Job 36:16
New International Version
“He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.

New Living Translation
“God is leading you away from danger, Job, to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.

English Standard Version
He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping, and what was set on your table was full of fatness.

Berean Standard Bible
Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.

King James Bible
Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

New King James Version
“Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness.

New American Standard Bible
“Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress, And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; And your table was full of rich food.

NASB 1995
“Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress, Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; And that which was set on your table was full of fatness.

NASB 1977
“Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress, Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; And that which was set on your table was full of fatness.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress, Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; And the comfort of your table full of fatness.

Amplified Bible
“Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress and confinement, Into a broad place where there is no constraint or distress; And that which was set on your table was full of fatness (rich food).

Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, he lured you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and unconfined place. Your table was spread with choice food.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Indeed, He lured you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and unconfined place. Your table was spread with choice food.

American Standard Version
Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.

Contemporary English Version
And at this very moment, God deeply desires to lead you from trouble and to spread your table with your favorite food.

English Revised Version
Yea, he would have led thee away out of distress into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which is set on thy table should be full of fatness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Yes, he lured you away from the jaws of trouble into an open area where you were not restrained, and your table was covered with rich foods.

Good News Translation
God brought you out of trouble, and let you enjoy security; your table was piled high with food.

International Standard Version
"Indeed, he drew you away from the brink of distress to a spacious place without constraints, filling your festive table with bountiful food.

Majority Standard Bible
Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness.

NET Bible
And surely, he drew you from the mouth of distress, to a wide place, unrestricted, and to the comfort of your table filled with rich food.

New Heart English Bible
Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table would be full of fatness.

World English Bible
Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He also moved you from a narrow place "" [To] a broad place—no constriction under it, "" And the sitting beyond of your table has been full of fatness.

Young's Literal Translation
And also He moved thee from a strait place, To a broad place -- no straitness under it, And the sitting beyond of thy table Hath been full of fatness.

Smith's Literal Translation
And also he moved thee from the mouth of the enemy to a broad, not straight place; and thy table came down full of fatness.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore he shall set thee at large out of the narrow mouth, and which hath no foundation under it : and the rest of thy table shall be full of fatness.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, he will save you from the narrow mouth very widely, even though it has no foundation under it. Moreover, your respite at table will be full of fatness.

New American Bible
He entices you from distress, to a broad place without constraint; what rests on your table is rich food.

New Revised Standard Version
He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no constraint, and what was set on your table was full of fatness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Even so he shall deliver you from the mouth of the mocker, and give you rest instead of distress; and he shall prepare a table with rich food.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Also he will deliver you from the mouth of the mocker, and a spacious place is substituted for distress, and he will set a table full of rich food
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Yea, He hath allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table is full of fatness;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he has also enticed thee out of the mouth of the enemy:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elihu Declares God's Justice and Power
15God rescues the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression. 16Indeed, He drew you from the jaws of distress to a spacious and broad place, to a table full of richness. 17But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have seized you.…

Cross References
Psalm 18:19
He brought me out into the open; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

Psalm 31:8
You have not delivered me to the enemy; You have set my feet in the open.

Psalm 118:5
In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered and set me free.

Isaiah 30:23
Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures.

Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak. / Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. / But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 49:9-10
to say to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ They will feed along the pathways, and find pasture on every barren hill. / They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.

Isaiah 55:12
You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Jeremiah 31:12-14
They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish. / Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow. / I will fill the souls of the priests abundantly, and will fill My people with My goodness,” declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 34:14-15
I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. / I will tend My flock and make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD.

Hosea 2:15
There I will give back her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor into a gateway of hope. There she will respond as she did in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

John 10:9-10
I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. / The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”

Acts 14:22
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Romans 5:3-5
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; / perseverance, character; and character, hope. / And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.


Treasury of Scripture

Even so would he have removed you out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no narrow place; and that which should be set on your table should be full of fatness.

a broad

Job 19:8
He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

Job 42:10-17
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before…

Psalm 18:19
He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

that which should be set on thy table.

Psalm 23:5
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalm 36:8
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.

