Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

JOB 30:21KJV
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Job 30:21 (KJV)

What does Job 30:21 mean?

Job 30:21 records Job’s accusation that God has turned against him. Job speaks from within his suffering and describes God as treating him harshly, using power against him rather than coming to his help.

After calling out to God in verse 20, Job addresses him directly as “thou.” The image of God’s “strong hand” pictures power brought to bear against Job. The words give the reader Job’s view of what is happening to him.

The Hebrew behind Job 30:21

  • “become” — הָפַךְ (haphakh): This word can carry the sense of turning or changing. Job’s accusation presents God’s treatment of him as a reversal.
  • “opposest” — שָׂטַם (satam): This word can mean to act as an enemy or show hostility. Job pictures God’s action toward him as the action of an opponent.

Why Job 30:21 matters

  • Job’s words are an accusation spoken to God, not a description offered by a distant narrator. The direct address “thou” lets the reader hear Job’s complaint in his own voice.
  • The nearby verses show why Job experiences his situation as a reversal. In Job 29:2–5, he remembers a time when he felt God watched over him; in Job 30:21, he speaks of God as acting against him.

Where else these words appear

“strong” Hebrew H6108 · used in 3 verses

  • Deuteronomy 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
  • Psalms 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

“cruel” Hebrew H393 · used in 4 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:33 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
  • Job 41:10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
  • Lamentations 4:3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

“opposest” Hebrew H7852 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
  • Genesis 49:23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
  • Job 16:9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

“become” Hebrew H2015 · used in 92 verses

  • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
  • 1 Kings 22:34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
  • Psalms 114:8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.