What is the context?
Job repeats that he has seen and understood the truths under discussion. What he wants now is to argue his case before God.
He calls the friends people who smear with lies and physicians unable to help. Silence would be wiser than continuing the attempted cure they have offered.
The image assesses their response to his suffering. It does not identify them as trained medical practitioners or turn his criticism into a rejection of medical care.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Wesley understands Job as preferring an appeal to the One who knows his integrity over a dispute with companions who have misrepresented it. The USCCB account also preserves the sharp contrast between their attempted help and his desire to speak to God. The complaint is about false judgment presented as healing counsel.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.
Where can I study this further?
No deeper study linked yet.