job's comforter
Very LowLiterary, Archaic
Definition
Meaning
A person who, while pretending to offer comfort or sympathy, actually adds to someone's distress or makes them feel worse.
A consolation that is discouraging or depressing; someone whose attempts to help only highlight the problem.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This term originates from the Biblical Book of Job, where Job's friends visit him to offer comfort after his losses, but their words and arguments ultimately blame him and increase his suffering. It is now a historical/literary allusion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare and recognized as a literary allusion in both varieties.
Connotations
Literary, biblical, somewhat archaic.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech or writing; might be encountered in literary criticism or theological discussion.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + be/act as + a Job's comforter + to + [Person]Don't be such a Job's comforter.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A friend in need is a friend indeed (antithetical concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Possibly in literature or theology classes discussing the Book of Job.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He has a talent for job's-comforting, always finding the bleakest angle.
American English
- She managed to job's-comfort him about his promotion by focusing only on the extra workload.
adjective
British English
- His job's-comforter remarks ruined the celebratory mood.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His friend was a Job's comforter and made him sadder.
- When I failed the test, my brother was a real Job's comforter, listing all the things I did wrong.
- Seeking sympathy from him is futile; he's a Job's comforter who will only remind you of your past failures.
- The critic's review was a masterpiece of Job's comforting, ostensibly praising the novel while meticulously undermining its core themes.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of Job from the Bible. His 'comforters' made him feel worse. A 'Job's comforter' does the same.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMFORT IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (but inverted: false comfort is a harmful force).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводится дословно как "утешитель работы".
- Может быть неправильно понято как положительная характеристика (комфортёр).
- Ключевой смысл — лицемерное или вредное утешение.
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean simply 'a good comforter'.
- Misspelling as 'Job's comfortor' or 'Jobs' comforter'.
- Using it in modern, casual contexts where it would be misunderstood.
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining characteristic of a 'Job's comforter'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic literary allusion. Most native speakers would recognise it only from a literary or biblical context, if at all.
Yes, but it is a very specific, historical, and mild insult, implying the person is unhelpful and tactless in their 'support'.
It is primarily a countable noun phrase (e.g., 'He is a Job's comforter'). Creative, non-standard use as a verb or adjective is extremely rare.
Yes, it is essential, as it refers specifically to the Biblical figure Job. Lowercase ('job's comforter') would be incorrect and change the meaning entirely.