KJV ORIGINAL
He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
God has made me a topic of gossip among the people; I have become someone they mock and make fun of.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
Job is saying that God has allowed him to become a laughingstock and source of ridicule among his community.
📚 Historical Context
Job was speaking during his intense suffering, having lost his wealth, family, and health. In ancient Middle Eastern culture, being made a 'byword' meant becoming a cautionary tale or object of scorn that people would reference when talking about misfortune. The word 'tabret' likely refers to being like a tambourine that people strike for entertainment, suggesting Job felt like he had become a source of amusement for others' cruelty.
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