I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
Parallel translations
- KJV I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
- BSB I chose their course and presided as chief. So I dwelt as a king among his troops, as a comforter of the mourners.
- NKJV I chose the way for them, and sat as chief; So I dwelt as a king in the army, As one who comforts mourners.
- NASB “I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And lived as a king among the troops, As one who comforted the mourners.
- NLT Like a chief, I told them what to do. I lived like a king among his troops and comforted those who mourned.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job led as a respected chief and king, yet also comforted those who mourned.
Overview
Job concludes his recollection by describing his role as both leader and comforter, exercising kingly authority while caring tenderly for the grieving. He combined strength with compassion. This blend of rule and mercy faintly foreshadows Christ, the King who reigns with authority yet comforts the broken-hearted (Isaiah 61:1-3).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 2 Cor 1:3–4Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
- Judg 11:8The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon. You will be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
- Isa 35:3–4Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
- Isa 61:1–3The Lord Yahweh’s Spirit is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound;
- 1 Th 3:2–3and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith;
- Gen 14:14–17When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.
- Gen 41:40You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.”
- Job 4:3–4Behold, you have instructed many, you have strengthened the weak hands.
- Job 31:37I would declare to him the number of my steps. as a prince would I go near to him.
- 2 Sam 5:2In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and in. Yahweh said to you, ‘You will be shepherd of my people Israel, and you will be prince over Israel.’”
- 1 Chr 13:1–4David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.
- Deut 33:5He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.
- 2 Cor 7:5–7For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside.
- Job 1:3His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 29:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.