Job 6:19

The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

Job 6:19 (KJV)

Context

Job speaks in deep anguish, having lost his children, wealth, and health. His friends came to comfort him, but their words brought no relief. In this verse he compares them to desert travelers who arrive at a dry stream.

Tema and Sheba were regions on the Arabian Peninsula. Tema was linked to Ishmael’s descendants (Genesis 25:15), and Sheba was known for its wealthy trading caravans. These travelers relied on seasonal streams and wells in the wilderness.

Meaning

The troops of Tema and the companies of Sheba looked and waited for water, but the streams they expected were dry. Job’s friends were like those brooks: they seemed ready to help, yet they offered no genuine comfort. The surrounding verses (Job 6:15-18) make this image clear.

The metaphor exposes the gap between expectation and reality. Job hoped his friends would refresh him, but their presence only added to his disappointment. When the caravans found the water sources dry, they were left ashamed and confounded.

Biblical connections

Desert caravans depended on seasonal streams and wells. When travelers found the water sources dry, they were left ashamed and confounded. This picture of failed expectation mirrors Job’s experience with his friends.

Application

Human relationships often fall short of our deepest needs. Even well-intentioned companions can fail us in times of suffering. This reality should lead us to look beyond people for lasting comfort. The fragility of human support points to our deeper need for a source of comfort that does not fail.

Reflection

The verse reminds us that human support is fragile. Only God offers a faithfulness that never fails, a source of comfort that does not dry up. In our own disappointments, we can turn to Him who is always faithful.