Job 6:26

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 6:26 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?
Job 6:26 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
26Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Do ye imagine to reprove words, etc.] Or with words; with bare words, without any force of reasoning and argument in them? put a parcel of words together without any sense or meaning, or however without any cogency in them, and think to run me down with them? or is your scheme and device only, and which you pursue, to catch at and lay hold on some words of mine uttered in my distress, and make me an offender for a word, or for a few words, supposing they have been rashly and passionately spoken? have ye no facts to charge me with, before or since these calamities befell me? is the charge of hypocrisy and want of the fear of God to be supported by producing some hasty expressions, without…”
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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
“Do you imagine--or, "mean." to reprove words and (to reprove) the speeches of one desperate, (which are) as wind?--mere nothings, not to be so narrowly taken to task? UMBREIT not so well takes the Hebrew for "as wind," as "sentiments"; making formal "sentiments" antithetical to mere "speeches," and supplying, not the word "reprove," but "would you regard," from the first clause.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Do ye imagine to reprove words? - A considerable variety of interpretation has occurred in regard to this verse. Dr. Good, following Schultens, supposes that the word translated wind here רוּח rûach means sighs, or groans, and renders it, Would ye then take up words for reproof, The mere venting the means of despair? But Rosenmuller has well remarked that the word never has this signification. Noyes renders it, Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind. In this, he has probably expressed the true sense. This explanation was proposed by Ludov. de Dieu, and is adopted by Rosenmuller. According to this, the sense is, “Do you think it reasonable to carp at mere…”
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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
“Words - Do you think it is sufficient to quarrel with some of my words, without giving allowance for human infirmity, or extreme misery. Desperate - Of a poor miserable, hopeless and helpless man. As wind - Which pass away and are forgotten. Job 6:27”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“reprove: Job 2:10, 3:3-26, Job 4:3, Job 4:4, Job 34:3-9, Job 38:2, Job 40:5, Job 40:8, Job 42:3, Job 42:7; Mat 12:37 one that: Job 6:4, Job 6:9, Job 10:1 as wind: Job 8:2; Hos 12:1; Eph 4:14 Job 6:27”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification