The Meaning of Job 29:25 Explained

Job 29:25

KJV: I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

YLT: I choose their way, and sit head, And I dwell as a king in a troop, When mourners he doth comfort.

Darby: I chose their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth mourners.

ASV: I chose out their way, and sat as chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I chose  out their way,  and sat  chief,  and dwelt  as a king  in the army,  as one [that] comforteth  the mourners. 

What does Job 29:25 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 29:1-25 - The Bitter Memory Of The Happy Past
How many thousands, looking back on the beautiful dawn of life which has become overcast, have uttered the thought of the opening words of this chapter! The worldling has no hope of the renewal of that blessed past; but the believer knows that in Christ he belongs to the eternal order, which enters into the devastation wrought by sin, arresting, canceling and converting evil into good.
If we believe in Jesus Christ, submit to His will, and unite ourselves to His heart, "a statelier Eden" comes back to us. God watches over us for good; His lamp shines on our way; His friendship is in our tent, and His love transfigures all things. The graphic description which follows of the life of a godly man is still true when a man's ways please the Lord. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 29

1  Job bemoans his former prosperity

What do the individual words in Job 29:25 mean?

I chose the way for them and sat as chief so I dwelt as a king in the army as [ones] mourning one [who] comforts
אֶֽבֲחַ֣ר דַּרְכָּם֮ וְאֵשֵׁ֪ב רֹ֥אשׁ וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹן כְּמֶ֣לֶךְ בַּגְּד֑וּד כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אֲבֵלִ֣ים יְנַחֵֽם

אֶֽבֲחַ֣ר  I  chose 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.
דַּרְכָּם֮  the  way  for  them 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
וְאֵשֵׁ֪ב  and  sat 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
רֹ֥אשׁ  as  chief 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
וְ֭אֶשְׁכּוֹן  so  I  dwelt 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
כְּמֶ֣לֶךְ  as  a  king 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
בַּגְּד֑וּד  in  the  army 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גְּדוּד  
Sense: a band, troop, marauding band.
אֲבֵלִ֣ים  [ones]  mourning 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: אָבֵל  
Sense: mourning.
יְנַחֵֽם  one  [who]  comforts 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָחַם  
Sense: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.