Psalm 63:5
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

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Broad Choice Comfort Constraint Distress Enticed Fatness Food Full Indeed Instead Jaws Laden Mouth Removed Sitting Spacious Strait Straitness Supply Table
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Broad Choice Comfort Constraint Distress Enticed Fatness Food Full Indeed Instead Jaws Laden Mouth Removed Sitting Spacious Strait Straitness Supply Table
Job 36
1. Elihu shows how God is just in his ways
16. How Job's sins hinder God's blessings
24. God's works are to be magnified














Indeed, He is drawing you
The phrase begins with an affirmation, "Indeed," which emphasizes the certainty and assurance of God's actions. The Hebrew root for "drawing" is "mashak," which conveys the idea of pulling or leading gently. This suggests God's active involvement in Job's life, guiding him with care and purpose. It reflects the divine initiative in delivering Job from his trials, highlighting God's sovereignty and compassion.

from the jaws of distress
The imagery of "jaws of distress" is vivid, suggesting a perilous situation akin to being caught in the mouth of a predator. The Hebrew word for "distress" is "tsarah," often used to describe tightness or trouble. This metaphor underscores the severity of Job's suffering and the imminent danger he faces. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of suffering as a consuming force, from which only divine intervention can rescue.

to a spacious place of freedom
The transition to "a spacious place" signifies liberation and relief. The Hebrew "merchab" denotes a broad, open area, symbolizing freedom and opportunity. This contrast with "distress" highlights the transformation God intends for Job. Theologically, it represents the abundant life God promises to those who trust Him, echoing the biblical theme of deliverance and restoration.

to a table laden with choice food
The "table laden with choice food" is a metaphor for abundance and blessing. In ancient cultures, a well-provisioned table was a sign of prosperity and divine favor. The Hebrew context here suggests not just physical sustenance but also spiritual nourishment and satisfaction. This imagery aligns with the biblical motif of God's provision and the eschatological hope of a heavenly banquet, where believers are fully satisfied in God's presence.

(16) Even so would he have removed thee. It is possible to understand this verse somewhat otherwise, and the sense may perhaps be improved. Elihu may be speaking, not of what God would have done, but of what He has actually done: "Yea, also He hath removed thee from the mouth of an adversary, even case and abundance in the place of which there was no straitness, and that which came down upon thy table full of fatness; but thou art full of the judgment of the wicked, therefore justice and judgment take hold on thee." "God, in His mercy, saw that thou wast in danger, and He removed the cause of temptation, and thy chastisement would have been of short duration hadst thou been submissive and resigned; but thou hast been bold and daring, like the wicked, and hast reaped the judgment of the wicked."

Verse 16. - Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad pine, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. Another quite different interpretation has been proposed by Ewald, and adopted by Dillmann and Canon Cook, who suppose Elihu to speak, not of what would have happened to Job under certain circumstances, but of what had actually happened to him, and render, "Thee moreover hath thy unbounded prosperity seduced from listening to the voice of affliction, and the case of thy table which was full of fatness." But the rendering of the Authorized Version, which is substantially that of Schultens and Rosenmuller, is still upheld by many scholars, and has been retained by our Revisers. If we adopt it, we must understand Elihu as assuring Job that he too would have been delivered and restored to his prosperity, if he had accepted his afflictions in a proper spirits and learnt the lesson they were intended to teach him (see vers. 9, 10).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Indeed,
וְאַ֤ף (wə·’ap̄)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 637: Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though

He drew you
הֲסִיתְךָ֨ ׀ (hă·sî·ṯə·ḵā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5496: To prick, stimulate, to seduce

from the jaws
מִפִּי־ (mip·pî-)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

of distress
צָ֗ר (ṣār)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6862: Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent

to a spacious
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

and broad place,
רַ֭חַב (ra·ḥaḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7338: Breadth, broad expanse

to a table
שֻׁ֝לְחָנְךָ֗ (lə·ḥā·nə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7979: A table, a meal

full
מָ֣לֵא (mā·lê)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of

of richness.
דָֽשֶׁן׃ (ḏā·šen)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1880: The fat, fatness, abundance, the, ashes of sacrifices


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OT Poetry: Job 36:16 Yes he would have allured you out (Jb)
Job 36:15
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