Job - 29:20



20 My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.'

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Job 29:20.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
My glory shall always be renewed, and my bow in my hand shall be repaired.
My honour is fresh with me, And my bow in my hand is renewed.
My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
My glory will always be restored, and my bow will be restored to my hand."

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

My glory was fresh in me - Margin, "new." "As we say, the man shall not overlive himself." Umbreit. The idea is, that he was not exhausted; he continued in vigor and strength. The image is probably taken from that suggested in the previous verse - from a tree, whose beauty and vigor were continued by the waters, and by the dew that lay on its branches.
And my bow - An emblem of vigor and strength. The ancients fought with the bow, and hence, a man who was able to keep his bow constantly drawn, was an image of undiminished and unwearied vigor; compare Genesis 49:24 : "But his bow abode in strength."
Was renewed in my hand - Margin, as in Hebrew "changed." The meaning is, that it constantly renewed its strength. The idea is taken from a tree, which "changes" by renewing its leaves, beauty, and vigor; Isaiah 9:10; compare Job 14:7. The sense is that his bow gathered strength in his hand. The figure is very common in Arabic poetry, many specimens of which may be seen in Schultens in loc.

My glory was fresh in me - My vegetative power was great; my glory - my splendid blossom, large and mellow fruit, was always in season, and in every season.
My bow was renewed - I was never without means to accomplish all my wishes. I had prosperity everywhere.

My glory was,.... "Is" or "shall be";
fresh in me; or "new" (g); renewed day by day, having fresh additions made unto it; which was true of Job's temporal honour from among men; as a prince and civil magistrate, he had the honour given him that was due unto him, and this was continually increasing; and also of his spiritual glory, which lay, as every good man's glory does, in the grace of God wrought in him, and in the righteousness of Christ put upon him, Psalm 45:9; which grace is renewed and increased in them by the Holy Spirit, and is therefore called the renewing of the Holy Ghost; and which righteousness is revealed "from faith to faith", Romans 1:17, from a lesser degree of it to a greater:
and my bow was renewed in my hand; "is" or "shall be"; meaning either his authority as a civil magistrate, increasing daily to the terror of evildoers, and to the praise, profit, and defence of them that did well; or his strength, as Gersom interprets it, his spiritual strength, as in Isaiah 40:31; where the same word is used as here; so that he grew stronger and stronger in faith and other graces, and went from strength to strength; the bow was a warlike instrument, and required strength to draw it, and is put for it; see Genesis 48:22.
(g) "nova", Mercerus, Piscator, Michaelis, Schultens.

My renown, like my bodily health, was continually fresh.
bow--Metaphor from war, for, my strength, which gains me "renown," was ever renewed (Jeremiah 49:35).

Glory - My reputation was growing every day. Bow - My strength which is signified by a bow, Genesis 49:24; 1-Samuel 2:4, because in ancient times the bow and arrows were the principal instruments of war.

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