Job 21:2 — Word Study
WLCשִׁמְע֣וּ שָׁ֭מוֹעַ מִלָּתִ֑י וּתְהִי־ זֹ֝֗את תַּנְח֥וּמֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃
BSAListen carefullyshâmaʻ [hear diligently, give attention] to my wordsmillâh [speech, utterances] let thiszôʼth [what I say, my message] behâyâh▸ your consolation [to me]tanchûwm [comfort, solace]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| שִׁמְע֣וּ | listen | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| שָׁ֭מוֹעַ | completely [to] | Verb, Qal, infinitive absolute |
| מִלָּתִ֑י | speech my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וּתְהִי־ | and let it be | Conjunction, verb qal jussive third person feminine singular |
| זֹ֝֗את | this | Particle |
| תַּנְח֥וּמֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ | consolations your | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | “Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me. |
| KJV | Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. |
| ASV | Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations. |
| YLT | Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation. |
| WEB | “Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation. |
| BBE | Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort. |
Where they part company is תַּנְח֥וּמֹֽתֵיכֶֽם — see How Translations Differ.
One main verb with a noun phrase following it. The structure emphasizes Job's urgent call for attention.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectזֹאת
verbשָׁמַע
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 21:2
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Plea for Attention and Comfortgenerated
Job 21:2 finds Job in a moment of deep anguish, asking his friends to truly listen to his words. He hopes that his message will provide them with the comfort he desperately seeks. This plea comes as Job endures intense suffering and seeks to articulate his pain and the need for understanding from those around him.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 13:3–4 | Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. |
| 2 | Job 18:2 | “How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk. |
| 3 | Job 33:1–31 | “But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words. |
| 4 | Job 34:2 | “Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning. |
| 5 | Judges 9:7 | When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 9 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תַּנְח֥וּמֹֽתֵיכֶֽם, tan.Chu.mo.tei.Khemgenerated
The word תַּנְחוּם (tanchuwm) means 'consolation' or 'comfort.' It is derived from a root that conveys a sense of compassion and solace. In this verse, Job uses it to express his desire for his words to bring emotional relief to him amidst his suffering.
The plural form indicates that Job is not only seeking comfort for himself but also hoping that his words resonate with his listeners, providing them with a shared understanding of his plight.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb שִׁמְע֣וּ (listen) governs the main clause, with two noun phrases following: the first is the object of the verb, and the second serves as a complement to the message Job wants to convey. This structure emphasizes Job's urgent call for attention and the importance of his words.
The word order highlights the imperative nature of Job's request, placing emphasis on the act of listening before presenting his message and the desired comfort.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates שִׁמְע֣וּ as ἀκούσατε (akousate), which means 'hear' or 'listen.' This choice maintains the imperative nature of Job's request, emphasizing the need for attentive listening.
The translation of תַּנְח֥וּמֹֽתֵיכֶֽם as παράκλησις (paraklēsis) indicates a focus on the aspect of comfort and consolation, aligning with Job's intention to seek solace through his words.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 21:2 shows Job asking his friends to listen carefully to what he has to say. He hopes that his words will provide comfort to him in his suffering, as he expresses his pain and desire for understanding.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is emphasizing the importance of his words and seeking their attention, hoping that they will understand his suffering.
Job is in distress and desires that his message brings comfort not only to himself but also to his friends, as they navigate his suffering together.
Job's plea for attentive listening indicates a desire for empathy and understanding from his friends during his time of pain.
The word 'consolation' reflects Job's longing for emotional relief and support amidst his suffering, highlighting the need for compassion.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I be more attentive to the words of those who are suffering around me?
- In what ways can I offer comfort to others who are in distress?
- What does it mean to truly listen to someone, as Job asks of his friends?
- How can I apply the concept of consolation in my own life and relationships?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The commentary from Gregory the Dialogist reflects on Job's plea for attention and humility in his request for understanding from his friends.
