Job 29:25

I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Job addresses an unspecified audience, recounting his former days of social authority before his calamity. He describes a period when his guidance directed the community and his presence commanded deference.

The words — אֶבְחַר ('e.vachar) means "I chose," paired with דֶּרֶךְ (derekh, "way" or "course"), indicating his active selection of paths for others. כֶּמֶלֶךְ (ke-melekh, "like a king") and רֹאשׁ (rosh, "chief") frame his leadership as both structural and symbolic.

The thread — The text's emphasis on appointed authority and comfort runs through Genesis 41:40, where Joseph is placed in charge of Pharaoh's household, and 2 Corinthians 1:3, which identifies God as the "God of all comfort."

Why it lands — The passage states that human influence and leadership are temporary, requiring the reader to assess how they currently exercise authority or seek comfort when their former standing is removed.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אֶֽבֲחַ֣ר'e.va.CharI chose דַּרְכָּם֮dar.Ka/mway/ their וְאֵשֵׁ֪בve./'e.Shevso/ I may sit רֹ֥אשׁrosh[as] chief וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹןVe./'esh.konso/ I may dwell כְּמֶ֣לֶךְke./Me.lekhlike/ a king בַּגְּד֑וּדba./ge.Dudamong the/ troop[s]כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka./'a.Sherjust/ as אֲבֵלִ֣ים'a.ve.Limmourners יְנַחֵֽם׃ye.na.Chemsomeone comforts

King James Version

I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

Cross-references

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan.
Genesis 41:40 You 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.”
Judges 11:8 They answered Jephthah, “This is why we now turn to you, that you may go with us, fight the Ammonites, and become leader over all of us who live in Gilead.”
Isaiah 35:3 Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
1 Thessalonians 3:2 We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,
Deuteronomy 33:5 So the LORD became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered, when the tribes of Israel came together.
2 Samuel 5:2 Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”
1 Chronicles 13:1 Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.