Job 29 · Verse 25

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.
Job 29:25, King James Version

Job 29:25 in other translations

BSBI chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
WEBI chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
ASVI chose out their way, and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.
YLTI choose their way, and sit head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.
DARBYI chose their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth mourners.
BBEI took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army....
WebsterI chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

What does Job 29:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
25. I chose out their way--that is, I willingly went up to their assembly (from my country residence, Job 29:7). in the army--as a king supreme in the midst of his army. comforteth the mourners--Here again Job unconsciously foreshadows Jesus Christ (Is 61:2, 3). Job's afflictions, as those of Jesus Christ, were fitting him for the office hereafter (Is 50:4; He 2:18).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 I chose out their way, and sat chief - as a king in the army - I cannot see, with some learned men, that our version of the original is wrong. I have not seen it mended, and I am sure I cannot improve it. The whole verse seems to me to point out Job in his civil, military, and domestic life. As supreme magistrate he chose out their way, adjusted their differences, and sat chief, presiding in all their civil assemblies. As captain general he dwelt as a king in the midst of his troops, preserving order and discipline, and seeing that his fellow soldiers were provided with requisites for their warfare, and the necessaries of life. As a man he did not think himself superior to the meanest offices in domestic life, to relieve or support his fellow creatures; he went about comforting the mourners - visiting the sick and afflicted, and ministering to their wants, and seeing that the wounded were properly attended. Noble Job! Look at him, ye nobles of the earth, ye lieutenants of counties, ye generals of armies, and ye lords of provinces. Look at Job! Imitate his active benevolence, and be healthy and happy. Be as guardian angels in your particular districts, blessing all by your example and your bounty. Send your hunting horses to the plough, your game cocks to the dunghill; and at last live like men and Christians.

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 29:25 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.

אֶֽבֲחַ֣ר'e.va.CharI choseH977
דַּרְכָּם֮dar.Kamway theirH1870
וְאֵשֵׁ֪בve.'e.Shevso I may sitH3427
רֹ֥אשׁrosh[as] chiefH7218
וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹןVe.'esh.konso I may dwellH7931
כְּמֶ֣לֶךְke.Me.lekhlike a kingH4428
בַּגְּד֑וּדba.ge.Dudamong the troop[s]H1416
כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka.'a.Sherjust asH834
אֲבֵלִ֣ים'a.ve.LimmournersH57
יְנַחֵֽם\׃ye.na.Chemsomeone comfortsH5162

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

Cross references for Job 29:25

  • 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

    Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

  • Isaiah 35:3-4

    Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

  • Genesis 14:14-17

    And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.

  • Isaiah 61:1-3

    The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3

    And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

  • Genesis 41:40

    Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

  • Judges 11:8

    And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:5-7

    For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

  • Job 4:3-4

    Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

  • 1 Chronicles 13:1-4

    And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul. And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

  • Deuteronomy 33:5

    And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

  • Job 31:37

    I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
chose out.
Ge 41:40; Jud 11:8; 2Sa 5:2; 1Ch 13:1-4
dwelt.
Ge 14:14-17; De 33:5
one that.
4:3,4; Isa 35:3,4; 61:1-3; 2Co 1:3,4; 7:5-7; 1Th 3:2,3

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

Context

  • 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 29:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Calificaba yo el camino de ellos, y sentábame en cabecera; y moraba como rey en el ejército, como el que consuela llorosos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je choisissais pour eux le chemin et je m’asseyais à leur tête, et je demeurais comme un roi au milieu d’une troupe, comme quelqu’un qui console les affligés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich wählte für sie den Weg aus, und saß als Haupt, und thronte wie ein König unter der Kriegsschar, gleichwie einer, der Trauernde tröstet.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si voluissem ire ad eos, sedebam primus: cumque sederem quasi rex, circumstante exercitu, eram tamen mœrentium consolator.