Job’s final defense opens in the golden light of memory: 'Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me.' At the gate the young hid and the aged rose; 'Because I delivered the poor who cried, The fatherless also, who had none to help him.' — 'I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame.' He sat 'as a king in the army, As one who comforts the mourners.'
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
Verse structure: 5 words, 20 letters. The shortest word is "to·take·up" (שְׂאֵ֥ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·he·said" (וַיֹּאמַֽר, 5 letters). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·said" (root אמר, 108x in Job); "Job" (root איוב, 56x in Job); "to·take·up" (root נשא, 28x in Job). Full calculation: וַיֹּ֣סֶף [and·he·added] (156) + אִ֭יּוֹב [Job] (19) + שְׂאֵ֥ת [to·take·up] (701) + מְשָׁל֗וֹ [his·parable] (376) + וַיֹּאמַֽר [and·he·said] (257) = 1509.
Ralbag
Explanation of the words of this response — 'And Job again took up his parable, and said.'
Metzudat David
"And Job again took up his parable" — seeing that until now no one had answered him, he continued to raise his voice further in words of parable, and spoke his words; the parable is "when His lamp shined," etc., and many [images] like it.
Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;
verse value 1694
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 29 letters. The shortest word is "like·days·of" (כִּ֝ימֵ֗י, 4 letters) and the longest is "like·months·of·old" (כְיַרְחֵי־קֶ֑דֶם, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "who?·he·gives·me" (מִֽי־יִתְּנֵ֥נִי), "like·months·of·old" (כְיַרְחֵי־קֶ֑דֶם), "he·kept·me" (יִשְׁמְרֵֽנִי). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "like·days·of" (root יום, 59x in Job); "God" (root אלוה, 41x in Job); "who?·he·gives·me" (root נתן, 33x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'like·months·of·old', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 3 words. Full calculation: מִֽי־יִתְּנֵ֥נִי [who?·he·gives·me] (570) + כְיַרְחֵי־קֶ֑דֶם [like·months·of·old] (392) + כִּ֝ימֵ֗י [like·days·of] (80) + אֱל֣וֹהַּ [God] (42) + יִשְׁמְרֵֽנִי [he·kept·me] (610) = 1694.
Rashi
Would that I were as [in] my early months Like the early days, when I was in my greatness.
Metzudat David
"Oh that I were" — would that I could be now as I was in the months gone by, like the days when my God watched over me.
Malbim
'Oh that I were as in the months of old' — in the time when he was prosperous, and God guarded him from harm.
When His lamp shined above my head, And by His light I walked through darkness;
verse value 1542
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 25 letters. The shortest word is "His·lamp" (נֵ֭רוֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·His·light" (לְ֝אוֹר֗וֹ, 5 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "in·His·shining" (בְּהִלּ֣וֹ), "His·lamp" (נֵ֭רוֹ), "to·His·light" (לְ֝אוֹר֗וֹ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "above" (root על, 90x in Job); "to·His·light" (root אור, 30x in Job); "I·walked" (root הלך, 29x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'my·head', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: בְּהִלּ֣וֹ [in·His·shining] (43) + נֵ֭רוֹ [His·lamp] (256) + עֲלֵ֣י [above] (110) + רֹאשִׁ֑י [my·head] (511) + לְ֝אוֹר֗וֹ [to·His·light] (243) + אֵ֣לֶךְ [I·walked] (51) + חֹֽשֶׁךְ [darkness] (328) = 1542.
Rashi
when He lit His candle [This is] an expression of light and joy. by His light I would go. In every occasion of darkness and trouble that came to the world, I had light.
Ibn Ezra
'By His light I walked' — through the darkness.
Ralbag
'When His lamp shined' [behillo nero] — meaning: when His lamp was shining.
Metzudat David
"When His lamp shined" — when the light of His influence shone upon my head; and when there was darkness in the world, I walked by the light shed upon me by the Omnipresent.
Metzudat Zion
'Shined' [בהלו] — an expression of illumination, of shining, as in 'even the moon has no brightness' (above, Job 25:5).
Malbim
'When His lamp shined' — he now recounts every particular of his successes, • A) Success of the soul — he likens this to a lamp of God that shone above his head, imparting to him wisdom and knowledge, so that by this light he was able to walk even in darkness; for it is not a light that acts upon the physical senses, but one that illumines the soul — 'the lamp of God, searching the chambers of the belly' (cf. Proverbs 20:27).
As I was in the days of my youth, When the converse of God was upon my tent;
verse value 1586
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 32 letters. Verse gematria: 1586 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "upon" (עֲלֵ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "I·was" (הָ֭יִיתִי, 5 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "my·youth" (חׇרְפִּ֑י), "in·converse·of" (בְּס֥וֹד). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon" (root על, 90x in Job); "in·days·of" (root יום, 59x in Job); "I·was" (root היה, 50x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'my·youth', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר [as·that] (521) + הָ֭יִיתִי [I·was] (435) + בִּימֵ֣י [in·days·of] (62) + חׇרְפִּ֑י [my·youth] (298) + בְּס֥וֹד [in·converse·of] (72) + אֱ֝ל֗וֹהַּ [God] (42) + עֲלֵ֣י [upon] (110) + אׇהֳלִֽי [my·tent] (46) = 1586.
Rashi
in my early days Heb. חרפי, in my early days. This is an Aramaism, early crops and late crops (חרפי ואפלי). when God’s counsel was upon my tent When the righteous of the generation would come to my tent, to take counsel in the words of the Holy One, blessed be He, in the Torah and in enacting temporary safeguards.
