Job 6:17
What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
Original Language Analysis
בְּעֵ֣ת
What time
H6256
בְּעֵ֣ת
What time
Strong's:
H6256
Word #:
1 of 6
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
Historical Context
The deadly danger of trusting wadis that dried up was well-known to ancient Near Eastern travelers. Caravans could perish when expected water sources proved dry, making Job's metaphor vivid and powerful.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you respond when human comfort fails and only God remains?
- What does the failure of Job's friends teach us about the limits of human help in suffering?
Analysis & Commentary
Job continues: 'What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.' Summer heat dries the streams—exactly when travelers need water most. Similarly, the heat of Job's trials has evaporated his friends' support. The Hebrew 'chamam' (wax warm/hot) and 'tsamath' (vanish/are consumed) describe complete disappearance. This models the failure of human comfort when divine comfort is needed—friends can sit with us, but ultimately only God can sustain through fire (Isaiah 43:2).