Job 9:26
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
Original Language Analysis
חָ֭לְפוּ
They are passed away
H2498
חָ֭לְפוּ
They are passed away
Strong's:
H2498
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, to slide by, i.e., (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or change
עִם
as
H5973
עִם
as
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
2 of 8
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
Cross References
Habakkuk 1:8Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.Isaiah 18:2That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
Historical Context
Reed boats (papyrus vessels) were common in Egypt and could achieve remarkable speeds with skilled sailors. Egyptian tomb paintings depict these swift craft used for hunting and travel. Eagles and vultures in the ancient Near East were noted for their spectacular hunting dives, reaching speeds over 100 mph. Job, living in the patriarchal period, would have observed both phenomena. This verse reflects universal human consciousness of mortality heightened by suffering.
Questions for Reflection
- Which of Job's three metaphors (runner, ship, eagle) most captures your sense of time's passage, and why?
- How should awareness of life's acceleration inform our priorities and urgency in spiritual matters?
Analysis & Commentary
They are passed away as the swift ships (חָלְפוּ עִם־אֳנִיּוֹת אֵבֶה, chalf'u im-oniyyot eveh)—Job employs two vivid metaphors for life's rapid passage. The 'swift ships' (likely papyrus reed boats used on the Nile or Jordan) were lightweight and extremely fast. The verb 'passed away' (chalaph, חָלַף) means to pass on, change, or vanish—the same word used of watches in the night that disappear (Psalm 90:4).
As the eagle that hasteth to the prey (כְּנֶשֶׁר יָטוּשׁ עֲלֵי־אֹכֶל, k'nesher yatush alei-okhel) completes the imagery. The eagle or vulture (nesher, נֶשֶׁר) stooping to carrion exemplifies speed and inevitability. The verb 'hasteth' (tush, טוּשׁ) means to dart or swoop down. Job sees his days swooping toward death as inexorably as a raptor strikes prey. These three metaphors (runner, ship, eagle) emphasize acceleration—life doesn't merely pass but accelerates toward its end.