Job 10
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Observations on wisdom and folly, Ecc 10:1-3. Concerning right conduct towards rulers, Ecc 10:4. Merit depressed, and worthlessness exalted, Ecc 10:5-7. Of him who digs a pit and removes a landmark, Ecc 10:8, Ecc 10:9. The use of wisdom and experience, Ecc 10:10. Of the babbler and the fool, Ecc 10:11-15. The infant king, Ecc 10:16. The well-regulated court, Ecc 10:17. Of slothfulness, Ecc 10:18. Of feasting, Ecc 10:19. Speak not evil of the king, Ecc 10:20.
Open source ↗JOB'S REPLY TO BILDAD CONTINUED. (Job 10:1-22) leave my complaint upon myself--rather, "I will give loose to my complaint" (Job 7:11).
Open source ↗My soul is weary of my life,.... And yet nothing of a temporal blessing is more desirable than life; every man, generally speaking, is desirous of life, and of a long life too; soul and body are near and intimate companions, and are usually loath to part; but Job was weary of his life, willing to part with it, and longed to be rid of it; he "loathed" it, and so it may be here rendered (x), he would not live always, Job 7:15; his "soul" was uneasy to dwell any longer in the earthly tabernacle of his body, it being so full of pains and sores; for this weariness was not through the guilt of sin pressing him sore, or through the horror of conscience arising from it, so that he could not bear to live, as Cain and Judas; nor through indwelling sin being a burden to him, and a longing desire to be rid of it, and to be perfectly holy, to be with Christ in heaven, as the Apostle Paul, and other saints, at certain times; or through uneasiness at the sins of others, as Isaac and Rebekah, Lot, David, Isaiah, and others; nor on the account of the temptations of Satan, his fiery darts, his buffetings and siftings, which are very distressing; but on account of his outward afflictions, which were so very hard and pressing, and the apprehension he had of the anger and wrath of God, he treating him, as he thought, very severely, and as his enemy, together with the ill usage of his friends. The Targum renders it,"my soul is cut off in my life;''or I am dying while I live; I live a dying life, being in such pain of body, and distress of mind; and so other versions (y): I will leave my complaint upon myself: not that he would leave complaining, or lay it aside, though some (z) render it to this sense; rather give a loose to it, and indulge it, than attempt to ease himself, and give vent to…
Open source ↗1 My soul is full of disgust with my life, Therefore I will freely utter my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I will say to Eloah: Condemn me not; Let me know wherefore Thou contendest with me! His self-consciousness makes him desire that the possibility of answering for himself might be granted him; and since he is weary of life, and has renounced all claim for its continuance, he will at least give his complaints free course, and pray the Author of his sufferings that He would not permit him to die the death of the wicked, contrary to the testimony of his own conscience. נקטה is equivalent to נקטּה ot tnel, Eze 6:9, after the usual manner of the contraction of double Ayin verbs (Gen 11:6-7; Isa 19:3; Jdg 5:5; Eze 41:7; vid., Ges. 67, rem. 11); it may nevertheless be derived directly from נקט, for this secondary verb formed from the Niph. נקט is supported by the Aramaic. In like manner, in Gen 17:11 perhaps a secondary verb נמל, and certainly in Gen 9:19 and Isa 23:3 a secondary verb נפץ (Sa1 13:11), formed from the Niph. נפץ (Gen 10:18), is to be supposed; for the contraction of the Niphal form נקומה into נקמה is impossible; and the supposition which has been advanced, of a root פצץ = פוץ in the signification diffundere, dissipare is unnecessary. His soul is disgusted (fastidio affecta est, or fastidit) with his life, therefore he will give free course to his plaint (comp. Job 7:11). עלי is not super or de me, but, as Job 30:16, in me; it belongs to the Ego, as an expression of spontaneity: I in myself, since the Ego is the subject, ὑποκείμενον, of his individuality (Psychol. S. 151f.). The inner man is meant, which has the Ego over or in itself; from this the complaint shall issue forth as a stream without restraint; not, however, a mere gloom…
Open source ↗Here is, I. A passionate resolution to persist in his complaint, Job 10:1. Being daunted with the dread of God's majesty, so that he could not plead his cause with him, he resolves to give himself some ease by giving vent to his resentments. He begins with vehement language: "My soul is weary of my life, weary of this body, and impatient to get clear of it, fallen out with life, and displeased at it, sick of it, and longing for death." Through the weakness of grace he went contrary to the dictates even of nature itself. We should act more like men did we act more like saints. Faith and patience would keep us from being weary of our lives (and cruel to them, as some read it), even when Providence has made them most wearisome to us; for that is to be weary of God's correction. Job, being weary of his life and having ease no other way, resolves to complain, resolves to speak. He will not give vent to his soul by violent hands, but he will give vent to the bitterness of his soul by violent words. Losers think they may have leave to speak; and unbridled passions, as well as unbridled appetites, are apt to think it an excuse for their excursions that they cannot help them: but what have we wisdom and grace for, but to keep the mouth as with a bridle? Job's corruption speaks here, yet grace puts in a word. 1. He will complain, but he will leave his complaint upon himself. He would not impeach God, nor charge him with unrighteousness or unkindness; but, though he knew not particularly the ground of God's controversy with him and the cause of action, yet, in the general, he would suppose it to be in himself and willingly bear all the blame. 