Job 19:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This is a genuine lament that reflects the deep pains of the heart as he outlines the agonizing impact of treachery from those who should have provided support. The prophet voices profound grief that he is assailed by friends and kin, rather than being embraced by their encouragement. David's sorrow mirrors the lamentations of Job, who chastised his so-called comforters, deriding them as ‘miserable comforters’; their presence did not soothe but rather deepened his despair. We must heed this caution! True consolation should be gentle and healing, easing distress rather than intensifying it. Just as gently applied remedies are required for tender wounds to alleviate pain, we should be careful to ease sorrow with our words rather than inflict further hurt. When Job's friends came to him, they remained silent for seven days, only speaking up after he cried out in anguish. Words must be carefully chosen to ensure our attempts at comfort do not cause additional pain. Silence can bring healing; hasty words, however, often wound further. Why should we be surprised if someone frequently hurt is further harmed by another's words? Is it not a transgression to speak too freely? (Proverbs 10:19; 29:20). A skilled physician recognizes the right moment to treat those weakened by illness, understanding that early intervention can yield positive outcomes. How much more critical is it for us to focus on the suitability and calming nature of our speech, striving to lessen sorrow instead of exacerbating it! Pain can create profound suffering; the heart of a bereaved woman mourning the loss of a husband or child may be too encumbered with grief to hear your words of comfort. There is no rush! Often, we witness disputes arising from such ill-timed consolations. We come to mourn with her, not to argue. Thus, we should select our words with care, ensuring we do not offend God in our effort to bring comfort. Avoid saying, ‘Hear this,’ followed by trivial words, lest you receive the reply, ‘Listen, you miserable comforters’ (Job 16:2). Refrain from adding unnecessary chatter to another's sorrow! Arrive at the appropriate moment, and refrain if your words lack kindness. The experience of such individuals can be taught through the words of Job: heavy trials encircle me, watching. My brothers are estranged from me; strangers draw closer. My friends have shown no mercy (Job 19:12-13). The same sentiments are echoed by the holy prophet David, who laments that his friends attack him while his loved ones have abandoned him.

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION They are ‘encamped around our dwelling’ when they envelop the mind with temptations; and many wicked individuals are influenced by them, leading them to lament over fleeting concerns one moment and to despair over their inability to achieve eternal rewards the next, causing them to be filled with impatience and to utter blasphemous words against God. Nevertheless, as previously mentioned, these words pertain to the righteous Job and should also be understood in a historical context. For he, while reflecting on the trials he endured, viewed himself, not as a son deserving of correction, but as an adversary beset by misfortunes. Indeed, ‘robbers have made their way’ into his life, allowing malevolent spirits the opportunity to afflict him. They surrounded his dwelling as all his possessions and children were taken from him, and his body became a canvas of bruises and wounds. It is particularly noteworthy that in referring to ‘robbers,’ he added the qualifier ‘His,’ indicating that these assailants are ultimately under God’s dominion. If we delineate between the evil spirits’ capacity and intent, it becomes clear why they are referred to as ‘God's robbers.’ Although malevolent spirits incessantly seek to harm us, they possess no authority to commit evil unless the Supreme Will permits it; thus, while their intent is unjust, they can only act justly under Divine direction. Therefore, although they strive for wrongdoing out of their own volition, their actions are still subject to just authority, leading them to be identified as ‘robbers,’ but ‘of God’—because they are driven by their own desire for injustice, yet restrained from executing their intentions against the righteous in a just manner. We have often pointed out that a holy individual, amid suffering, may express himself at times personally, at other times as the voice of the Church, and occasionally as our Redeemer, frequently illustrating his own plight in ways that reflect both the situation of the Holy Church and our Redeemer. Thus, let us move beyond mere historical concerns and examine how he integrates these elements with the characteristics of our Redeemer.