Job 6 · Verse 14

Job 6:14

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
Job 6:14, King James Version

Job 6:14 in other translations

BSBA despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
WEB“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
ASVTo him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
YLTTo a despiser of his friends is shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
DARBYFor him that is fainting kindness is meet from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
BBEHe whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.
WebsterTo him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

What does Job 6:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. pity--a proverb. Charity is the love which judges indulgently of our fellow men: it is put on a par with truth in Pr 3:3, for they together form the essence of moral perfection [Umbreit]. It is the spirit of Christianity (1Pe 4:8; 1Co 13:7; Pr 10:12; 17:17). If it ought to be used towards all men, much more towards friends. But he who does not use it forsaketh (renounceth) the fear of the Almighty (Jas 2:13).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty - The Vulgate gives a better sense, Qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam, timorem Domini dereliquit, "He who takes away mercy from his friend, hath cast off the fear of the Lord." The word למס lammas, which we render to him who is Afflicted, from מסה masah, to dissolve, or waste away, is in thirty-two of Dr. Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS. למאס lemoes, "to him that despiseth his friend;" and hence the passage may be read: To him who despiseth his friend, it is a reproach; and he will forsake the fear of the Almighty: or, as Mr. Good translates, "Shame to the man who despiseth his friend! He indeed hath departed from the fear of the Almighty." Eliphaz had, in effect, despised Job; and on this ground had acted any thing but the part of a friend towards him; and he well deserved the severe stroke which he here receives. A heathen said, Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur; the full sense of which we have in our common adage: - A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed. Job's friends, so called, supported each other in their attempts to blacken the character of this worthy man; and their hand became the heavier, because they supposed the hand of God was upon him. To each of them, individually, might be applied the words of another heathen: - - Absentem qui rodit amicum, Qui non defendit alio culpante; solutos Qui captat risus hominum, famamque dicacis, Fingere qui non visa potest; commissa tacere Qui nequit; hic niger est; hunc tu, Romane, caveto. Hor. Satyr. lib. i., s. iv., ver. 81. He who, malignant, tears an absent friend; Or, when attack'd by others, don't defend; Who trivial bursts of laughter strives to raise, And courts, of prating petulance, the praise; Of things he never saw who tells his tale, And friendship's secrets knows not to conceal; - This man is vile; here, Roman, fix your mark; His soul's as black as his complexion's dark. Francis.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 6:14-30
In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the time of need, He 4:16. Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is very close; "for now ye are nothing." It were well for us, if we had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every upright believer shall have praise of God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Job 6:14 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.

לַמָּ֣סla.Mas[belongs] to <the> despairing [person]H4523
מֵרֵעֵ֣הוּme.re.'E.hufrom friend hisH7453
חָ֑סֶדCha.sedloyaltyH2617
וְיִרְאַ֖תve.yir.'Atand [the] fear ofH3374
שַׁדַּ֣יsha.Dai[the] AlmightyH7706
יַעֲזֽוֹב\׃ya.'a.Zovhe will forsakeH5800

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

Cross references for Job 6:14

  • Galatians 6:2

    Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

  • Proverbs 17:17

    A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

  • 1 Corinthians 12:26

    And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

  • Romans 12:15

    Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:29

    Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

  • Hebrews 13:3

    Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

  • Luke 23:40

    But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

  • Job 15:4

    Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.

  • Job 19:21

    Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

  • Job 16:5

    But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

  • Psalms 36:1-3

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

  • Job 4:3-5

    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. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
To him.
4:3,4; 16:5; 19:21; Pr 17:17; Ro 12:15; 1Co 12:26; 2Co 11:29; Ga 6:2
Heb 13:3
is afflicted. Heb. melteth. he forsaketh.
Ge 20:11; Ps 36:1-3; Lu 23:40

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

Context

  • Job 6:13

    Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

  • Job 6:14

    To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

  • Job 6:15

    My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

Read all of Job 6

Job 6:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El atribulado es consolado de su compañero: mas hase abandonado el temor del Omnipotente.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		À celui qui est défaillant est due la miséricorde de la part de son ami, sinon il abandonnera la crainte du Tout-puissant.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dem Verzagten gebührt Milde von seinem Freunde, sonst wird er die Furcht des Allmächtigen verlassen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Qui tollit ab amico suo misericordiam, timorem Domini derelinquit.