2. He will speak, but it shall be the bitterness of his soul that he will express, not his settled judgment. If I speak amiss, it is not I,…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… נָקַט (nâqaṭ, H5354) — to loathe חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… עָזַב (ʻâzab, H5800) — to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc. שִׂיחַ (sîyach, H7879) — a contemplation; by implication, an utterance דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… מַר (mar, H4751) — bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֱלוֹהַּ (ʼĕlôwahh, H433) — a deity or the Deity רָשַׁע (râshaʻ, H7561) — to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… רִיב (rîyb, H7378) — properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a…
Open source ↗טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2895) — to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense עָשַׁק (ʻâshaq, H6231) — to press upon, i.e. oppress, defraud, violate, overflow מָאַס (mâʼaç, H3988) — to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear יְגִיעַ (yᵉgîyaʻ, H3018) — toil; hence, a work, produce, property (as the result of labor) כַּף (kaph, H3709) — the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of… יָפַע (yâphaʻ, H3313) — to shine עֵצָה (ʻêtsâh, H6098) — advice; by implication, plan; also prudence רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
Open source ↗עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively)
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) גֶּבֶר (geber, H1397) — properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply
Open source ↗בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil דָּרַשׁ (dârash, H1875) — properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by… חַטָּאָה (chaṭṭâʼâh, H2403) — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or…
Open source ↗דַּעַת (daʻath, H1847) — knowledge רָשַׁע (râshaʻ, H7561) — to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate נָצַל (nâtsal, H5337) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Open source ↗יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), עָצַב (ʻâtsab, H6087) — properly, to carve, i.e. fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… בָּלַע (bâlaʻ, H1104) — to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy
Open source ↗זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חֹמֶר (chômer, H2563) — properly, a bubbling up, i.e. of water, a wave; of earth, mire or clay (cement); also a… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… עָפָר (ʻâphâr, H6083) — dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
Open source ↗נָתַךְ (nâthak, H5413) — to flow forth (literally or figuratively); by implication, to liquify חָלָב (châlâb, H2461) — milk (as the richness of kine) קָפָא (qâphâʼ, H7087) — to shrink, i.e. thicken (as unracked wine, curdled milk, clouded sky, frozen water) גְּבִנָה (gᵉbinâh, H1385) — curdled milk
Open source ↗לָבַשׁ (lâbash, H3847) — properly, wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on agarment or clothe (oneself, or… עוֹר (ʻôwr, H5785) — skin (as naked); by implication, hide, leather בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… שׂוּךְ (sûwk, H7753) — to entwine, i.e. shut in (for formation, protection or restraint) עֶצֶם (ʻetsem, H6106) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.)… גִּיד (gîyd, H1517) — a thong (as compressing); by analogy, a tendon
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… פְּקֻדָּה (pᵉquddâh, H6486) — visitation (in many senses, chiefly official) שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,…
Open source ↗צָפַן (tsâphan, H6845) — to hide (by covering over); by implication, to hoard or reserve; figuratively to deny;… לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,…
Open source ↗חָטָא (châṭâʼ, H2398) — properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit,… שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… נָקָה (nâqâh, H5352) — to be (or make) clean (literally or figuratively); by implication (in an adverse sense)… עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
while he himself traveled on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and let me not see my own wretchedness.”
As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint and wished to die, saying, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
In famine He will redeem you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!
Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?