Ibn Ezra
'As I was in the days of my youth' [chorpi] — meaning my greatness, without parallel, except as fits the context. Some say it is from the sense of the Philistines' defiance [becherpam] when they arrayed for battle against Israel (cf. 1 Samuel 17). Some say it is from 'choref,' autumn, the season when the sowing of seed begins.
Ralbag
'My youth' [chorpi] — meaning: my youth [ne'urai]; the word is related to 'choref' (winter), since that is when the sowing season begins.
Metzudat David
"As I was" — this refers back to "Oh that I were," meaning: would that I could be as I was in the days of my youth, when everyone gathered at my tent to share sweet counsel concerning the command of God.
Metzudat Zion
'My youth' [חרפי] — [means] my earlier days; and in the words of our Sages, 'my choref [prime] and my afel [decline]' (Niddah 65b). 'The converse' [בסוד] — an expression of counsel, [so called] because it is conducted in confidence; or perhaps because counsel is, for the deed that follows, like a foundation is for a building. 'Upon my tent' [עלי אהלי] — [i.e.,] over my tent.
Malbim
as, • B) Bodily success, from health — 'as I was in the days of my youth,' referring to the days of his young manhood; 'when the converse of God was upon my tent' — meaning that his natural and vital faculties, which are governed by the counsel of Hashem, His guidance, His influence, and the fellowship of the powers of God, were working with strength within the tent of his body, so that he was robust and sound in health.
When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me;
verse value 1340
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 22 letters. The shortest word is "the·Almighty" (שַׁ֭דַּי, 3 letters) and the longest is "about·me" (סְבִ֖יבוֹתַ֣י, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "in·still" (בְּע֣וֹד), "about·me" (סְבִ֖יבוֹתַ֣י), "my·children" (נְעָרָֽי). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·Almighty" (root שדי, 31x in Job); "with·me" (root עמד, 22x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: בְּע֣וֹד [in·still] (82) + שַׁ֭דַּי [the·Almighty] (314) + עִמָּדִ֑י [with·me] (124) + סְבִ֖יבוֹתַ֣י [about·me] (490) + נְעָרָֽי [my·children] (330) = 1340.
Rashi
my young men My servants.
Metzudat David
"When the Almighty was yet with me" — at the time when the Almighty was still with me to do good for me, and my young men were around me to attend me.
Malbim
when, • C) The success of his children — 'while the Almighty was yet with me, and my children,' that is, his sons, 'were about me.'
When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
verse value 1575
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 32 letters. The shortest word is "in·washing·of" (בִּרְחֹ֣ץ, 4 letters) and the longest is "rivers·of·oil" (פַּלְגֵי־שָֽׁמֶן, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "in·washing·of" (בִּרְחֹ֣ץ), "my·steps" (הֲלִיכַ֣י), "in·butter" (בְּחֵמָ֑ה). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "with·me" (root עמד, 22x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·butter', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 4 words. Full calculation: בִּרְחֹ֣ץ [in·washing·of] (300) + הֲלִיכַ֣י [my·steps] (75) + בְּחֵמָ֑ה [in·butter] (55) + וְצ֥וּר [and·rock] (302) + יָצ֥וּק [poured] (206) + עִ֝מָּדִ֗י [with·me] (124) + פַּלְגֵי־שָֽׁמֶן [rivers·of·oil] (513) = 1575.
Rashi
my feet Heb. הליכי, my feet. with cream Heb. בְּחֵמָה, like בחמאה. and the rock that was with me would pour forth rivulets of oil i.e., all the desires of my heart, which are as pleasing as rivulets of oil. would pour as in (Lev. 2:6), “and you shall pour.”
Ibn Ezra
'With butter' [bachamah] — the alef is missing, and the word really is 'bechem'ah' (with butter); like the alternation between 'Beit-shan' and, elsewhere, 'Beit-she'an' [with the alef] — and this image is by way of hyperbole.
Ralbag
'Bachemah' — meaning: in butter [bechem'ah]. 'Poured out' [yatzuq] — meaning: they would flow forth from it.
Metzudat David
"When my steps were washed with butter" — at the time my walking-places were washed in butter; this is a manner of exaggeration and hyperbole, to say that the abundance was so great that the butter would spill upon the ground and no one would gather it up, for it would be scorned on account of the sheer abundance of everything. "And the rock" — the rock that was with me poured out and streamed rivers of oil; this is a parable for the abundance of plenty and the greatness of my success.
Metzudat Zion
'With butter' [בחמה] — [this is] like bechem'ah, that is, the fat of milk.
Malbim
when, • D) The success of his possessions — at the time when 'my steps were washed with butter,' until the road was smooth to walk upon; and also 'the rock poured me out rivers of oil' — from the hard rock, when it was with me, rivers of oil were poured out. That is to say, even things not naturally suited to yield profit or wealth — just as a rock is not suited to have liquid flow from it — were, in my case, all transformed into success, into rivers of oil and great riches.
When I went forth to the gate to the city, When I prepared my seat in the broad place,
verse value 2540
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. The shortest word is "gate" (שַׁ֣עַר, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·city" (עֲלֵי־קָ֑רֶת, 6 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "when·I·went·forth" (בְּצֵ֣אתִי), "to·city" (עֲלֵי־קָ֑רֶת), "in·the·broad·place" (בָּ֝רְח֗וֹב). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "when·I·went·forth" (root יצא, 28x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·city', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: בְּצֵ֣אתִי [when·I·went·forth] (503) + שַׁ֣עַר [gate] (570) + עֲלֵי־קָ֑רֶת [to·city] (810) + בָּ֝רְח֗וֹב [in·the·broad·place] (218) + אָכִ֥ין [I·prepared] (81) + מוֹשָׁבִֽי [my·seat] (358) = 2540.
