Job 16:2
New International Version
“I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you!

New Living Translation
“I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are!

English Standard Version
“I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.

Berean Standard Bible
“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.

King James Bible
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

New King James Version
“I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all!

New American Standard Bible
“I have heard many things like these; Miserable comforters are you all!

NASB 1995
“I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.

NASB 1977
“I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.

Legacy Standard Bible
“I have heard many such things; Troublesome comforters are you all.

Amplified Bible
“I have heard many such things; Wearisome and miserable comforters are you all.

Christian Standard Bible
I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters.

American Standard Version
I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.

Contemporary English Version
I have often heard this, and it offers no comfort.

English Revised Version
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I have heard many things like this before. You are all pathetic at comforting me.

International Standard Version
"I've heard many things like this. What miserable comforters you all are!

Majority Standard Bible
?I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.

NET Bible
"I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all!

New Heart English Bible
"I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters.

Webster's Bible Translation
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

World English Bible
“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“I have heard many such things, "" Miserable comforters [are] you all.

Young's Literal Translation
I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters are ye all.

Smith's Literal Translation
I heard many like there: comforters of vexation ye all.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I have often heard such things; you are all aggravating comforters.

New American Bible
I have heard this sort of thing many times. Troublesome comforters, all of you!

New Revised Standard Version
“I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I have heard many such things; wicked comforters are you all.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“I have heard of many things like these, and you are comforters in evil, all of you!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are ye all.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I have heard many such things: poor comforters are ye all.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Decries his Comforters
1Then Job answered: 2“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all. 3Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?…

Cross References
Job 13:4
You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.

Job 21:34
So how can you comfort me with empty words? For your answers remain full of falsehood.”

Job 12:2
“Truly then you are the people with whom wisdom itself will die!

Job 19:2
“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?

Job 6:14-15
A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. / But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,

Job 13:5
If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!

Job 26:2-4
“How you have helped the powerless and saved the arm that is feeble! / How you have counseled the unwise and provided fully sound insight! / To whom have you uttered these words? And whose spirit spoke through you?

Job 15:2-3
“Does a wise man answer with empty counsel or fill his belly with the hot east wind? / Should he argue with useless words or speeches that serve no purpose?

Job 17:10
But come back and try again, all of you. For I will not find a wise man among you.

Job 19:21
Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me.

Proverbs 25:20
Like one who removes a garment on a cold day or vinegar poured on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Proverbs 18:13
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

Proverbs 27:14
If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.

Ecclesiastes 4:1
Again I looked, and I considered all the oppression taking place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, and they had no comforter; the power lay in the hands of their oppressors, and there was no comforter.

Isaiah 41:6-7
Each one helps the other and says to his brother, “Be strong!” / The craftsman encourages the goldsmith, and he who wields the hammer cheers him who strikes the anvil, saying of the welding, “It is good.” He nails it down so it will not be toppled.


Treasury of Scripture

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are you all.

heard

Job 6:6,25
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? …

Job 11:2,3
Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? …

Job 13:5
O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

miserable.

Job 13:4
But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.

Psalm 69:26
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

Philippians 1:16
The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

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Job 16
1. Job reproves his friends for unmercifulness
17. He maintains his innocence














I have heard many things like these
In this opening phrase, Job expresses his weariness and frustration with the repetitive and unhelpful counsel of his friends. The Hebrew root for "heard" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but also understanding and internalizing. Job has not only listened to his friends' words but has deeply considered them, yet finds them lacking. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of wisdom dialogues, where friends would offer advice during times of distress. Job's lament highlights the inadequacy of human wisdom when it fails to address the depth of his suffering.

miserable comforters are you all!
The phrase "miserable comforters" is a poignant critique of his friends' attempts to console him. The Hebrew word for "miserable" is "עָמֵל" (amel), which can also mean "troublesome" or "toilsome." This suggests that instead of alleviating Job's pain, his friends have added to his burden. The term "comforters" (נָחַם, nacham) traditionally implies those who bring solace and relief. However, Job's use of irony here underscores the failure of his friends to fulfill this role. In the broader scriptural context, true comfort is often associated with divine intervention and understanding, which Job feels is absent in his friends' counsel.

(2) I have heard many such things.--Trite rather than true, or at least the whole truth.

"Common is the common-place,

And vacant chaff well meant for grain."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“I have heard
שָׁמַ֣עְתִּי (šā·ma‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

many
רַבּ֑וֹת (rab·bō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 7227: Much, many, great

things like these;
כְאֵ֣לֶּה (ḵə·’êl·leh)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

miserable
עָמָ֣ל (‘ā·māl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5999: Toil, wearing effort, worry, wheth, of body, mind

comforters
מְנַחֲמֵ֖י (mə·na·ḥă·mê)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge

are you all.
כֻּלְּכֶֽם׃ (kul·lə·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every


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OT Poetry: Job 16:2 I have heard many such things (Jb)
Job 16:1
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