Job 6 · Verse 19

Job 6:19

The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
Job 6:19, King James Version

Job 6:19 in other translations

BSBThe caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
WEBThe caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
ASVThe caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.
YLTPassengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
DARBYThe caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
BBEThe camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:
WebsterThe troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

What does Job 6:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
19. the troops--that is, "caravans." Tema--north of Arabia-Deserta, near the Syrian desert; called from Tema son of Ishmael (Ge 25:15; Is 21:14; Jr 25:23), still so called by the Arabs. Job 6:19, 20 give another picture of the mortification of disappointed hopes, namely, those of the caravans on the direct road, anxiously awaiting the return of their companions from the distant valley. The mention of the locality whence the caravans came gives living reality to the picture. Sheba--refers here not to the marauders in North Arabia-Deserta (Job 1:15), but to the merchants (Eze 27:22) in the south, in Arabia-Felix or Yemen, "afar off" (Jr 6:20; Mt 12:42; Ge 10:28). Caravans are first mentioned in Ge 37:25; men needed to travel thus in companies across the desert, for defense against the roving robbers and for mutual accommodation. The companies ... waited for them--cannot refer to the caravans who had gone in quest of the waters; for Job 6:18 describes their utter destruction.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 The troops of Tema looked - The caravans coming from Tema are represented as arriving at those places where it was well known torrents did descend from the mountains, and they were full of expectation that here they could not only slake their thirst, but fill their girbas or water-skins; but when they arrive, they find the waters totally dissipated and lost. In vain did the caravans of Sheba wait for them; they did not reappear: and they were confounded, because they had hoped to find here refreshment and rest.

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…

Read the full comment on Job 6:14-30 →

Job 6:19 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.

הִ֭בִּיטוּHi.bi.tuthey lookH5027
אָרְח֣וֹת'a.re.Chot[the] caravans ofH734
תֵּמָ֑אte.Ma'TemaH8485
הֲלִיכֹ֥תha.li.Khot[the] travelers ofH1979
שְׁ֝בָ֗אShe.Va'ShebaH7614
קִוּוּ\־ki.vu-they look eagerlyH6960
לָֽמוֹ\׃la.mofor them

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

Cross references for Job 6:19

  • Isaiah 21:14

    The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.

  • Genesis 25:15

    Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

  • Jeremiah 25:23

    Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,

  • 1 Kings 10:1

    And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions.

  • Genesis 10:7

    And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

  • Ezekiel 27:22-23

    The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold. Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants.

  • Psalms 72:10

    The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

  • Genesis 25:3

    And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Tema.
Ge 25:15; Isa 21:14; Jer 25:23
Sheba.
Ge 10:7; 25:3; 1Ki 10:1; Ps 72:10; Eze 27:22,23

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

Context

  • Job 6:18

    The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

  • Job 6:19

    The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

  • Job 6:20

    They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

Read all of Job 6

Job 6:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Miraron los caminantes de Temán, los caminantes de Saba esperaron en ellas:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les caravanes de Théma les cherchaient du regard, les voyageurs de Sheba s’attendaient à eux;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es blickten hin die Karawanen Temas, die Reisezüge Schebas hofften auf sie:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Considerate semitas Thema, itinera Saba, et expectate paulisper.