Job 30:2

Job 30:2 Meaning and Explanation

Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?

King James Version (KJV)

Read this verse in context with translation switching:

Read Full Chapter →

Job asks what use the strength of these men could ever have been to him, for they were broken and spent, their vigor wasted before its time.

What Does Job 30:2 Mean?

Continuing his description of the young men who now mock him, Job pictures their fathers as people of no usefulness. "Old age was perished" suggests men so wasted by want that their strength failed early. The line drips with the contrast between Job's former household, where such labor was beneath notice, and his present humiliation at their children's hands.

Beneath the bitter tone lies a sober truth about human strength: it perishes. The mighty arm fails, vigor drains away, and what seemed dependable proves fleeting. Job, once strong himself, is learning this in his own flesh. The believer is pressed to lean not on the strength of hands, whether his own or another's, but on the Lord whose arm does not wither and whose help outlasts every failing power.

Frequently Asked Questions About Job 30:2

What does Job 30:2 mean?

Job asks what use the strength of these men could ever have been to him, for they were broken and spent, their vigor wasted before its time.

Keep Studying Job 30

Read the whole chapter in KJV, ASV, or WEB, or go deeper with the chapter study guide and key themes.