Job 30:15 (KJV)

What does Job 30:15 mean?

Job 30:15 describes how Job feels overwhelmed by fear and trouble, saying that terrors have come upon him, chasing after his soul like the wind, and that his sense of well-being has vanished as quickly as a passing cloud. Job is expressing how quickly and completely his peace and security have disappeared in the face of suffering.

In this verse, Job is speaking directly about his own experience, describing to his friends the depth of his distress. He uses vivid images—terrors chasing him like the wind and his welfare disappearing like a cloud—to show how sudden and unstoppable his troubles feel. This comes in a section where Job is lamenting how his life has changed from prosperity to misery.

The Hebrew behind Job 30:15

• "Terrors" (בְּלָהוֹת, belahot): This word refers to sudden, overwhelming fears or calamities. Job uses it to describe the intensity and unpredictability of his suffering.
• "Welfare" (יְשׁוּעָה, yeshuah): This word often means "salvation" or "deliverance." Here, it points to Job’s sense of safety or well-being, emphasizing that even his hope for rescue has disappeared.
• "Cloud" (עָב, av): The image of a cloud passing away highlights how quickly and completely Job’s sense of security has vanished, just as a cloud can disappear from the sky in an instant.

Why Job 30:15 matters

• Job 30:15 helps clear up that Job is not just physically suffering; he is also deeply troubled in his mind and spirit, feeling pursued and overwhelmed by fear.
• The verse emphasizes how quickly Job’s fortunes have changed, using the image of a vanishing cloud to show the suddenness of his loss.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by showing the contrast between Job’s former life of stability and his current state of distress, deepening the reader’s understanding of his lament.