Rashi
the ceiling a high ceiling, prepared for a chair for the elders of the city to sit on. and when I was in the square, I would prepare my seat.
Ibn Ezra
'To the city' [keret] — the gate of the city.
Ralbag
'To the gate, upon the city' [sha'ar alei qeret] — meaning: at the gate of the city, into the town; that is to say, over the city.
Metzudat David
"When I went forth to the gate to the city" — at the time I went out to the gate near the city, to sit in the assembly of the elders, whose custom it was to sit at the city gate, as it says, "unto the elders of the city, unto the gate" (Deuteronomy 22:15). "When I prepared my seat in the broad place" — at the time I prepared my seat in the open square of the city.
Metzudat Zion
'To the city' [עלי קרת] — [means] alongside the town, the city.
Malbim
when I went forth, • E) The honor that was mine — at the time 'I went forth to the gate,' where the elders sat and judgment was rendered, 'and I prepared my seat in the broad place,' among the people. Then —
The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged rose up and stood;
verse value 1652
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 30 letters. The shortest word is "they·rose·up" (קָ֣מוּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·aged" (וִ֝ישִׁישִׁ֗ים, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "they·saw·me" (רָא֣וּנִי), "young·men" (נְעָרִ֣ים), "and·they·hid·themselves" (וְנֶחְבָּ֑אוּ). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "they·saw·me" (root ראה, 52x in Job); "they·rose·up" (root קום, 22x in Job); "they·stood" (root עמד, 22x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·they·hid·themselves', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: רָא֣וּנִי [they·saw·me] (267) + נְעָרִ֣ים [young·men] (370) + וְנֶחְבָּ֑אוּ [and·they·hid·themselves] (73) + וִ֝ישִׁישִׁ֗ים [and·aged] (676) + קָ֣מוּ [they·rose·up] (146) + עָמָֽדוּ [they·stood] (120) = 1652.
Rashi
Youths saw me They would see me and hide, and old men stood in my presence.
Metzudat David
"The young men saw me" — when the young men saw me, they hid themselves out of shame, ashamed to be seen before me. "And the aged rose up and stood" — they rose before me and remained standing, and their hearts did not permit them to sit with me.
Metzudat Zion
'Hid themselves' [ונחבאו] — [i.e.,] they concealed themselves.
Malbim
'The young men saw me and hid themselves' — out of fear and reverence for my honor. 'And the aged rose up and stood' — here it was just the reverse of the usual custom, whereby the young rise before the elders; instead, they rose before me. And it was not that they merely rose for a moment, but that they remained standing.
The princes refrained talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;
verse value 1675
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 26 letters. The shortest word is "and·hand" (וְ֝כַ֗ף, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·words" (בְמִלִּ֑ים, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 366: they·refrained, they·laid. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "they·refrained" (עָצְר֣וּ), "and·hand" (וְ֝כַ֗ף), "to·their·mouth" (לְפִיהֶֽם). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "they·laid" (root שים, 38x in Job); "in·words" (root מלה, 34x in Job); "to·their·mouth" (root פה, 31x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·words', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: שָׂ֭רִים [princes] (550) + עָצְר֣וּ [they·refrained] (366) + בְמִלִּ֑ים [in·words] (122) + וְ֝כַ֗ף [and·hand] (106) + יָשִׂ֥ימוּ [they·laid] (366) + לְפִיהֶֽם [to·their·mouth] (165) = 1675.
Rashi
Princes refrained from talking and would wait until I started the conversation.
Metzudat David
"The princes refrained talking" — they held back their words and did not finish their statements on account of his arrival, and they stopped their mouths with their hand and spoke no more.
Metzudat Zion
'Refrained' [עצרו] — [means] they held back, as in 'held back from words' (above, Job 4:2). 'Hand' [כף] — [i.e.,] the palm of the hand.
Malbim
'The princes refrained talking' — the princes, whose custom it is to speak, command, and give orders, held back their words in my presence, for it was I who gave the orders in their place.
The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
verse value 961
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 28 letters. Verse gematria: 961 = 31². The shortest word is "to·their·palate" (לְחִכָּ֥ם, 4 letters) and the longest is "voice·of·nobles" (קוֹל־נְגִידִ֥ים, 9 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "voice·of·nobles" (קוֹל־נְגִידִ֥ים), "they·were·hushed" (נֶחְבָּ֑אוּ), "and·their·tongue" (וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם). 5 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they·were·hushed', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 3 words. Full calculation: קוֹל־נְגִידִ֥ים [voice·of·nobles] (253) + נֶחְבָּ֑אוּ [they·were·hushed] (67) + וּ֝לְשׁוֹנָ֗ם [and·their·tongue] (432) + לְחִכָּ֥ם [to·their·palate] (98) + דָּבֵֽקָה [it·cleaved] (111) = 961.
Ralbag
'The voice of the nobles was hushed' — meaning: even the nobles fell silent, out of shame before me.
Metzudat David
"The voice of the nobles was hushed" — their voice was hidden and could not be heard, as though their tongue cleaved to their palate, so that they could not speak.
Metzudat Zion
'The roof of their mouth' [לחכם] — from the same root as chech, 'palate.'
Malbim
'The voice of the nobles was hushed' — the nobles, whose custom it is to boast of their wealth and their standing, hushed their voices before me.
