Though Job seems to jab right back at Bildad by opening with Bildad’s own first words from his previous speech, “How long” (19:2; cf. 18:2; NIV does not reflect the precise repetition in the Hebrew), Job, as is now the pattern, has all the friends in mind (19:1–6). The friends continue to grieve, humiliate, and abuse Job. The friends’ abuse, however, is matched by God himself (19:7–12). Job, again using figurative images of assault (cf. 16:7–17), utters a lament of God’s mistreatment of him.

As Job continues his lamentation, the shift from figurative language now arguably to nonfigurative lays out another level of pathos (19:13–20). He is literally without family, friends, and household. He is in reality repulsive to look at. Once an elder commanding respect through the East, he is scorn…