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Job 7

BSB·21 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Is notהֲלֹא־hă·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → manלֶאֱנ֣וֹשׁle·’ĕ·nō·wōš — human being, man, mortal personH582 — Full Word Study → consigned to laborצָבָ֣אṣā·ḇā — army, host, or organized military forceH6635 — Full Word Study → onעַלʿal — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → earthאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →? Are not his daysוְכִימֵ֖יwə·ḵî·mê — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → like thoseיָמָֽיו׃yā·māw — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of a hired handשָׂכִ֣ירśā·ḵîr — hired worker; one employed for wagesH7916 — Full Word Study →? 2Like a slaveכְּעֶ֥בֶדkə·‘e·ḇeḏ — Servant; slave; one in bondage or serviceH5650 — Full Word Study → he longs forיִשְׁאַף־yiš·’ap̄- — to pant eagerly; to desire intensely; to devourH7602 — Full Word Study → shadeצֵ֑לṣêl — shadow; protection; shelterH6738 — Full Word Study →; like a hirelingוּ֝כְשָׂכִ֗ירū·ḵə·śā·ḵîr — hired worker; one employed for wagesH7916 — Full Word Study → he waits forיְקַוֶּ֥הyə·qaw·weh — To wait for; to expect with hopeH6960 — Full Word Study → his wagesפָעֳלֽוֹ׃p̄ā·‘o·lōw — work, deed, or actionH6467 — Full Word Study →. 3Soכֵּ֤ןkên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → I am allottedהָנְחַ֣לְתִּיhā·nə·ḥal·tî — to inherit, to take possession as an heirH5157 — Full Word Study → monthsיַרְחֵי־yar·ḥê- — Month; lunar cycle; moonH3391 — Full Word Study → of futilityשָׁ֑וְאšāw — falsehood, deception, emptinessH7723 — Full Word Study →, and nightsוְלֵיל֥וֹתwə·lê·lō·wṯ — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study → of miseryעָ֝מָ֗ל‘ā·māl — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study → are appointedמִנּוּ־min·nū- — To count, number, appoint, or ordainH4487 — Full Word Study → me. 4Whenאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → I lie downשָׁכַ֗בְתִּיšā·ḵaḇ·tî — to lie down, recline, sleepH7901 — Full Word Study → I thinkוְאָמַ֗רְתִּיwə·’ā·mar·tî — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →: ‘Whenמָתַ֣יmā·ṯay — when, how long, until whenH4970 — Full Word Study → will I get upאָ֭קוּם’ā·qūm — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study →?’ But the nightעָ֑רֶב‘ā·reḇ — Evening, the time of day when sun setsH6153 — Full Word Study → drags onוּמִדַּד־ū·mid·daḏ- — to measure, extend, or stretch outH4058 — Full Word Study →, and I toss and turnוְשָׂבַ֖עְתִּיwə·śā·ḇa‘·tî — to satisfy, fill, have enoughH7646 — Full Word Study → untilעֲדֵי־‘ă·ḏê- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → dawnנָֽשֶׁף׃nā·šep̄ — twilight, dimness of dawn or duskH5399 — Full Word Study →. 5My fleshבְּשָׂרִ֣יbə·śā·rî — Flesh; body; meat; human natureH1320 — Full Word Study → is clothedלָ֘בַ֤שׁlā·ḇaš — To clothe, dress, or wear garmentsH3847 — Full Word Study → with wormsרִ֭מָּהrim·māh — worm, larva, maggotH7415 — Full Word Study → and encrustedוְגִישׁwə·ḡīš — clod of earth, lump of soilH1487 — Full Word Study → with dirtעָפָ֑ר‘ā·p̄ār — dust; fine particles of earth or ground matterH6083 — Full Word Study →; my skinעוֹרִ֥י‘ō·w·rî — Skin, hide, leather coveringH5785 — Full Word Study → is crackedרָ֝גַ֗עrā·ḡa‘ — To shake, tremble; to rest, be quietH7280 — Full Word Study → and festeringוַיִּמָּאֵֽס׃way·yim·mā·’ês — to reject, despise, or spurn with contemptH3988 — Full Word Study →. 6My daysיָמַ֣יyā·may — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → are swifterקַ֭לּוּqal·lū — to make light; to curse; to despiseH7043 — Full Word Study → thanמִנִּי־min·nî- — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → a weaver’s shuttleאָ֑רֶג’ā·reḡ — weaver's shuttle; beam of a loomH708 — Full Word Study →; they come to an endוַ֝יִּכְל֗וּway·yiḵ·lū — to finish, complete, or bring to an endH3615 — Full Word Study → withoutבְּאֶ֣פֶסbə·’e·p̄es — End, cessation, extremity; nothing, noughtH657 — Full Word Study → hopeתִּקְוָֽה׃tiq·wāh — Hope; expectation; cord of attachmentH8615 — Full Word Study →. 7Rememberזְ֭כֹרzə·ḵōr — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → thatכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → my lifeחַיָּ֑יḥay·yāy — alive, living, lifeH2416 — Full Word Study → is but a breathר֣וּחַrū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →. My eyesעֵ֝ינִ֗י‘ê·nî — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → will neverלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → againתָשׁ֥וּבṯā·šūḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → seeלִרְא֥וֹתlir·’ō·wṯ — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → happinessטֽוֹב׃ṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study →. 