Job 30:20
I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.
Original Language Analysis
אֲשַׁוַּ֣ע
I cry
H7768
אֲשַׁוַּ֣ע
I cry
Strong's:
H7768
Word #:
1 of 7
properly, to be free; but used only causatively and reflexively, to halloo (for help, i.e., freedom from some trouble)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 7
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַעֲנֵ֑נִי
unto thee and thou dost not hear
H6030
תַעֲנֵ֑נִי
unto thee and thou dost not hear
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
4 of 7
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
עָ֝מַ֗דְתִּי
me I stand up
H5975
עָ֝מַ֗דְתִּי
me I stand up
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
5 of 7
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
Cross References
Job 19:7Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.Psalms 22:2O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.Job 27:9Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?Matthew 15:23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.Lamentations 3:8Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.Lamentations 3:44Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.
Historical Context
Ancient prayer assumed divine hearing and response. Job's experience of divine silence challenges this assumption while maintaining prayer.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you persist in prayer when God seems not to hear?
- What does divine silence teach about faith?
Analysis & Commentary
Job addresses God: 'I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.' This describes prayer's apparent futility - crying without answer, standing without divine regard. The silence of heaven intensifies suffering.