Job 16:10 describes Job's utter despair and the intense animosity he faces from his friends. Let's break down each part:
"They have gaped on me with their mouth." This suggests astonishment and disdain. "Gaped" implies they are staring at him with open mouths, either in shock at his suffering or in disgust at his perceived sinfulness. It highlights their disbelief and lack of empathy. It suggests an utter rejection of him as a fellow human worthy of compassion.
"They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully." This isn't necessarily a literal physical assault. More likely, it's a metaphorical "slap." Their words and accusations are so harsh and hurtful that they feel like a physical blow. "Reproachfully" means they are blaming him and accusing him of wrongdoing, implying he deserves his suffering. They are "striking" him with the sting of their judgment.
"They gather themselves together against me." This paints a picture of his friends uniting as a hostile force. They are not offering comfort or support; instead, they are collectively attacking him, reinforcing their negative judgments and making him feel isolated and overwhelmed. It shows a unified front against him, increasing his sense of helplessness.
In Summary:
This verse depicts Job as feeling utterly abandoned and attacked by his friends. They are not offering him sympathy or understanding, but rather scorn and accusations. Their harsh words and unified condemnation leave him feeling isolated, humiliated, and unjustly judged. He feels they are ganging up on him, compounding his already immense suffering. The verse emphasizes the pain inflicted by his friends' lack of compassion and their relentless accusations, making his situation even more desperate.
Job 16:10 describes Job's utter despair and the intense animosity he faces from his friends. Let's break down each part:
"They have gaped on me with their mouth." This suggests astonishment and disdain. "Gaped" implies they are staring at him with open mouths, either in shock at his suffering or in disgust at his perceived sinfulness. It highlights their disbelief and lack of empathy. It suggests an utter rejection of him as a fellow human worthy of compassion.
"They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully." This isn't necessarily a literal physical assault. More likely, it's a metaphorical "slap." Their words and accusations are so harsh and hurtful that they feel like a physical blow. "Reproachfully" means they are blaming him and accusing him of wrongdoing, implying he deserves his suffering. They are "striking" him with the sting of their judgment.
"They gather themselves together against me." This paints a picture of his friends uniting as a hostile force. They are not offering comfort or support; instead, they are collectively attacking him, reinforcing their negative judgments and making him feel isolated and overwhelmed. It shows a unified front against him, increasing his sense of helplessness.
In Summary:
This verse depicts Job as feeling utterly abandoned and attacked by his friends. They are not offering him sympathy or understanding, but rather scorn and accusations. Their harsh words and unified condemnation leave him feeling isolated, humiliated, and unjustly judged. He feels they are ganging up on him, compounding his already immense suffering. The verse emphasizes the pain inflicted by his friends' lack of compassion and their relentless accusations, making his situation even more desperate.