For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me;
verse value 2762
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 31 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֤י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·it·blessed·me" (וַֽתְּאַשְּׁרֵ֑נִי, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "and·it·blessed·me" (וַֽתְּאַשְּׁרֵ֑נִי), "and·it·gave·witness·to·me" (וַתְּעִידֵֽנִי). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for" (root כי, 75x in Job); "it·saw" (root ראה, 52x in Job); "and·eye" (root עין, 46x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·it·blessed·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: כִּ֤י [for] (30) + אֹ֣זֶן [ear] (58) + שָׁ֭מְעָה [it·heard] (415) + וַֽתְּאַשְּׁרֵ֑נִי [and·it·blessed·me] (967) + וְעַ֥יִן [and·eye] (136) + רָ֝אֲתָ֗ה [it·saw] (606) + וַתְּעִידֵֽנִי [and·it·gave·witness·to·me] (550) = 2762.
Rashi
For the ear that heard my word praised me. and the eye [that] saw my greatness and the propriety of my traits in all places.
Ralbag
'And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me' — meaning: the eye that saw me would exalt and extol me, and 'vate'ideni' (it gave witness to me) would then be related to the word 'ed' (witness), as in 'a witness to peoples' (Isaiah 55:4); or the meaning may be that the eye that saw me testified to my righteousness and the integrity of my heart.
Metzudat David
"For when the ear heard me" — all this came to me because of the uprightness of my ways; for the ear that heard the success of my deeds would praise me, and the eye that saw the best of my conduct would testify to my righteousness.
Metzudat Zion
'Blessed' [ותאשרני] — an expression of praise, acclaim, as in 'happy is the man' (Psalms 1:1).
Malbim
'For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me' — it considered me blessed with true happiness of soul; and this was not merely the report of one who heard from a distance, who sometimes exaggerates beyond the truth. Rather, 'and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me' — it testified that what had been heard was indeed true, as it is written, 'I did not believe the reports, until I came and saw with my own eyes' (1 Kings 10:7). That is to say, I was not only successful, but also deserving of that success by virtue of my deeds — for that is the essence of true success, to be deserving of it.
Because I delivered the poor who cried, The fatherless also, who had none to help him.
verse value 1468
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 26 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (לֽוֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (לֽוֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "because·I·delivered" (כִּֽי־אֲ֭מַלֵּט, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "because·I·delivered" (כִּֽי־אֲ֭מַלֵּט), "crying" (מְשַׁוֵּ֑עַ), "and·orphan" (וְ֝יָת֗וֹם). 6 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'crying', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: כִּֽי־אֲ֭מַלֵּט [because·I·delivered] (110) + עָנִ֣י [poor] (130) + מְשַׁוֵּ֑עַ [crying] (416) + וְ֝יָת֗וֹם [and·orphan] (462) + וְֽלֹא־עֹזֵ֥ר [and·not·helper] (314) + לֽוֹ [to·him] (36) = 1468.
Metzudat David
"Because I delivered" — for my way was that I would at all times deliver the poor man from his cry, which he would cry out because of his oppressors; and also the orphan, and also anyone who had no helper, whose help had vanished due to the harshness of fate — all of them I would deliver.
Malbim
'Because' — the elders were suited for giving counsel and rendering judgment, the princes for disciplining wrongdoers, and the nobles for performing righteousness and kindness. He explains that he had the advantage over all of them in all these respects: 'I delivered the poor who cried' — and 'the fatherless,' that is, the one who cries out for salvation and has no one to help him — 'him I delivered.'
The blessing of the one who was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
verse value 1607
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 25 letters. The shortest word is "perishing" (אֹ֭בֵד, 3 letters) and the longest is "widow" (אַלְמָנָ֣ה, 5 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "and·heart·of" (וְלֵ֖ב), "I·caused·to·sing·for·joy" (אַרְנִֽן). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "upon·me" (root על, 90x in Job); "it·came" (root בוא, 51x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'it·came', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: בִּרְכַּ֣ת [blessing·of] (622) + אֹ֭בֵד [perishing] (7) + עָלַ֣י [upon·me] (110) + תָּבֹ֑א [it·came] (403) + וְלֵ֖ב [and·heart·of] (38) + אַלְמָנָ֣ה [widow] (126) + אַרְנִֽן [I·caused·to·sing·for·joy] (301) = 1607.
Rashi
The blessing of the lost who died because of his iniquity and was banished. would come upon me because I would sustain his children and his wife. Our Sages said, however, that he [Job] would rob the orphans of their field, improve it and [then] return it to them (Baba Bathra 16a). But the simple meaning of the verse does not appear to be so, for no one is called אובד, but a thing that is itself lost, like (Ps. 31:13), “like a lost vessel”; and so (ibid. 119:176), “I have gone astray like a lost sheep”, (Jer. 50:6), “lost sheep.” and I would make the widow’s heart sing for joy for he would attach his name to widows, saying, “She is my kinswoman,” or “I will marry her,” in order that men should be anxious to marry her.
Ralbag
'I caused to sing for joy' [arnin] — meaning: I would establish it in joy and glad song. 'Fangs' [metal'ot] — meaning: these are the teeth with which beasts that have fangs tear their prey; and this is said by way of a parable, to show that he used to subdue the wicked man and force him to restore what he had taken by violence.
Metzudat David
"The blessing of the one who was ready to perish" — the blessing of the man who was perishing in his affliction came upon me, for I showed him favor, and he blessed me. "I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy" — I established her in song and joy, for I dealt kindly and generously with her.
Malbim
'The blessing of the one who was ready to perish came upon me' — his blessing came upon me, for I would gladden the heart of his widow by giving his wife and his forsaken orphans their allotted portion of food.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
verse value 2189
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 30 letters. The shortest word is "righteousness" (צֶ֣דֶק, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·it·clothed·me" (וַיִּלְבָּשֵׁ֑נִי, 7 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "righteousness" (צֶ֣דֶק), "I·put·on" (לָ֭בַשְׁתִּי), "and·it·clothed·me" (וַיִּלְבָּשֵׁ֑נִי). The root לבש appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "my·justice" (root משפט, 23x in Job); "righteousness" (root צדק, 22x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·it·clothed·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: צֶ֣דֶק [righteousness] (194) + לָ֭בַשְׁתִּי [I·put·on] (742) + וַיִּלְבָּשֵׁ֑נִי [and·it·clothed·me] (408) + כִּֽמְעִ֥יל [as·robe] (170) + וְ֝צָנִ֗יף [and·turban] (236) + מִשְׁפָּטִֽי [my·justice] (439) = 2189.
