Job 21:2 Meaning and Explanation
“Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Job asks his friends simply to listen carefully; their attentive hearing would itself be a comfort to him.
What Does Job 21:2 Mean?
Job has endured speech after speech from his friends, each one assuming his guilt. Here he asks for the one thing they have not given: a genuine hearing. He says that if they want to console him, listening well would be consolation enough.
There is deep wisdom here about how to be present to those who suffer. Often the truest comfort is not advice but attention. To 'hear diligently' is to honor another person's pain instead of rushing to explain it. The God who inclines His ear to the cry of His people models this listening love, and those who would comfort in His name learn first to be still and hear.
Job 21:2 in the Original Language
shama (שָׁמַע), 'hear' -- to listen with attentive obedience, not merely to register sound.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 21:2
What does Job 21:2 mean?
Job asks his friends simply to listen carefully; their attentive hearing would itself be a comfort to him.