8The eyeעֵ֣ין‘ên — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → that beholds meרֹ֑אִיrō·’î — sight, look, spectacle, or viewingH7210 — Full Word Study → will noלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → longer see meתְ֭שׁוּרֵנִיṯə·šū·rê·nî — To see, observe, or watchH7789 — Full Word Study →. You will lookעֵינֶ֖יךָ‘ê·ne·ḵā — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → for me, but I will be no moreוְאֵינֶֽנִּי׃wə·’ê·nen·nî — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study →. 9As a cloudעָ֭נָן‘ā·nān — cloud; visual manifestation of God's presenceH6051 — Full Word Study → vanishesכָּלָ֣הkā·lāh — to finish, complete, or bring to an endH3615 — Full Word Study → and is goneוַיֵּלַ֑ךְway·yê·laḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study →, soכֵּ֥ןkên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → he who goes downיוֹרֵ֥דyō·w·rêḏ — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study → to Sheolשְׁ֝א֗וֹלšə·ʾôl — The grave; the abode of the dead; the underworldH7585 — Full Word Study → does notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → come back upיַעֲלֶֽה׃ya·‘ă·leh — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study →. 10He neverלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → returnsיָשׁ֣וּבyā·šūḇ — to turn back, return, restoreH7725 — Full Word Study → to his houseלְבֵית֑וֹlə·ḇê·ṯōw — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study →; his placeמְקֹמֽוֹ׃mə·qō·mōw — A place, location, or spaceH4725 — Full Word Study → remembers himיַכִּירֶ֖נּוּyak·kî·ren·nū — To recognize, acknowledge, regard, or treat as strangeH5234 — Full Word Study → no moreע֣וֹד‘ō·wḏ — still, yet, again, continuing or additional occurrenceH5750 — Full Word Study →. 11Thereforeגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → Iאֲנִי֮’ă·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → will notלֹ֤אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → restrainאֶחֱשָׂ֫ךְ’e·ḥĕ·śāḵ — To withhold, restrain, or hold backH2820 — Full Word Study → my mouthפִּ֥יpî — Mouth; lips; edge; openingH6310 — Full Word Study →; I will speakאֲ‍ֽ֭דַבְּרָה’ăḏab·bə·rāh — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → in the anguishבְּצַ֣רbə·ṣar — Narrow, tight, or distress; an adversary or enemyH6862 — Full Word Study → of my spiritרוּחִ֑יrū·ḥî — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →; I will complainאָ֝שִׂ֗יחָה’ā·śî·ḥāh — to muse, meditate, speak, or communeH7878 — Full Word Study → in the bitternessבְּמַ֣רbə·mar — Bitter; marked by anguish or grievingH4751 — Full Word Study → of my soulנַפְשִֽׁי׃nap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study →. 12Am Iאָ֭נִי’ā·nî — I, me, myself (first person singular pronoun)H589 — Full Word Study → the seaהֲ‍ֽיָם־hăyām- — Sea, body of water; also directional (west, south)H3220 — Full Word Study →, orאִם־’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → the monster of the deepתַּנִּ֑יןtan·nîn — Sea monster, dragon, or serpentH8577 — Full Word Study →, thatכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You must keep me underתָשִׂ֖יםṯā·śîm — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → guardמִשְׁמָֽר׃miš·mār — Guard, custody, or watchful keepingH4929 — Full Word Study →? 13Whenכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I thinkאָ֭מַרְתִּי’ā·mar·tî — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → my bedעַרְשִׂ֑י‘ar·śî — bed, couch, sleeping placeH6210 — Full Word Study → will comfort meתְּנַחֲמֵ֣נִיtə·na·ḥă·mê·nî — to comfort, console, or show compassion; to repent or change one's mindH5162 — Full Word Study → and my couchמִשְׁכָּבִֽי׃miš·kā·ḇî — bed, sleeping place, or couchH4904 — Full Word Study → will easeיִשָּׂ֥אyiś·śā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → my complaintבְ֝שִׂיחִ֗יḇə·śî·ḥî — Complaint, meditation, or speech; utterance of the heartH7879 — Full Word Study →, 14then You frighten meוְחִתַּתַּ֥נִיwə·ḥit·tat·ta·nî — to be dismayed, terrified, or beaten downH2865 — Full Word Study → with dreamsבַחֲלֹמ֑וֹתḇa·ḥă·lō·mō·wṯ — dream, vision during sleepH2472 — Full Word Study → and terrify meתְּבַעֲתַֽנִּי׃tə·ḇa·‘ă·ṯan·nî — to terrify, frighten, or trouble with fearH1204 — Full Word Study → with visionsוּֽמֵחֶזְיֹנ֥וֹתū·mê·ḥez·yō·nō·wṯ — A vision or appearance; a divine revelationH2384 — Full Word Study →, 15so that Iנַפְשִׁ֑יnap̄·šî — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → would preferוַתִּבְחַ֣רwat·tiḇ·ḥar — To choose, select, or preferH977 — Full Word Study → stranglingמַחֲנָ֣קma·ḥă·nāq — strangling; asphyxiation by compressionH4267 — Full Word Study → and deathמָ֝֗וֶתmā·weṯ — death, the state of being deadH4194 — Full Word Study → over my life in this bodyמֵֽעַצְמוֹתָֽי׃mê·‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯāy — bone; body; substance; strengthH6106 — Full Word Study →. 