Job 6 · Verse 27

Job 6:27

Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
Job 6:27, King James Version

Job 6:27 in other translations

BSBYou would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.
WEBYes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
ASVYea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.
YLTAnger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.
DARBYYea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.
BBETruly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.
WebsterYes, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

What does Job 6:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
27. literally, "ye cause" (supply, "your anger") [Umbreit], a net, namely, of sophistry [Noyes and Schuttens], to fall upon the desolate (one bereft of help, like the fatherless orphan); and ye dig (a pit) for your friend--that is, try to ensnare him, to catch him in the use of unguarded language [Noyes]. (Psa 57:6); metaphor from hunters catching wild beasts in a pit covered with brushwood to conceal it. Umbreit from the Syriac, and answering to his interpretation of the first clause, has, "Would you be indignant against your friend?" The Hebrew in Job 41:6, means to "feast upon." As the first clause asks, "Would you catch him in a net?" so this follows up the image, "And would you next feast upon him, and his miseries?" So the Septuagint.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 27 Ye overwhelm the fatherless - Ye see that I am as destitute as the most miserable orphan; would ye overwhelm such a one? and would you dig a pit for your friend - do ye lay wait for me, and endeavor to entangle me in my talk? I believe this to be the spirit of Job's words.

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 6:27 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.

אַף\־'af-evenH637
עַל\־'al-onH5921
יָת֥וֹםya.Toma fatherless oneH3490
תַּפִּ֑ילוּta.Pi.luyou will make fallH5307
וְ֝תִכְר֗וּve.tikh.Ruand you may bargainH3739
עַל\־'al-onH5921
רֵֽיעֲכֶֽם\׃Rei.'a.Khemfriend yourH7453

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

Cross references for Job 6:27

  • Job 24:3

    They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow’s ox for a pledge.

  • Job 22:9

    Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.

  • Psalms 7:15

    He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

  • James 1:27

    Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

  • 2 Peter 2:3

    And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  • Joel 3:3

    And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

  • Job 24:9

    They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.

  • Nahum 3:10

    Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.

  • Job 29:12

    Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

  • Psalms 57:6

    They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

  • Jeremiah 18:22

    Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

  • Job 31:21

    If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
overwhelm. Heb. cause to fall upon. the fatherless.
22:9; 24:3,9; 29:12; 31:17,21; Ex 22:22-24; Ps 82:3; Pr 23:10,11
Eze 22:7; Mal 3:5; Jas 1:27
ye dig.
Ps 7:15; 57:6; Jer 18:20,22

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

Context

  • Job 6:26

    Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

  • Job 6:27

    Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

  • Job 6:28

    Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

Read all of Job 6

Job 6:27 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		También os arrojáis sobre el huérfano, y hacéis hoyo delante de vuestro amigo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Certes, vous tombez sur l’orphelin, et vous creusez une fosse pour votre ami.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sogar den Verwaisten würdet ihr verlosen, und über euren Freund einen Handel abschließen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Super pupillum irruitis, et subvertere nitimini amicum vestrum.