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Selected Verse: Job 30:21 - Strong Concordance

Verse         Translation Text
Job 30:21 Strong Concordance Thou art become [02015] cruel [0393] to me: with thy strong [06108] hand [03027] thou opposest [07852] thyself against me.
  King James Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Thou art become cruel to me - Margin, turned to be. This language, applied to God, seems to be harsh and irreverent, and it may well be inquired whether the word cruel does not express an idea which Job did not intend. The Hebrew word אכזר 'akzâr, is from an obsolete root כזר - not found in Hebrew. The Arabic root, nearly the same as this, means to break with violence; to rout as an enemy; then to be enraged. In the Syriac, the primary idea is, that of a soldier, and thence it may refer to such acts of violence as a soldier commonly commits. The word occurs in Hebrew in the following places, and is translated in the following manner. It is rendered "cruel" in Deu 32:33; Job 30:21; Pro 5:9; Pro 11:17; Pro 12:10; Pro 17:11; Pro 27:4; Isa 13:9; Jer 6:23; Jer 50:42; Jer 30:14; and fierce in Job 41:10. Jerome renders it, mutatus mihi in crudelem - "thou art changed so as to become cruel to me;" the Septuagint renders it, ἀνελεημόως aneleēmonōs - unmerciful; Luther, Du bist mir verwandelt in einem Grausamen - "thou art changed to me into a cruel one;" and so Umbreit, Noyes, and translators generally. Perhaps the word fierce, severe or harsh, would express the idea; still it must be admitted that Job, in the severity of his sufferings, is often betrayed into language which cannot be a model for us, and which we cannot vindicate.

With thy strong hand - Margin, the strength. So the Hebrew. The hand is the instrument by which we accomplish anything; and hence, anything which God does is traced to his hand.

Thou opposest thyselph against me - - תשׂטמני tiśâṭamēniy. The word שׂטם śâṭam, means to lie in wait for anyone; to lay snares; to set a trap; see Job 16:9, where the same word occurs, and where it is rendered "who hateth me," but where it would be better rendered he pursues, or persecutes me. The meaning is, that God had become his adversary, or had set himself against him. There was a severity in his dealings with him as if he had become a foe.
 
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9 He teareth [02963] me in his wrath [0639], who hateth [07852] me: he gnasheth [02786] upon me with his teeth [08127]; mine enemy [06862] sharpeneth [03913] his eyes [05869] upon me.
10 None is so fierce [0393] that dare stir him up [05782] [05782]: who then is able to stand [03320] before [06440] me?
14 All thy lovers [0157] have forgotten [07911] thee; they seek [01875] thee not; for I have wounded [05221] thee with the wound [04347] of an enemy [0341], with the chastisement [04148] of a cruel one [0394], for the multitude [07230] of thine iniquity [05771]; because thy sins [02403] were increased [06105].
42 They shall hold [02388] the bow [07198] and the lance [03591]: they are cruel [0394], and will not shew mercy [07355]: their voice [06963] shall roar [01993] like the sea [03220], and they shall ride [07392] upon horses [05483], every one put in array [06186], like a man [0376] to the battle [04421], against thee, O daughter [01323] of Babylon [0894].
23 They shall lay hold [02388] on bow [07198] and spear [03591]; they are cruel [0394], and have no mercy [07355]; their voice [06963] roareth [01993] like the sea [03220]; and they ride [07392] upon horses [05483], set in array [06186] as men [0376] for war [04421] against thee, O daughter [01323] of Zion [06726].
9 Behold, the day [03117] of the LORD [03068] cometh [0935], cruel [0394] both with wrath [05678] and fierce [02740] anger [0639], to lay [07760] the land [0776] desolate [08047]: and he shall destroy [08045] the sinners [02400] thereof out of it.
4 Wrath [02534] is cruel [0395], and anger [0639] is outrageous [07858]; but who is able to stand [05975] before [06440] envy [07068]?
11 An evil [07451] man seeketh [01245] only rebellion [04805]: therefore a cruel [0394] messenger [04397] shall be sent [07971] against him.
10 A righteous [06662] man regardeth [03045] the life [05315] of his beast [0929]: but the tender mercies [07356] of the wicked [07563] are cruel [0394].
17 The merciful [02617] man [0376] doeth good [01580] to his own soul [05315]: but he that is cruel [0394] troubleth [05916] his own flesh [07607].
9 Lest thou give [05414] thine honour [01935] unto others [0312], and thy years [08141] unto the cruel [0394]:
21 Thou art become [02015] cruel [0393] to me: with thy strong [06108] hand [03027] thou opposest [07852] thyself against me.
33 Their wine [03196] is the poison [02534] of dragons [08577], and the cruel [0393] venom [07219] of asps [06620].