Job 16:10They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
The setting
Ancient Edom/Arabia, ~2000 BC. Job sits in ashes outside his destroyed home, covered in boils, as former friends mock him openly in the town square.
The emotion here: devastated by betrayal from trusted friends
The original word
pāgaʿ (פגע) — violent encounter, to strike with hostile intent
Why it matters
In ancient Middle Eastern culture, striking someone's cheek was the ultimate public insult, worse than physical injury
Read with care
What most readers miss in Job 16:10
The 'gathering together' implies this was organized mockery, not random cruelty
Common misconceptionPeople think Job's friends were always against him, but they actually sat with him in silence for seven days first. This describes the moment they turned cruel.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Job 16:10
Bible Genome reading
Job 16:10 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Job 16:10 comes from the book of Job, written during the Patriarchal period. These words are attributed to Job. The dominant emotion in this verse is lonely, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include social rejection, mockery. Notable phrases: gaped on me; struck me reproachfully.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same lonely
“At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why h…”
— Mark 15:34
“Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house."”
— Mark 6:4
“About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me…”
— Matthew 27:46
“Yahweh God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him."”
— Genesis 2:18
“I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.”
— Job 30:29
Your reflection
What does Job 16:10 mean to you, today?
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