16I loathe my life! I would notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → liveאֶֽחְיֶ֑ה’eḥ·yeh — To live, to preserve alive, to give lifeH2421 — Full Word Study → foreverלְעֹלָ֣םlə·‘ō·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →. Leave me aloneחֲדַ֥לḥă·ḏal — to cease, stop, or desist from an actionH2308 — Full Word Study →, forכִּי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → my days are but a breath. 17Whatמָֽה־māh- — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → is manאֱ֭נוֹשׁ’ĕ·nō·wōš — human being, man, mortal personH582 — Full Word Study → thatכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You should exalt himתְגַדְּלֶ֑נּוּṯə·ḡad·də·len·nū — to grow, become great, magnifyH1431 — Full Word Study →, thatוְכִי־wə·ḵî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You should setתָשִׁ֖יתṯā·šîṯ — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → Your heartלִבֶּֽךָ׃lib·be·ḵā — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → upon himאֵלָ֣יו’ê·lāw — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →, 18that You attend to himוַתִּפְקְדֶ֥נּוּwat·tip̄·qə·ḏen·nū — to visit, oversee, appoint, care forH6485 — Full Word Study → every morningלִבְקָרִ֑יםliḇ·qā·rîm — Morning; daybreak; the early part of the dayH1242 — Full Word Study →, and test him every momentלִ֝רְגָעִ֗יםlir·ḡā·‘îm — A brief moment; an instantH7281 — Full Word Study →? 19Will You neverכַּ֭מָּהkam·māh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → look awayתִשְׁעֶ֣הṯiš·‘eh — to gaze, look, regard with attentionH8159 — Full Word Study → from meמִמֶּ֑נִּיmim·men·nî — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study →, orלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → leave me aloneתַ֝רְפֵּ֗נִיṯar·pê·nî — to slacken, weaken, or grow feebleH7503 — Full Word Study → toעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → swallowבִּלְעִ֥יbil·‘î — to swallow, devour, consume completelyH1104 — Full Word Study → my spittleרֻקִּֽי׃ruq·qî — spittle, saliva, or the act of spittingH7536 — Full Word Study →? 20If I have sinnedחָטָ֡אתִיḥā·ṭā·ṯî — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study →, whatמָ֤הmāh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → have I doneאֶפְעַ֨ל׀’ep̄·‘al — to do, work, make, performH6466 — Full Word Study → to You, O watcherנֹצֵ֪רnō·ṣêr — to guard, watch, keep, preserveH5341 — Full Word Study → of mankindהָאָ֫דָ֥םhā·’ā·ḏām — Man, mankind, human beingH120 — Full Word Study →? Whyלָ֤מָהlā·māh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → have You made meשַׂמְתַּ֣נִיśam·ta·nî — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → Your targetלְמִפְגָּ֣עlə·mip̄·gā‘ — A mark or target; a vulnerable pointH4645 — Full Word Study →, so that I amוָאֶהְיֶ֖הwā·’eh·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → a burdenלְמַשָּֽׂא׃lə·maś·śā — burden; a load or weight; an oracle or utteranceH4853 — Full Word Study → to Youעָלַ֣י‘ā·lay — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →? 21Whyוּמֶ֤ה׀ū·meh — What? Why? How? (interrogative particle)H4100 — Full Word Study → do You notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → pardonתִשָּׂ֣אṯiś·śā — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → my transgressionפִשְׁעִי֮p̄iš·‘î — Willful rebellion or transgression against God's lawH6588 — Full Word Study → and take awayוְתַעֲבִ֪ירwə·ṯa·‘ă·ḇîr — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → my iniquityעֲוֺ֫נִ֥י‘ă·wō·nî — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study →? Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → soonעַ֭תָּה‘at·tāh — Now; at the present timeH6258 — Full Word Study → I will lie downאֶשְׁכָּ֑ב’eš·kāḇ — to lie down, recline, sleepH7901 — Full Word Study → in the dustלֶעָפָ֣רle·‘ā·p̄ār — dust; fine particles of earth or ground matterH6083 — Full Word Study →; You will seek meוְשִׁ֖חֲרְתַּ֣נִיwə·ši·ḥăr·ta·nî — To seek diligently, inquire earlyH7836 — Full Word Study →, but I will be no moreוְאֵינֶֽנִּי׃פwə·’ê·nen·nî — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study →.”
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Chapter Commentary — Job 7
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Job chapter 7 marks a turning point in Job's lament. No longer appealing to his friends for sympathy, Job now addresses God directly, pouring out his despair with raw honesty. He describes human life as brief and burdensome—like that of a hired servant counting the hours until relief comes. His physical suffering from his disease, combined with sleepless nights and inner anguish, has become unbearable. Though Job speaks from a place of deep pain and even anger toward the Almighty, his willingness to cry out to God rather than abandon faith altogether reveals the book's central truth: authentic faith includes honest lament.

