They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)
They were forced out and driven away from the community, and people shouted at them as if they were chasing down thieves.
Job is describing how outcasts and desperate people are rejected and chased away by society, treated like criminals.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Job, which is set in the ancient Near East, Job is a righteous man enduring severe trials and uses this verse to describe the outcasts of society who were forcibly expelled and treated like common thieves. This reflects the cultural norms of that time, where people without status or family support were often marginalized and lived on the fringes, facing constant rejection. Job draws on this to highlight his own humiliation as he is mocked by those he once pitied.
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