Bible Strands
Job 30:10
They abhor me and keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Job speaks from his own lament, describing the sudden reversal of his social standing after God has afflicted him and unstrung his bow. His former peers and community now actively reject him.
The words — The Hebrew verb תִּֽ֭עֲבוּ (ti‘ăḇû) means "they abhor," paired with רָ֣חֲקוּ (rāḥăqû), "they are distant," to describe enforced social expulsion. The phrase לֹא־חָ֥שְׂכוּ רֹֽק (lōḥāśəḇū rōq) literally renders "they did not withhold spittle," indicating unreserved public contempt.
The thread — This motif of spitting as disgrace appears in Numbers 12:14, is echoed in Isaiah 50:6 where the suffering servant refuses to hide his face from scorning, and is fulfilled in Matthew 26:67 when Jesus is spat upon.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that divine affliction can strip away human dignity and provoke public humiliation. It asks the reader to confront the reality of isolation without offering immediate comfort or resolution.
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
King James Version
They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 50:6 I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
- Matthew 26:67 Then they spit in His face and struck Him. Others slapped Him
- Numbers 12:14 But the LORD answered Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not have been in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.”
- Psalms 88:8 You have removed my friends from me; You have made me repulsive to them; I am confined and cannot escape.
- Deuteronomy 25:9 his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.”
- Matthew 27:30 Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.
- Job 17:6 He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.
- Job 19:13 He has removed my brothers from me; my acquaintances have abandoned me.
- Job 19:19 All my best friends despise me, and those I love have turned against me.
- Job 42:6 Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes.”