Verses 1–5: The Appointed Season of Human Suffering

Job begins with a philosophical question about the human condition. He asks if there is not "an appointed time to man upon earth" and compares human life to that of a hired worker laboring for wages. Just as a servant longs for the cooling shadow at midday and a laborer anticipates his pay, Job feels trapped in "months of vanity" and "wearisome nights" (v. 3). The physical manifestation of his suffering is vivid and terrible: his flesh is "clothed with worms and clods of dust," his skin broken and loathsome (v. 5). Job is not denying God's sovereignty—he acknowledges that these sufferings are "appointed"—but he is crying out against their weight. His disease (likely a severe dermatological condition) combines with insomnia and despair to create a living nightmare.

Devotional note: We may not always understand why suffering comes, but Scripture assures us that our days are numbered by God. Like Job, we are invited to bring our complaints honestly before Him.

Verses 6–10: Life's Brevity and Finality

Job shifts to the theme of life's transience. His days pass "swifter than a weaver's shuttle" and are "spent without hope" (v. 6). He begs God to remember that human life is but "wind"—insubstantial and fleeting (v. 7). Job's vision grows darker as he contemplates not just personal suffering but the universal human fate: death from which none return. The cloud disappears, and the grave receives those who descend into it, never to return to their houses or places of remembrance (vv. 9–10). This meditation on mortality, while deeply pessimistic in tone, echoes themes found elsewhere in Scripture about the certainty of death and judgment.

Devotional note: Job's reflection on mortality should remind us to number our days with wisdom and to prepare our hearts for eternity through Christ.

Verses 11–16: Refusal to Remain Silent

Job declares that he will not "refrain [his] mouth" but will "speak in the anguish of [his] spirit" and "complain in the bitterness of [his] soul" (v. 11). He questions God sarcastically: "Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?" (v. 12)—as if God were guarding some dangerous monster rather than a suffering mortal. Even his attempts at rest fail; when he hopes his bed will comfort him, God instead terrifies him with nightmares and visions (vv. 13–14). His suffering has become so intense that Job says his soul would "choose strangling, and death rather than life" (v. 15). He loathes his existence and asks God to leave him alone, calling his days "vanity" (v. 16).

Devotional note: The Bible honors honest lament. Job's willingness to express his pain—even his anger—before God models a faith that is real, not pretended.

Verses 17–21: Questions About God's Attention and Iniquity

Job's final plea contains profound irony. He quotes Psalm 8's declaration about human dignity—"What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him?"—but inverts it bitterly (v. 17). He questions why God "visit[s] him every morning" with trials and "try[s] him every moment" (v. 18). Then, strikingly, Job confesses sin (v. 20): "I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee?" Yet even in confession, he seems uncertain whether his suffering is purely punitive. He asks God to pardon his transgression and remove his iniquity, expressing the fear that death will claim him before reconciliation comes (v. 21).

Devotional note: Job's confession shows that authentic faith involves accountability before God, even amid pain and confusion.

Application for Today

Job 7 teaches us that godly people experience profound suffering and doubt without losing their faith. Rather than suppress our pain or pretend all is well, we may bring our honest complaints to God. The chapter reminds us that life is brief and our strength limited—a humbling truth that should drive us to trust Christ as our hope beyond the grave. Our suffering may not always point to personal sin; sometimes it simply reveals our need for God's grace and the promise of resurrection.

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