Rashi
I put on righteousness and it clothed me I pursued righteousness and it is present with me as a coat and a turban, which are beautiful ornaments; so was my judgment beautiful and pure.
Ibn Ezra
'As a robe' — for a robe is worn over other garments and so is visible to the eye; so too the diadem — my justice was likewise prominent.
Metzudat David
"I put on righteousness" — I was so abundant in righteousness that I was wrapped in it. "And it clothed itself with me" — righteousness itself came to clothe me, meaning: I was so accustomed to acting righteously that at all times the destitute poor would come to me to be shown favor, for it is the way of the poor to entreat the one who gives. "My justice was as a robe and a diadem" — like the robe, which is the outer garment, and like the turban placed above upon the head — which, for this reason, are customarily kept clean and pure — so was my justice clean and pure, without the slightest deviation.
Malbim
'I put on righteousness' — I wore righteousness as a garment, and justice was to me like a robe and a diadem. Now, righteousness (tzedek) is what one does beyond the strict letter of the law, and this was his alone; therefore he likens it to a garment, the undergarment worn closest to the body. Justice (mishpat), by contrast, is what one does in accordance with the strict letter of the law, and that was a matter shared more broadly — likened to the robe and the diadem, which are worn over the rest.
I was eyes to the blind, And I was feet to the lame.
verse value 1449
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "I" (אָֽנִי, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·feet" (וְרַגְלַ֖יִם, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "to·the·blind" (לַעִוֵּ֑ר), "and·feet" (וְרַגְלַ֖יִם), "to·the·lame" (לַפִּסֵּ֣חַ). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "I·was" (root היה, 50x in Job); "eyes" (root עין, 46x in Job); "I" (root אני, 28x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·blind', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: עֵינַ֣יִם [eyes] (180) + הָ֭יִיתִי [I·was] (435) + לַעִוֵּ֑ר [to·the·blind] (306) + וְרַגְלַ֖יִם [and·feet] (289) + לַפִּסֵּ֣חַ [to·the·lame] (178) + אָֽנִי [I] (61) = 1449.
Metzudat David
'Eyes,' etc. — meaning, whoever was blind or lame and could not, on that account, tend to his own needs, I would tend to them for him; so it was as though I were eyes and feet to him.
Metzudat Zion
'The lame' [פסח] — [i.e.,] one lame in his legs.
Malbim
'I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame' — and he adds that he did not act like one who mounts a lame man upon a blind man so that each may serve the other; rather, 'feet to the lame I was,' by myself alone — meaning he gave money to each one separately. And figuratively, this means that he would give counsel to whoever was 'blind,' that is, in the dark, regarding some matter.
I was a father to the needy; And the cause of the one whom I knew not I searched out.
verse value 1286
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 30 letters. The shortest word is "father" (אָ֣ב, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·the·needy" (לָאֶבְיוֹנִ֑ים, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "to·the·needy" (לָאֶבְיוֹנִ֑ים), "not·I·knew" (לֹא־יָדַ֣עְתִּי), "I·searched·it·out" (אֶחְקְרֵֽהוּ). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not·I·knew" (root ידע, 73x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·needy', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: אָ֣ב [father] (3) + אָ֭נֹכִֽי [I] (81) + לָאֶבְיוֹנִ֑ים [to·the·needy] (149) + וְרִ֖ב [and·cause] (208) + לֹא־יָדַ֣עְתִּי [not·I·knew] (525) + אֶחְקְרֵֽהוּ [I·searched·it·out] (320) = 1286.
Metzudat David
'I was a father' — I was to the needy like a father, to save them from the grip of those who wronged them. 'And the cause,' etc. — when I did not know the truth of a dispute, I would investigate it to find out.
Malbim
'I was a father to the needy' — who have nothing at all. 'And the cause of the one whom I knew not I searched out' — to see whether he was in the right in his dispute. And then —
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.
verse value 2628
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 29 letters. Verse gematria: 2628 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "unrighteous" (עַוָּ֑ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·I·broke" (וָ֭אֲשַׁבְּרָה, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "and·I·broke" (וָ֭אֲשַׁבְּרָה), "jaws·of" (מְתַלְּע֣וֹת), "and·from·his·teeth" (וּ֝מִשִּׁנָּ֗יו). 6 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'unrighteous', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וָ֭אֲשַׁבְּרָה [and·I·broke] (514) + מְתַלְּע֣וֹת [jaws·of] (946) + עַוָּ֑ל [unrighteous] (106) + וּ֝מִשִּׁנָּ֗יו [and·from·his·teeth] (412) + אַשְׁלִ֥יךְ [I·cast·out] (361) + טָֽרֶף [prey] (289) = 2628.
Metzudat David
'And I broke' — I broke the teeth of the wrongdoer, with which he would devour the needy, and I took the prey out from between his teeth. Meaning: I sapped their strength and retrieved the stolen goods from their grasp.
Metzudat Zion
'Teeth' [מתלעות] — this is a transposition of מלתעות, as in 'the fangs of the young lions' (Psalms 58:7); these are the large [molar] teeth.
Malbim
And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous - the jaws with which he would devour the prey. The prey still caught between his teeth I would throw out and restore to its owner; and for the prey he had already eaten, I would break his jaws - meaning, I would punish him for robbery and extortion.