Ver. 2. Hear I pray you my speech, and practise penitence. 40. For he that when he said Hear, added, I pray you, shews how humbly he speaks, whilst he entreats persons, swelling with pride against him,Early Church Fathers on Job 21 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 21:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHear diligently my speech,.... The following oration or discourse he was about to deliver concerning the prosperity of wicked men; to which he desires their closest attention, that they might the
Read John Gill on Job 21 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. Consolations.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 21 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleOr, this shall be your consolations, i.e. I shall accept of your patient and diligent attention to me, instead of all those consolations which you owed to me in this condition, and which I expected from you.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 21 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 21:2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.Ver. 2. Hear diligently my speech] Heb. In hearing hear. The Greek hath it, Hear, hear; that is, hear me out, have so much patience with me as not to interrupt me any more; yea, hear with understanding; let your ους and νους meet; draw up your inward ears to your outward, that one sound may pierce both. Lay aside passion and prejudice, suffer a word of information, for it is but one word that I have to say, &c, The Hebrew is singular, and promiseth brevity. Only this one word Job would that they should hear double; sc. by an after deliberate meditation, as David did, Psalms 62:11, "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard…
Read John Trapp on Job 21 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(2) Hear diligently my speech.—“Listen to my words, and let that be the consolation you give me.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 21 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. Let this be your consolations.] ותהי זאת תנחומתיכם uthehi zoth tanchumotheychem may be translated, "And let this be your retractations." Let what I am about to say induce you to retract what you have said, and to recall your false judgments. נחם nacham signifies, not only to comfort, but to change one's mind, to repent; hence the Vulgate translates et agite paenitentiam, "and repent," which Coverdale follows in his version, and amende yourselves. Some suppose the verse to be understood ironically: I am now about to give you consolations for those you have given me. When I have done, then turn them into mockery if you please.
Read AdamClarke on Job 21 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges2. your consolations] They believed they were offering him the consolations of God (ch. Job 15:11); the consolation he seeks from them is that they listen to him.
Read Cambridge on Job 21 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHear diligently - Hebrew “Hearing hear” - that is, hear attentively. What he was about to say was worthy of their solemn consideration.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 21 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
“Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.
“Listen diligently to my speech. Let this be your consolation.
“Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.
“Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you offer me.
Tyndale line
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.
Hear diligently my speech; and let this be your consolations.
Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
Heare diligently my wordes, and this shalbe in stead of your consolations.
Strictly literal
Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
Hear ye diligently my word, And this is your consolation.
“Hear my word diligently, || And this is your consolation.
Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
“Listen carefully to my words, and let this be the comfort you offer to me.
From the Latin
Hear, I beseech you, my words, and do penance.
Simplified
“Please listen carefully to what I say—that would be one comfort you could give me.
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Job 21:2 reads, “שִׁמְע֣וּ שָׁ֭מוֹעַ מִלָּתִ֑י וּתְהִי־ זֹ֝֗את תַּנְח֥וּמֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃” which translates to “Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me.” The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text, as all six words match in meaning, although the word order and articles may differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. There are no significant differences noted in the Samaritan Pentateuch or the Dead Sea Scrolls for this verse, indicating a strong textual consistency across these ancient witnesses.
שִׁמְע֣וּ שָׁ֭מוֹעַ מִלָּתִ֑י וּתְהִי־ זֹ֝֗את תַּנְח֥וּמֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 21:2
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
The Hebrew word שָׁמַע (shama`) means 'to hear' and encompasses a range of meanings including listening, obeying, and proclaiming. It is built from a primitive root and can imply attention and understanding. The entries highlight various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hiphil, indicating different nuances of hearing and obeying. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
שָׁמַע 1152 vb. hear
Qal 1052
subj. pers. hum.
י׳ (God) subj.
Niph. 42 be heard, of voice, sound
be heard of
be regarded, obeyed
= (favourable) hearing was granted to their voice.
Pi. he caused the people to hear
Hiph. 63
of man
י׳ subj.
base
H8085 שָׁמַע hear
8085 shama` shaw-mah'
a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with
implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to
tell, etc.):--X attentively, call (gather) together, X
carefully, X certainly, consent, consider, be content,
declare, X diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make
to) hear(-ken, tell), X indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be)
obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish,
regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, X surely, tell,
understand, whosoever (heareth), witness.
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: hear.
