]
1) hand
1a) hand (of man)
1b) strength, power (fig.)
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffixHNcbsc/Sp2ms
שָׂטַם (satam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to bear a grudge or cherish animosity against someone. It conveys the idea of opposing oneself to another and includes nuances of hatred and persecution. The entries consistently describe it as a primitive root related to animosity, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[שָׂטַם] vb. bear a grudge, cherish animosity, against
base
H7852 [שָׂטַם] bear a grudge, cherish animosity, against
7852 satam saw-tam'
a primitive root; properly, to lurk for, i.e.
persecute:--hate, oppose self against.
שָׂטַם (sa.tam) — to hate.
1) to hate, oppose oneself to, bear a grudge, retain animosity against, cherish animosity against
1a) (Qal) to cherish animosity against
V-Qal-Imperf-2ms | Suff — Verb qal imperfect second person masculine singular · suffixHVqi2ms/Sp1bs