Job 16:4

I also could well speak as ye do: if your soul were but in my soul's stead, I could overwhelm you with words, and could shake my head at you.

Leeser Tanakh

In The King James Version

I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

In Context

3Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?

5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].

Read all of Job 16

Cross References

Job 6:2Oh that my vexation could be truly weighed, and my calamity; oh that men might lift it up in the balances at once!

Job 11:2Shall a multitude of words not be answered? and is it so that a man full of talk shall be deemed in the right?

Psalms 22:7(22:8) All those who see me laugh me to scorn: they draw open their lips, they shake their head, [saying,]

Psalms 44:14(44:15) Thou renderest us a by-word among the nations, a shaking of the head among the people.

Proverbs 10:19In a multitude of words transgression cannot be avoided; but he that refraineth his lips is intelligent.

Jeremiah 18:16To make their land desolate, a perpetual derision: every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head.

Matthew Henry on Job 16:2-6

The Reply of Job to Eliphaz. ( b. c. 1520.) 1 Then Job answered and said, 2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. 3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief. Both Job and his friends took the same way that disputants commonly… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Job 16:4