Then I said: ‘I shall die with my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
verse value 975
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 26 letters. Verse gematria: 975 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "and·I·said" (וָ֭אֹמַר, 4 letters) and the longest is "with·my·nest" (עִם־קִנִּ֣י, 5 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "with·my·nest" (עִם־קִנִּ֣י), "and·as·the·phoenix" (וְ֝כַח֗וֹל), "I·shall·multiply" (אַרְבֶּ֥ה). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·I·said" (root אמר, 108x in Job); "days" (root יום, 59x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'I·shall·die', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וָ֭אֹמַר [and·I·said] (247) + עִם־קִנִּ֣י [with·my·nest] (270) + אֶגְוָ֑ע [I·shall·die] (80) + וְ֝כַח֗וֹל [and·as·the·phoenix] (70) + אַרְבֶּ֥ה [I·shall·multiply] (208) + יָמִֽים [days] (100) = 975.
Rashi
And I said, I will perish with my nest Because of the propriety of my traits, I would think to myself that when I die, I would have my nest and my house established with me. and I will multiply days as the phoenix Heb. וכחול. This is a bird named חול, phoenix, upon which the punishment of death was not decreed because it did not taste of the Tree of Knowledge, and at the end of one thousand years, it renews itself and returns to its youth.
Metzudat David
'Then I said' — because of the uprightness of my ways I said that, when I expire and die, I would be with my nest — meaning, my house would not lie in ruin before I died. I also said that I would multiply my days like the number of the sand of the sea; this is a manner of hyperbole.
Metzudat Zion
'My nest' [קני] — [means] my dwelling place; the term is borrowed from the phrase 'a bird's nest' (Deuteronomy 22:6).
Malbim
Then I said - Accordingly, I said that my prosperity would last forever, both the prosperity of my house and my possessions; for I thought that my possessions would endure all the days of my life, until I would expire together with my nest, and that my life would be as long as the life of the bird called the chol [phoenix] - for I saw no reason why the sun of my prosperity should ever set, for...
My root shall be spread out to the waters, And the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
verse value 1992
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "and·dew" (וְ֝טַ֗ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·waters" (אֱלֵי־מָ֑יִם, 6 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "my·root" (שׇׁרְשִׁ֣י), "spread·out" (פָת֣וּחַ), "to·waters" (אֱלֵי־מָ֑יִם). 6 unique roots are used. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·waters', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: שׇׁרְשִׁ֣י [my·root] (810) + פָת֣וּחַ [spread·out] (494) + אֱלֵי־מָ֑יִם [to·waters] (131) + וְ֝טַ֗ל [and·dew] (45) + יָלִ֥ין [it·shall·lodge] (100) + בִּקְצִירִֽי [on·my·branch] (412) = 1992.
Rashi
My root will be open etc. All this I was saying to myself, that my root would not dry up, and my branches would not die, like (above 14:9), “and it will produce a branch (קציר).” They are יונקות, tender branches of a tree.
Ibn Ezra
'My branch' [ketziri] — my boughs, as in 'she sends out her branches [ketziroteha] to the sea' (Psalms 80:12).
Ralbag
'Upon my branch' [biqtziri] — meaning: upon my branches.
Metzudat David
'My root spread out' — my root would be open to the water, moist and well-watered, and the dew would settle continually on my branches. Meaning: I thought that my prosperity would never depart.
Metzudat Zion
Shall lie all night (yalin) - An expression of continuance, as in "mine eye tarries (talan)" (above, 17). Upon my branch (bektziri) - Meaning, upon my branches (anafai), as in "and put forth boughs (ve'asah katzir)" (above, 14).
Malbim
My root shall be spread out to the waters - whose moisture never dries up, meaning that the constitution of his body was very strong; and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch - meaning the peace and well-being of his children, his household, and his possessions.
My glory shall be fresh in me, And my bow shall be renewed in my hand.’
verse value 1848
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 26 letters. Notable word values: "in·my·hand" (בְּיָדִ֥י) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "fresh" (חָדָ֣שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "my·glory" (כְּ֭בוֹדִי, 5 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "fresh" (חָדָ֣שׁ), "and·my·bow" (וְ֝קַשְׁתִּ֗י), "in·my·hand" (בְּיָדִ֥י). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "in·my·hand" (root יד, 44x in Job); "with·me" (root עמד, 22x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: כְּ֭בוֹדִי [my·glory] (42) + חָדָ֣שׁ [fresh] (312) + עִמָּדִ֑י [with·me] (124) + וְ֝קַשְׁתִּ֗י [and·my·bow] (816) + בְּיָדִ֥י [in·my·hand] (26) + תַחֲלִֽיף [it·shall·renew] (528) = 1848.
Rashi
And I thought that my honor would be renewed. which is with meconstantly. and my bow And my strength will constantly change for the better.
Ibn Ezra
'And my bow shall be renewed in my hand' — some say it means that I would shift it from hand to hand, and it would never leave me. Some say the word is 'tachlof,' as in the phrase 'kol bnei chalof' [all transient beings] — meaning that with it I used to shoot my arrows and never miss. Others say that I myself, with my own hand, would restring the bow, having no need of anyone else. And some say: '[my bow] shall be renewed in my hand,' and shall not be broken, by the strength of my hand.
Ralbag
'And my bow' — meaning: my strength and my might. 'Shall be renewed' [tachalif] — meaning: shall be made new.
Metzudat David
'My glory' — the glory that attends me will be renewed at all times. 'And my bow' — the strength and power in my hand will renew my glory, for on its account the people will grant me fresh honor again and again.
