Job 6:20

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 6:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.
Job 6:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they were confounded because they had hoped, etc.] When they came to the places where they hoped to find water, finding none were ashamed of their vain hope, and reflected upon themselves for being so foolish as to raise their expectations upon such a groundless surmise: they came thither, and were ashamed; which is the same thing expressed in different words; and aptly enough describes Job’s disappointment in not meeting with that relief and comfort he expected from his friends, to whom he makes application of all this in the following words.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“literally, "each had hoped"; namely, that their companions would find water. The greater had been their hopes the more bitter now their disappointment; they came thither--to the place. and were ashamed--literally, "their countenances burn," an Oriental phrase for the shame and consternation of deceived expectation; so "ashamed" as to disappointment (Rom 5:5).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They were confounded because they had hoped - The caravans of Tema and Sheba. The word “confounded” here means ashamed. It represents the state of feeling which one has who has met with disappointment. He is perplexed, distressed, and ashamed that he had entertained so confident hope; see the notes at Isaiah 30:5. They were downcast and sad that the waters had failed, and they looked on one another with confusion and dismay. There are few images more poetic than this, and nothing that would more strikingly exhibit the disappointment of Job, that he had looked for consolation from his friends, and had not found it. He was down-cast, distressed, and disheartened, like the travelers of Tema and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Hoped - They comforted themselves with the expectation of water. Ashamed - As having deceived themselves and others. We prepare confusion for ourselves, by our vain hopes: the reeds break under us, because we lean upon them. Job 6:21”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“confounded: Jer 14:3, Jer 14:4, Jer 17:13; Rom 5:5, Rom 9:33 Job 6:21”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification