Job 30:5They are driven out from the midst of men. They cry after them as after a thief;
The setting
Ancient Middle Eastern town, ~2000 BC. Job describes outcasts being chased away like thieves, modern equivalent in towns across Jordan and Saudi Arabia where honor-shame culture still dominates.
The emotion here: crushed by the realization that he's become what society despises and violently rejects
The original word
gāraš (גָּרַשׁ) — violently expelled, driven out with force, cast away
Why it matters
In ancient honor-shame cultures, being publicly driven out meant complete social death
Read with care
What most readers miss in Job 30:5
The crowd doesn't just avoid them - they actively chase them away like criminals, shouting and pursuing
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about feeling left out, but Job is describing active persecution - being hunted and chased like a dangerous criminal.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Job 30:5
Bible Genome reading
Job 30:5 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Job 30:5 comes from the book of Job, written during the Patriarchal period. These words are attributed to Job. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include rejection, exile. Notable phrases: driven out; cry after them as after a thief.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Job 30:5 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "grieving"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.