: hear
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to
1a5) to understand (language)
1a6) to hear (of judicial cases)
1a7) to listen, give heed
1a7a) to consent, agree
1a7b) to grant request
1a8) to listen to, yield to
1a9) to obey, be obedient
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound)
1b2) to be heard of
1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed
1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound
1d2) to sound aloud (musical term)
1d3) to make proclamation, summon
1d4) to cause to be heard
n m
2) sound
שָׁמַע (sha.ma) — to hear: obey.
: obey
v
1) to hear, listen to, obey
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to hear (perceive by ear)
1a2) to hear of or concerning
1a3) to hear (have power to hear)
HVqaa — Verb · Qal · infinitive absoluteHVqaa
מִלָּה (millah) means 'word' or 'speech' and can refer to a discourse or topic. It is derived from a root that suggests collective speech or utterance. The term encompasses various forms of communication, including answers and by-words. The Aramaic equivalent is also מִלָּה.
מִלָּה n.f. word, speech, utterance
base
H4405 מִלָּה
4405 millah mil-law'
from 4448 (plural masculine as if from milleh {mil-leh'}; a
word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic:--+
answer, by-word, matter, any thing (what) to say, to
speak(-ing), speak, talking, word.
see HEBREW for 04448
מִלָּה (mil.lah) — speech.
word, speech, utterance
Aramaic equivalent: mil.lah (מִלָּה "word" H4406)
N-fs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
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
Conj | V-Qal-Juss-3fs — Conjunction · verb qal jussive third person feminine singularHC/Vqj3fs
זֹאת (zot) is a demonstrative pronoun and adverb meaning 'this' or 'here.' It can stand alone or be used in apposition to a noun, often serving as a predicate. The word can also attach enclitically to interrogative pronouns to add emphasis. In poetry, it may function as a relative pronoun, though this is rare.
זֶה demonstr.pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here
standing alone
In appos. to subst.
More oft. as pred.
It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.
In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)
With prefixes (in special senses)
base
H2063 זֶה demonstr. pron. and adv.; fem. זֹאת, once זֹאתָה; this, here . standing alone
. In appos. to subst.
. More oft. as pred.
. It is attached enclitically, almost as an adv., to certain words, esp. interrog. pronouns, to impart, in a manner often not reproducible in Engl. idiom, directness and force, bringing the question or statement made into close relation with the speaker.
. In poetry, as a relative pron. (rare)
. With prefixes (in special senses)
2063 zo'th zothe'
irregular feminine of 2089; this (often used adverb):--
hereby (-in, -with), it, likewise, the one (other, same), she,
so (much), such (deed), that, therefore, these, this (thing),
thus.
see HEBREW for 02089
זֹאת (zot) — this.
1) this, this one, here, which, this...that, the one...the other, such
1a) (alone)
1a1) this one
1a2) this...that, the one...the other, another
1b) (appos to subst)
1b1) this
1c) (as predicate)
1c1) this, such
1d) (enclitically)
1d1) then
1d2) who, whom
1d3) how now, what now
1d4) what now
1d5) wherefore now
1d6) behold here
1d7) just now
1d8) now, now already
1e) (poetry)
1e1) wherein, which, those who
1f) (with prefixes)
1f1) in this (place) here, then
1f2) on these conditions, herewith, thus provided, by, through this, for this cause, in this matter
1f3) thus and thus
1f4) as follows, things such as these, accordingly, to that effect, in like manner, thus and thus
1f5) from here, hence, on one side...on the other side
1f6) on this account
1f7) in spite of this, which, whence, how
Pron — ParticleHTm
תַּנְחוּם (tanchuwm) means 'consolation' or 'comfort.' It is derived from the root meaning compassion or solace. The word is used in contexts related to providing comfort and support, reflecting emotional relief.
[תַּנְחוּם] n.m. consolation
base
H8575 [תַּנְחוּם] consolation
8575 tanchuwm tan-khoom'
or tanchum {tan-khoom'}; and (feminine) tanchuwmah
{tan-khoo-maw'}; from 5162; compassion, solace:--comfort,
consolation.
see HEBREW for 05162
תַּנְחוּם (tan.chum) — consolation.
consolation(s)
N-cp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp2mp