Job 6:15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow

◄ Job 6:15 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow

English Standard Version
My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away,

New American Standard Bible
"My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi, Like the torrents of wadis which vanish,

King James Bible
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi, as seasonal streams that overflow

International Standard Version
But my brothers have acted treacherously like a cascading river, like torrential rivers that overflow.

American Standard Version
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;

Douay-Rheims Bible
My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.

Darby Bible Translation
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,

Young's Literal Translation
My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.

Cross References

Job 6:16
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

Proverbs 25:19
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Jeremiah 12:6
For even your brothers, and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; yes, they have called a multitude after you: believe them not, though they speak fair words to you.

Jeremiah 15:18
Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? will you be altogether to me as a liar, and as waters that fail?

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Acted Brook Brooks Channel Dealt Deceitfully Deceived End False. Friends Overflow Stream Streams Torrents Treacherous Valleys Vanish Wadi Wadis

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

6:14-30 In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them; whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the time of need, Heb 4:16. Those who make gold their hope, sooner or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it. It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is very close; for now ye are nothing. It were well for us, if we had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every upright believer shall have praise of God.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

15. Those whom I regarded as "my brethren," from whom I looked for faithfulness in my adversity, have disappointed me, as the streams failing from drought—wadies of Arabia, filled in the winter, but dry in the summer, which disappoint the caravans expecting to find water there. The fulness and noise of these temporary streams answer to the past large and loud professions of my friends; their dryness in summer, to the failure of the friendship when needed. The Arab proverb says of a treacherous friend, "I trust not in thy torrent" (Isa 58:11, Margin).

stream of brooks—rather, "the brook in the ravines which passes away." It has no perpetual spring of water to renew it (unlike "the fountain of living waters," Jer 2:13; Isa 33:16, at the end); and thus it passes away as rapidly as it arose.