Malbim
My glory shall be fresh in me - meaning that my glory was constantly renewed: whereas at first people honored me out of fear, afterward it was out of love, and because they saw that I deserved honor. So that my glory was not merely a conventional honor bestowed by the people who honored me, but it was in me - stemming from my own person and merit. To the point that my bow, which was in my hand, was rendered unnecessary, for I no longer needed the bow of war, since everyone heeded my voice out of love and out of respect for my standing.
To me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
verse value 1228
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 23 letters. The shortest word is "for" (לְמ֣וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·me·they·heard" (לִֽי־שָׁמְע֥וּ, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "to·me·they·heard" (לִֽי־שָׁמְע֥וּ), "and·they·were·silent" (וְ֝יִדְּמ֗וּ), "my·counsel" (עֲצָתִֽי). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·me·they·heard" (root שמע, 42x in Job). First appearance of the root דמם ("and·they·were·silent") in Job. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·they·waited', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 3 words. Full calculation: לִֽי־שָׁמְע֥וּ [to·me·they·heard] (456) + וְיִחֵ֑לּוּ [and·they·waited] (60) + וְ֝יִדְּמ֗וּ [and·they·were·silent] (66) + לְמ֣וֹ [for] (76) + עֲצָתִֽי [my·counsel] (570) = 1228.
Rashi
They listened to me and waited Those who listened to my words would wait until they would be realized, and they would be realized because the tradition of wisdom was in my hand.
Ralbag
'And waited' [vayachelu] — meaning: they waited and hoped. 'And kept silence' [vayidmu] — meaning: they were silent.
Metzudat David
'To me men gave ear' — my hand held such power over them that they obeyed me in all my words, and even before I spoke they were longing and eager for me to speak. 'And kept silence' — and they fell silent before my counsel, and their hearts did not dare offer a reply to it.
Metzudat Zion
And kept silence (vayidmu) - And were silent, as in "and Aaron kept silence (vayidom Aharon)" (Leviticus 10). For my counsel (lemo atzati) - [Meaning] unto my counsel.
Malbim
To me - he explains the signs by which it can be recognized that their submission before him was not out of fear, but out of love and the exaltation of his stature. And this is shown by four signs: (1) One who submits out of fear does not seek to have the officer command and charge him; he only obeys the command because he is compelled to. But they “gave ear to me, and waited” - they hoped to hear my words, and “waited for my counsel” - they would come to him and seek his counsel. (2) One who submits out of fear, if he can alter [the ruler's] words in secret, will alter them; but they -
After my words they spoke not again; And my speech dropped upon them.
verse value 1963
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 27 letters. Verse gematria: 1963 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·upon·them" (וְ֝עָלֵ֗ימוֹ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "after" (אַחֲרֵ֣י), "they·repeated" (יִשְׁנ֑וּ), "and·upon·them" (וְ֝עָלֵ֗ימוֹ). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 142x in Job); "and·upon·them" (root על, 90x in Job); "my·word" (root דבר, 58x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they·repeated', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: אַחֲרֵ֣י [after] (219) + דְ֭בָרִי [my·word] (216) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + יִשְׁנ֑וּ [they·repeated] (366) + וְ֝עָלֵ֗ימוֹ [and·upon·them] (162) + תִּטֹּ֥ף [it·dropped] (489) + מִלָּתִֽי [my·speech] (480) = 1963.
Rashi
my speech would drip Heb. תטף. This is an expression of prophecy. Similarly (Amos 7:16), “and do not prophesy (תטיף) concerning the house of Isaac.” That is to say that my word was like prophecy.
Ibn Ezra
'They spoke not again' [lo yishnu] — from the sense of 'a second time' [pa'am sheinit]. 'My speech dropped upon them' — it flowed, like dew.
Ralbag
'They spoke not again' [lo yishnu] — meaning: they did not trouble themselves to seek other counsel. 'My speech dropped' [titof milati] — meaning: my word flowed down; the sense being that some of them would ask others what Job had said, and some would repeat his words to others.
Metzudat David
'After my words' — after I had spoken my piece, they did not trouble themselves to take counsel a second time about that matter. 'And my speech dropped upon them' — the words of my mouth were talked about among them, for they would recount them to one another, so greatly did they cherish my words.
Metzudat Zion
Spoke not again (yishnu) - From the term denoting repetition. Dropped (tittof) - An expression of dripping, borrowed to describe speech; as in "stop preaching - thus they preach!" (Micah 2:6).
Malbim
“After my words they did not speak again” - (3) One who submits out of fear performs only the command that is compulsory, and pays no attention to the quality of the command or its formulation, nor troubles to retain its moral phrasing and its persuasive expressions that draw the heart, because his heart is far from the matter. But they - even when “my speech dropped upon them,” when I would tell them words of ethical instruction and wisdom, then -
And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
verse value 1372
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 26 letters. The shortest word is "to·me" (לִ֑י, 2 letters) and the longest is "for·latter·rain" (לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "like·the·rain" (כַמָּטָ֣ר), "and·their·mouth" (וּ֝פִיהֶ֗ם), "for·latter·rain" (לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·their·mouth" (root פה, 31x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְיִחֲל֣וּ [and·they·waited] (60) + כַמָּטָ֣ר [like·the·rain] (269) + לִ֑י [to·me] (40) + וּ֝פִיהֶ֗ם [and·their·mouth] (141) + פָּעֲר֥וּ [they·opened·wide] (356) + לְמַלְקֽוֹשׁ [for·latter·rain] (506) = 1372.
Rashi
after a long time After a long time they would speak, because most of their time was spent in silence, for they were anxiously waiting to hear my words.
Ibn Ezra
'And they waited for me' — from the same root as 'let Israel hope' (Psalms 130:7).
