Job 30:29
Job 30:29 in Multiple Translations
I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of ostriches.
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
I am a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.
I have become a brother to the jackals, and go about in the company of ostriches.
I am like a brother to the jackals, a companion to owls.
I am a brother to the dragons, and a companion to the ostriches.
A brother I have been to dragons, And a companion to daughters of the ostrich.
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.
I was the brother of dragons, and companion of ostriches.
My wailing sounds as sad as [MET] the cries of jackals/foxes and ostriches.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 30:29
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 30:29 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אָ֭ח
הָיִ֣יתִי
לְ/תַנִּ֑ים
וְ֝/רֵ֗עַ
לִ/בְנ֥וֹת
יַעֲנָֽה
אָ֭ח
ʼâch
H251
brother
N-ms
הָיִ֣יתִי
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
לְ/תַנִּ֑ים
tannîyn
H8577
jackal
Prep | N-mp
וְ֝/רֵ֗עַ
rêaʻ
H7453
neighbor
Conj | N-ms
לִ/בְנ֥וֹת
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
Prep | N-fp
יַעֲנָֽה
yaʻănâh
H3284
ostrich
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 30:29
אָ֭ח
ʼâch
H251
"brother"
N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a brother or male sibling, but it can also refer to a close relative, friend, or someone with a similar relationship. It is used to describe the bond between brothers, like the relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis.
Definition: : male-sibling 1) brother 1a) brother of same parents 1b) half-brother (same father) 1c) relative, kinship, same tribe 1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship) 1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. See also: Genesis 4:2; Genesis 42:13; Numbers 25:6.
הָיִ֣יתִי
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לְ/תַנִּ֑ים
tannîyn
H8577
"jackal"
Prep | N-mp
This word refers to a monster or serpent, like a sea-serpent or dragon, as described in Psalm 74:13 and Isaiah 27:1. It can also mean a venomous snake or a whale, symbolizing powerful creatures.
Definition: jackal Also means: tan.nah (תַּנָּה "dragon" H8568)
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: dragon, sea-monster, serpent, whale. See also: Genesis 1:21; Isaiah 27:1; Psalms 44:20.
וְ֝/רֵ֗עַ
rêaʻ
H7453
"neighbor"
Conj | N-ms
A neighbor or friend is what this word means, describing someone close to you. It can also refer to a companion, fellow citizen, or another person, and is often translated as brother or friend.
Definition: 1) friend, companion, fellow, another person 1a) friend, intimate 1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense) 1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase)
Usage: Occurs in 173 OT verses. KJV: brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, [idiom] (an-) other. See also: Genesis 11:3; Job 42:7; Psalms 12:3.
לִ/בְנ֥וֹת
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
Prep | N-fp
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
יַעֲנָֽה
yaʻănâh
H3284
"ostrich"
N-fs
This word refers to the ostrich or possibly another type of bird, and is considered unclean in the Bible. It is mentioned in Leviticus as an animal not to be eaten, and is also associated with the owl. The exact meaning is not certain.
Definition: 1) an unclean bird 1a) owl, ostrich, literally translated as "daughters of the owl" 1b) perhaps an extinct bird, exact meaning unknown
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] owl. See also: Leviticus 11:16; Isaiah 34:13; Isaiah 13:21.
Study Notes — Job 30:29
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 30:29 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 30:29
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 30:29
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 30:29
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 30:29
- Ellicott's Commentary on Job 30:29
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 30:29
- Cambridge Bible on Job 30:29
- Barnes' Notes on Job 30:29
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 30:29
- Sermons on Job 30:29
Context — Job’s Prosperity Becomes Calamity
27I am churning within and cannot rest; days of affliction confront me.
28I go about blackened, but not by the sun. I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
29I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of ostriches.
30My skin grows black and peels, and my bones burn with fever. 31My harp is tuned to mourning and my flute to the sound of weeping.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Micah 1:8 | Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich. |
| 2 | Psalms 102:6 | I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. |
| 3 | Psalms 44:19 | But You have crushed us in the lair of jackals; You have covered us with deepest darkness. |
| 4 | Job 17:14 | and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’ |
| 5 | Malachi 1:3 | but Esau I have hated, and I have made his mountains a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals. ” |
| 6 | Isaiah 38:14 | I chirp like a swallow or crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak as I look upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security.” |
| 7 | Isaiah 13:21–22 | But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about. Hyenas will howl in her fortresses and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Babylon’s time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged. |
Job 30:29 Summary
[Job 30:29 means that Job feels like he has become very lonely and isolated, like wild animals that live alone, as seen in Jeremiah 9:2 and Lamentations 4:3. He is expressing his deep emotional pain and feeling of rejection, which is a common theme in the book of Job, such as in Job 19:13-22. This verse reminds us that we all need human connection and community, as seen in verses like Genesis 2:18 and Psalm 68:6, where God says it is not good for man to be alone. By reaching out to others and cultivating relationships, we can avoid feeling like we are living in isolation, and instead experience the joy of community and connection.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be a brother of jackals and a companion of ostriches?
