Job 16:20My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
The setting
Job's three friends — Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar — sit nearby, but their comfort has turned to accusation. They believe Job's suffering proves hidden sin...
The emotion here: heartbroken by friends' betrayal while physically suffering
The original word
mālaṣ (מָלַץ) — to scorn, mock, make smooth talk that cuts deep
Why it matters
In ancient cultures, friends who failed to comfort properly brought shame on their entire community
Read with care
What most readers miss in Job 16:20
The word 'scoff' implies his friends are using smooth, religious-sounding words that actually wound
Common misconceptionPeople think Job's friends were trying to help, but by this point they're actually attacking his character and faith.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Job 16:20
Bible Genome reading
Job 16:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Job 16:20 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 60% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include abandonment, prayer. Notable phrases: friends scoff; eyes pour tears to God. This verse is a prayer.
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 16:20 mean to you, today?
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