Job7
World English Bible · Public Domain
1“Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
2As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
3so I am made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4When I lie down, I say, ‘When will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
5My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.
8The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
9As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more.
10He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.
11“Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
13When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’
14then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
15so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.
16I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
18that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
19How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
20If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?
21Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Job's troubles. (1–6). Job expostulates with God. (7–16). He begs release. (17–21).
vv1-6
Job here excuses what he could not justify, his desire of death. Observe man's present place: he is upon earth. He is yet on earth, not in hell. Is there not a time appointed for his abode here? yes, certainly, and the appointment is made by Him who made us and sent us here. During that, man's life is a warfare, and as day-labourers, who have the work of the day to do in its day, and must make up their account at night. Job had as much reason, he thought, to wish for death, as a poor servant that is tired with his work, has to wish for the shadows of the evening, when he shall go to rest. The sleep of the labouring man is sweet; nor can any rich man take so much satisfaction in his wealth, as the hireling in his day's wages. The comparison is plain; hear his complaint: His days were useless, and had long been so; but when we are not able to work for God, if we sit still quietly for him, we shall be accepted. His nights were restless. Whatever is grievous, it is good to see it appointed for us, and as designed for some holy end. When we have comfortable nights, we must see them also appointed to us, and be thankful for them. His body was noisome. See what vile bodies we have. His life was hastening apace. While we are living, every day, like the shuttle, leaves a thread behind: many weave the spider's web, which will fail, ch. 8:14. But if, while we live, we live unto the Lord, in works of faith and labours of love, we shall have the benefit, for every man shall reap as he sowed, and wear as he wove.
vv7-16
Plain truths as to the shortness and vanity of man's life, and the certainty of death, do us good, when we think and speak of them with application to ourselves. Dying is done but once, and therefore it had need be well done. An error here is past retrieve. Other clouds arise, but the same cloud never returns: so a new generation of men is raised up, but the former generation vanishes away. Glorified saints shall return no more to the cares and sorrows of their houses; nor condemned sinners to the gaieties and pleasures of their houses. It concerns us to secure a better place when we die. From these reasons Job might have drawn a better conclusion than this, I will complain. When we have but a few breaths to draw, we should spend them in the holy, gracious breathings of faith and prayer; not in the noisome, noxious breathings of sin and corruption. We have much reason to pray, that He who keeps Israel, and neither slumbers nor sleeps, may keep us when we slumber and sleep. Job covets to rest in his grave. Doubtless, this was his infirmity; for though a good man would choose death rather than sin, yet he should be content to live as long as God pleases, because life is our opportunity of glorifying him, and preparing for heaven.
vv17-21
Job reasons with God concerning his dealings with man. But in the midst of this discourse, Job seems to have lifted up his thoughts to God with some faith and hope. Observe the concern he is in about his sins. The best men have to complain of sin; and the better they are, the more they will complain of it. God is the Preserver of our lives, and the Saviour of the souls of all that believe; but probably Job meant the Observer of men, whose eyes are upon the ways and hearts of all men. We can hide nothing from Him; let us plead guilty before his throne of grace, that we may not be condemned at his judgment-seat. Job maintained, against his friends, that he was not a hypocrite, not a wicked man, yet he owns to his God, that he had sinned. The best must so acknowledge, before the Lord. He seriously inquires how he might be at peace with God, and earnestly begs forgiveness of his sins. He means more than the removing of his outward trouble, and is earnest for the return of God's favour. Wherever the Lord removes the guilt of sin, he breaks the power of sin. To strengthen his prayer for pardon, Job pleads the prospect he had of dying quickly. If my sins be not pardoned while I live, I am lost and undone for ever. How wretched is sinful man without a knowledge of the Saviour!
Key Words
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֱנוֹשׁ: a man in general (singly or collectively)
צָבָא: a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship)
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
שָׂכִיר: a man at wages by the day or year
עֶבֶד: a servant
שָׁאַף: to inhale eagerly; figuratively, to cover; by implication, to be angry; also to hasten
צֵל: shade, whether literal or figurative
קָוָה: to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect
Cross References
Job 7Job bitterly parodies the Psalmist's wonder at God's mindful care into a complaint of relentless scrutiny.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the concept of man's hard service, warfare, or appointed time upon the earth.
Supported by JFB
Both passages describe human life as wind that passes away and does not return.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates the custom of the hireling anxiously waiting for his daily wages or reward.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Both use the graphic metaphor of a weaver cutting off a completed web to describe swift death.
Supported by JFB
Identical wording concerning the wind passing over a person, and their place knowing them no more.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the language of God magnifying or taking thought of frail, insignificant humanity.
Supported by JFB
A physical parallel of a living body being consumed and clothed with worms.
Supported by JFB
Graphic description of worms being spread under and covering a body, like clothing.
Supported by JFB
The absolute finality of death; going down to the grave and not returning to this life.
Supported by JFB
Parallel imagery where a person's former dwelling denies them, saying, 'I have not seen thee.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the concept that the eye which saw him shall see him no more in his place.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Expresses the absolute disappearance of a person from their accustomed place on earth.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Reiterates the petition to let man rest so he can accomplish his days as a hireling.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels God setting boundaries, bars, and doors to watch over and curb the rebellious sea.
Supported by Matthew Poole