Job 29 · Verse 24

Job 29:24

If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Job 29:24, King James Version

Job 29:24 in other translations

BSBIf I smiled at them, they did not believe it; the light of my countenance was precious.
WEBI smiled on them when they had no confidence. They didn’t reject the light of my face.
ASVI smiled on them, when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down.
YLTI laugh unto them--they give no credence, And the light of my face cause not to fall.
DARBYIf I laughed on them, they believed it not; and they troubled not the serenity of my countenance.
BBEI was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
WebsterIf I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

What does Job 29:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. When I relaxed from my wonted gravity (a virtue much esteemed in the East) and smiled, they could hardly credit it; and yet, notwithstanding my condescension, they did not cast aside reverence for my gravity. But the parallelism is better in Umbreit's translation, "I smiled kindly on those who trusted not," that is, in times of danger I cheered those in despondency. And they could not cast down (by their despondency) my serenity of countenance (flowing from trust in God) (Pr 16:15; Psa 104:15). The opposite phrase (Ge 4:5, 6). "Gravity" cannot well be meant by "light of countenance."

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 I laughed on them, they believed it not - Similar to that expression in the Gospel, Luk 24:41 : And while they believed not for joy, and wondered, he said - . Our version is sufficiently perspicuous, and gives the true sense of the original, only it should be read in the indicative and not in the subjunctive mood: I laughed on them - they believed it not. We have a similar phrase: The news was too good to be true. The light of my countenance - This evidence of my benevolence and regard. A smile is, metaphorically, the light of the countenance. They cast not down - They gave me no occasion to change my sentiments or feelings towards them. I could still smile upon them, and they were then worthy of my approbation. Their change he refers to in the beginning of the next chapter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 29:18-25

Being thus honoured and useful, Job had hoped to die in peace and honour, in a good old age. If such an expectation arise from lively faith in the providence and promise of God, it is well; but if from conceit of our own wisdom, and dependence on changeable, earthly things, it is ill grounded, and turns to sin. Every one that has the spirit of wisdom, has not the spirit of government; but Job had both. Yet he had…

Read the full comment on Job 29:18-25 →

Job 29:24 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.

אֶשְׂחַ֣ק'es.ChakI laughedH7832
אֲ֭לֵהֶם'A.le.hemto themH413
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יַאֲמִ֑ינוּya.'a.Mi.nuthey believedH539
וְא֥וֹרve.'orand [the] light ofH216
פָּ֝נַ֗יpa.Naiface myH6440
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יַפִּילֽוּן\׃ya.pi.Lunthey made fall !H5307

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

Cross references for Job 29:24

  • Psalms 126:1

    A Song of degrees. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

  • Psalms 4:6

    There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

  • Psalms 89:15

    Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

  • Luke 24:41

    And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

  • Genesis 45:26

    And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they believed.
Ge 45:26; Ps 126:1; Lu 24:41
the light.
Ps 4:6; 89:15

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

Context

  • Job 29:23

    And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.

  • Job 29:24

    If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

  • Job 29:25

    I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

Read all of Job 29

Job 29:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si me reía con ellos, no lo creían: y no abatían la luz de mi rostro.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si je leur souriais, ils ne le croyaient pas, et ils ne troublaient pas la sérénité de ma face.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich lächelte ihnen zu, wenn sie kein Vertrauen hatten, und das Licht meines Angesichts konnten sie nicht trüben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Siquando ridebam ad eos, non credebant: et lux vultus mei non cadebat in terram.