Ralbag
'And they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain' — meaning: they opened their mouths to ask for my counsel, just as a person hopes for the latter rain and looks for it.
Metzudat David
'And they waited for me' — they would long and hope to hear my words, just as people hope for the rain of heaven; and only after a long delay would they open their mouths to speak, for they waited until I had spoken all my words first.
Metzudat Zion
They opened wide (pa'aru) - They opened, as in "they have gaped upon me with their mouth" (above, 16). For the latter rain (lamalkosh) - An expression of lateness, as in "and the vineyard of the wicked they glean late (yelakeshu)" (above, 24); and so the late-season rain is called "malkosh."
Malbim
“And they waited for me as for the rain” - just as plants yearn for the rain that is their life; and even if I returned a second time to rebuke them, they were like plants that “opened their mouths wide for the latter rain,” eager to receive with thirst even the rain that falls last.
If I laughed on them, they believed it not; And the light of my countenance they cast not down.
verse value 1203
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 31 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "they·believed" (יַאֲמִ֑ינוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 31: not, not. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "I·laughed" (אֶשְׂחַ֣ק), "on·them" (אֲ֭לֵהֶם), "they·believed" (יַאֲמִ֑ינוּ). The root לא appears 2 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "not" (root לא, 142x in Job); "on·them" (root אל, 86x in Job); "my·face" (root פנים, 68x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'they·believed', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. Full calculation: אֶשְׂחַ֣ק [I·laughed] (409) + אֲ֭לֵהֶם [on·them] (76) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + יַאֲמִ֑ינוּ [they·believed] (117) + וְא֥וֹר [and·light·of] (213) + פָּ֝נַ֗י [my·face] (140) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + יַפִּילֽוּן [they·cast·down] (186) = 1203.
Rashi
they would not believe it that I was jesting with them, because of my esteem[ed position]. and they would not cast down the light of my countenance They were afraid to get near me and to become familiar with me.
Ibn Ezra
'And the light of my countenance they cast not down' — it is known that laughter diminishes the shine of a ruler's face; but I would laugh [with them], and from the greatness of their awe of me they would not believe that I was laughing — so even then they did not see my shining countenance as diminished.
Ralbag
'They cast not down' [lo yapilun] — meaning: they did not lose the light of my countenance; that is, they did not think less of me because I smiled at them, and their fear of me did not depart from before them.
Metzudat David
'If I laughed on them' — when I would smile at them, they could not bring themselves to believe that I was smiling at them, so strange did it seem to them, given how greatly they esteemed me. 'And the light of my countenance' — yet even though I smiled at them, this did not lead them to diminish the radiance of my face; that is, they did not grow overfamiliar with me so as to take my honor lightly and dim the light of my countenance.
Metzudat Zion
They cast down (yapilun) - An expression of diminishment and lessening, as in "I am not inferior to you (nofel anochi mikem)" (above, 12).
Malbim
“If I laughed” - (4) Even at the times when I laughed at them, showing them a smiling face, “they did not believe it,” and “the light of my countenance they did not cast down” - for they nevertheless remained in awe, as though I were not laughing at all, and the light of my countenance instilled in them an awe of my greatness.
I chose out their way, and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one who comforts the mourners.
verse value 2509
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 43 letters. Verse gematria: 2509 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "head" (רֹ֥֫אשׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·I·dwelt" (וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹן, 6 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Job. Unique to this verse in Job (hapax): "I·chose" (אֶ֥בְחַ֣ר), "and·I·sat" (וְאֵשֵׁ֢ב), "and·I·dwelt" (וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹן). 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "their·way" (root דרך, 35x in Job); "as·that" (root אשר, 25x in Job). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·army', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: אֶ֥בְחַ֣ר [I·chose] (211) + דַּרְכָּם֮ [their·way] (264) + וְאֵשֵׁ֢ב [and·I·sat] (309) + רֹ֥֫אשׁ [head] (501) + וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹן [and·I·dwelt] (383) + כְּמֶ֣לֶךְ [like·king] (110) + בַּגְּד֑וּד [in·the·army] (19) + כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר [as·that] (521) + אֲבֵלִ֣ים [mourners] (83) + יְנַחֵֽם [he·comforts] (108) = 2509.
Rashi
I would choose their way All their ways and their counsel I would choose for them, for they would ask me, “Which way shall we go and what shall we do?” and sit at the head if they were reclining at a banquet, I would recline at the head of the diners.
Ibn Ezra
'I chose out their way' — sitting above their own station, like a wise man who comforts mourners. And why should they now display to me the strength of their hands, seeing that they themselves are lacking in strength?
Metzudat David
'I chose out their way' — I would choose the path for them to walk in, and I sat at the head of them all, and dwelt among them in the choicest place, as a king dwells in the midst of his troops. 'As one who comforts the mourners' — I was to them like one who comforts mourners. Meaning: just as everyone gives their full attention to hear the words of the comforter, so as to lift their grief from them, so too did everyone give their full attention to hear my words. And here he returns to the start of his statements, saying, as it were: because of the greatness of such power in hand — coming from uprightness of conduct and from great affection — behold, I thought it would renew my glory, granting me fresh honor time and again.
Malbim
I chose - to the point that I had no need at all to set myself apart from the people's ways and customs, as officers do in order to instill fear of themselves in the people; rather, I chose their way, conducting myself as one of the people, and nevertheless I sat as chief always. So that on the one hand I was like a king ruling and commanding an army, and on the other hand I was like one who comforts mourners - who also sits at the head, not out of authority, but because he is the one delivering words of moral instruction, consolation, and good teaching.
Ralbag
Metzudat David