Job 17 · Verse 2

Job 17:2

Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?
Job 17:2, King James Version

Job 17:2 in other translations

BSBSurely mockers surround me, and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.
WEBSurely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
ASVSurely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.
YLTIf not--mockeries are with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
DARBYAre there not mockers around me? and doth not mine eye abide in their provocation?
BBETruly, those who make sport of me are round about me, and my eyes become dark because of their bitter laughing.
WebsterAre there not mockers with me? and doth not my eye continue in their provocation?

What does Job 17:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Umbreit, more emphatically, "had I only not to endure mockery, in the midst of their contentions I (mine eye) would remain quiet." eye continue--Hebrew, "tarry all night"; a figure taken from sleep at night, to express undisturbed rest; opposed to (Job 16:20), when the eye of Job is represented as pouring out tears to God without rest.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Are there not mockers with me? - This has been variously translated. The Vulgate: "I have not sinned, and yet my eye dwells upon afflictions." Septuagint: "I conjure you, laboring under afflictions, what evil have I done? Yet strangers have robbed me of my substance." Mr. Good: "But are not revilers before me? Alas, mine eye penetrateth their rebukes." Calmet thinks the Hebrew might be translated thus: "If I have not been united in friendship with the wicked, why are my eyes in bitterness?" Coverdale translates both verses thus: My breth fayleth, my dayes are shortened, I am harde at deathes dore. I have disceaved no man, yet must myne eye continue in hevynesse. Mr. Heath "Were it not so, I have sarcasms enow in store; and I could spend the whole night unmoved at their aggravations." The general meaning is sufficiently plain, and the reader has got translations enough.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 17:1-9

Job reflects upon the harsh censures his friends had passed upon him, and, looking on himself as a dying man, he appeals to God. Our time is ending. It concerns us carefully to redeem the days of time, and to spend them in getting ready for eternity. We see the good use the righteous should make of Job's afflictions from God, from enemies, and from friends. Instead of being discouraged in the service of God, by the…

Read the full comment on Job 17:1-9 →

Job 17:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אִם\־'im-<if>?H518
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
הֲ֭תֻלִיםHa.tu.limmockeriesH2049
עִמָּדִ֑י'i.ma.Di[are] with meH5978
וּ֝בְהַמְּרוֹתָ֗םu.ve.ha.me.ro.Tamand on rebelling theyH4784
תָּלַ֥ןta.Lanmay it dwellH3885
עֵינִֽי\׃'ei.Nieye myH5869

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 17:2

  • Job 12:4

    I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.

  • Job 16:20

    My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

  • 1 Samuel 1:6-7

    And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.

  • Matthew 27:39-44

    And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. …

  • Psalms 35:14-16

    I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother. But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

  • Job 13:9

    Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?

  • Psalms 25:13

    His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

  • Psalms 91:1

    He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

  • Job 21:3

    Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
mockers.
12:4; 13:9; 16:20; 21:3; Ps 35:14-16; Mt 27:39-44
continue. Heb. lodge.
Ps 25:13; 91:1; *marg:
provocation.
1Sa 1:6,7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 17:1

    My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.

  • Job 17:2

    Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

  • Job 17:3

    Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?

Read all of Job 17

Job 17:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No hay conmigo sino escarnecedores, en cuya acrimonia se detienen mis ojos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les moqueurs ne sont-ils pas autour de moi, et mes yeux ne demeurent-ils pas au milieu de leurs insultes?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sind nicht Spöttereien um mich her, und muß nicht mein Auge weilen auf ihren Beleidigungen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non peccavi, et in amaritudinibus moratur oculus meus.