In Job 30:29, Job is expressing his deep sense of isolation and loneliness, feeling like he has become like wild and solitary animals, as described in Jeremiah 9:2 and Lamentations 4:3, where the prophet Jeremiah also uses similar imagery to convey a sense of desolation.
Is Job saying he has become like these animals in character?
No, Job is not saying he has become like these animals in character, but rather he feels like he has been forced to live in isolation, much like these animals, as a result of his affliction, which is a common theme in the book of Job, particularly in Job 19:13-22.
What kind of emotional pain is Job experiencing?
Job is experiencing an intense emotional pain, feeling like he has been rejected by his friends and community, and is now forced to live a life of solitude, as expressed in Job 19:13-22, where he laments the loss of his friends and family.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Job?
This verse is part of Job's lamentation and expression of his emotional pain, which is a central theme in the book of Job, as seen in Job 3:1-10 and Job 10:1-22, where Job also expresses his deep sorrow and frustration with his circumstances.
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have felt like I was living in isolation, like Job?
- How can I reach out to others who may be feeling like they are living in isolation, just like Job?
- What are some ways I can cultivate a sense of community and connection with others, to avoid feeling like a 'brother of jackals'?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of human relationships and community in my life, in light of verses like Hebrews 10:24-25?
Gill's Exposition on Job 30:29
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. Or ostriches, as the Targum, Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; either he was obliged to dwell with such persons as were
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 30:29
I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. Dragons ... owls - rather, jackals, ostriches, both of which utter dismal screams (Micah 1:8); in which respect, as also in their living amidst
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 30:29
A brother, to wit, by imitation of their cries: persons of like qualities are oft called brethren, as . To dragons; which howl and wail mournfully in the deserts, , either through hunger or thirst, or when he fights with and is beaten by the elephant. To owls; whose sad and mournful noises are known. Or, ostriches; which also is noted to make lamentable outcries.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 30:29
Job 30:29 I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.Ver. 29. I am a brother to dragons, &c.] i.e. I utter a very lamentable voice, or rather noise, like dragons, which sucking the elephant’ s blood till he fall down dead upon them, and quell them with his huge bulk, make a horrible howling; so horrible and hideous, say some, that they amaze, yea, kill those that hear it (Plin. Solin.). And a companion to owls] I give forth rude and confused cries, as if I howled with owls, or grunted with ostriches. We use to say of such, that they roar like bears and bellow like bulls, filling the air with their outcries. Young ostriches cast off by their dams, Job 39:14 Lamentations 4:3, make a pitiful moan; so do the young ravens for like cause, Psalms 147:9. Job cried out more like a beast than a man, in his pain and misery. This the Stoics censured as effeminate, and would not allow a wise or valiant man to sigh, or cry, or show any token of grief, whatever befell him. But this was to destroy nature, and to transform men into stocks and stones void of sense.
The patriarchs bewailed their deceased friends. David, likely, was not ignorant of the Gentile’ s proverb, Weeping becometh not a king; yet he wept abundantly, yea, he out wept Jonathan. Because the better anyone is, the more inclined to weeping and lamentation, which yet must be duly moderated (Eurip. - Aγαθοιδαριδακρυεςανδρες).
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 30:29
(29) Dragons and owls are, according to some moderns, jackals and ostriches.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 30:29
Verse 29. I am a brother to dragons] By my mournful and continual cry I resemble תנים tannim, the jackals or hyenas. And a companion to owls.] בנות יענה benoth yaanah, to the daughters of howling: generally understood to be the ostrich; for both the jackal and the female ostrich are remarkable for their mournful cry, and for their attachment to desolate places.-Dodd.
Cambridge Bible on Job 30:29
29. The verse expands the words “I cry” in Job 30:28, I am a brother to the jackals, And a companion to the ostriches. The mournful howl of the jackals is elsewhere referred to, Micah 1:8; the ostrich also sends forth a weird, melancholy cry, particularly by night; hence in ch. Job 39:13 the female ostrich receives the name of “wailer.”
Barnes' Notes on Job 30:29
I am a brother to dragons - That is, my loud complaints and cries resemble the doleful screams of wild animals, or of the most frightful monsters.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 30:29
29. Brother — See note, Job 17:14. By his cry he has become a brother to dragons, (Hebrew, tannim,) rather, jackals, whose howl is a wailing like that of a child. It begins with the setting of the sun and continues all night. Dr.
Sermons on Job 30:29
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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The Ostrich by Harriet N. Cook | Harriet N. Cook delivers a sermon on the unique characteristics of the ostrich, highlighting its large size, inability to fly despite having large wings, and its swift running abil |
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Soul Trouble by Thomas Bradbury | Thomas Bradbury preaches on the spiritual instruction found in John 12:27, where Jesus expresses His soul's trouble and submission to the Father's will. Bradbury emphasizes the dee |
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The Oppressed Soul Seeking Divine Interposition. by Edward Payson | Edward Payson preaches about the need for someone to undertake for us in various aspects of life, including supporting and comforting us through trials, guiding us, assisting in ov |
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The Sick Man's Prayer and the Sinner's Cry by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches on the deep reliance of God's people on Him alone for help and deliverance, emphasizing the need for a spiritual understanding of the malady of sin, the knowl |