Logos Bible Study

Job 6:19–20

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6:19The caravans of Tema64 looked intently65 for these streams;66

the traveling merchants67 of Sheba hoped for them.

6:20They were distressed,68

because each one had been69 so confident;

they arrived there,70 but were disappointed.

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Footnotes

  1. 64 Tema is the area of the oasis SE of the head of the Gulf of Aqaba; Sheba is in South Arabia. In Job 1:15 the Sabeans were raiders; here they are traveling merchants.
  2. 65 The verb נָבַט (navat) means “to gaze intently”; the looking is more intentional, more of a close scrutiny. It forms a fine parallel to the idea of “hope” in the second part. The translates the second verb קִוּוּ (qivvu) as “look in hope.” In the previous verbs the imperfect form was used, expressing what generally happens (so the English present tense was used). Here the verb usage changes to the perfect form. It seems that Job is narrating a typical incident now—they looked, but were disappointed.
  3. 66 The words “for these streams” are supplied from context to complete the thought and make the connection with the preceding context.
  4. 67 In Ps 68:24 this word has the meaning of “processions”; here that procession is of traveling merchants forming convoys or caravans.
  5. 68 The verb בּוֹשׁ (bosh) basically means “to be ashamed”; however, it has a wider range of meaning such as “disappointed” or “distressed.” The feeling of shame or distress is because of their confidence that they knew what they were doing. The verb is strengthened here with the parallel חָפַר (khafar, “to be confounded, disappointed”).
  6. 69 The perfect verb has the nuance of past perfect here, for their confidence preceded their disappointment. Note the contrast, using these verbs, in Ps 22:6: “they trusted in you and they were not put to shame [i.e., disappointed].”
  7. 70 The misread the prepositional phrase as the noun “their cities”; it gives the line as “They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

The caravans of Tema look,

the travelers of Sheba hope.

They are ashamed because they were confident;

they come there and are disappointed.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

The caravans of Tema look for water,

the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.

They are distressed, because they had been confident;

they arrive there, only to be disappointed.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

The caravans of Tema look for these streams.

The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.

They are ashamed because they had been confident of finding water.

When they arrive there, they are disappointed.

NLTNew Living Translation

The caravans from Tema search for this water;

the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.

They count on it but are disappointed.

When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

The caravans of Tema looked;

the traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.

They are disappointed, because they trusted;

they came here and they are confounded.

KJV 1900King James Version

The troops of Tema looked,

The companies of Sheba waited for them.

They were confounded because they had hoped;

They came thither, and were ashamed.