Job 7 | MHM | STEP | Job's Reply to Eliphaz Job tries to explain why he wishes for death, even though it is not right to desire it so strongly. He says that life on earth is hard and short, and that his suffering makes him long for it to end. Job uses images of a soldier and a worker to describe how difficult life feels for him right now. v. 1 : Job says, “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hireling?” . He means that everyone’s life is limited and full of hard work or trouble. Just like a soldier or a hired worker, people are on earth for a set time, and their lives are filled with struggles.

‏ Job 7

Job's Reply to Eliphaz

Job tries to explain why he wishes for death, even though it is not right to desire it so strongly. He says that life on earth is hard and short, and that his suffering makes him long for it to end. Job uses images of a soldier and a worker to describe how difficult life feels for him right now.

v. 1: Job says, “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? Are not his days also like the days of a hireling?” . He means that everyone’s life is limited and full of hard work or trouble. Just like a soldier or a hired worker, people are on earth for a set time, and their lives are filled with struggles.

v. 2: He continues, “As a servant earnestly longs for the shadow, and as a hireling looks for his wages” . Job compares himself to a worker who is tired and looks forward to the end of the day. In the same way, Job wishes for his suffering to end, even if it means death.

v. 3: Job explains, “So am I allotted months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me” . He says his days feel empty and useless because he cannot do anything productive. His nights are long and full of suffering.

v. 4: He describes his restless nights: “When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise, and the night be gone?’ and I am full of tossings to and fro until the dawning of the day” . Job cannot sleep because of his pain and sadness. He just waits for the night to end.

v. 5: Job talks about his sick body: “My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and becomes loathsome” . His sores are so bad that they are filled with worms and dirt, and his skin is broken and disgusting. Job feels there is nothing good left in his body.

v. 6: He adds, “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope” . Job feels his life is passing quickly, like a weaver’s shuttle moving fast across a loom, and he does not have hope that things will get better. He thinks his end is near and there is nothing left for him but suffering.

Job’s Prayer and Complaint to God

Job sees that his friends are not really listening or helping, so he turns to speak directly to God. He asks God to pay attention to his suffering. Job talks honestly about his pain and how short and hard life is, but his words are full of sadness and even some anger. We can learn from his honesty, but we should remember to speak to God with faith and patience too.

v. 7: Job prays, “O remember that my life is wind; my eye will never again see good.” . He asks God to remember how short and weak his life is. He feels hopeless, thinking he will never see happy days again (Psalm 78:39 ^a).

v. 8: He says, “The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; your eyes are upon me, and I am not.” . Job believes that soon he will die and people will not see him anymore. He knows that God can end his life at any time.

v. 9: Job continues, “As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, so he who goes down to the grave shall come up no more.” . He uses the image of a disappearing cloud to show that once a person dies, they do not return to this life. Life is short and cannot be repeated.

v. 10: He says, “He shall return no more to his house, nor shall his place know him anymore.” . Job knows that after death, a person does not come back to their home or their old life. Others will take their place.

v. 11: Job declares, “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.” . Because his life feels so short and painful, Job chooses to speak honestly about his suffering, even if his words are bitter.

v. 12: Job asks God, “Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?” . He wonders why God is watching him so closely, as if he is wild and dangerous. Job feels like God is treating him too harshly.

v. 13: He explains, “When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,’” . Job hopes that sleep will give him rest from his pain.

v. 14: But he says sadly, “Then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions.” . Even in sleep, Job finds no peace. His dreams are full of fear and trouble.

v. 15: Job says, “So that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than my bones.” . He is so tired of suffering that he would rather die than continue in pain.

v. 16: He ends this part by saying, “I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are but a breath.” . Job does not want to keep living in this misery, and he asks God to let him be, since his life is so short and empty.

Job Questions God’s Attention to Humanity

Job now speaks directly to God, asking why God pays so much attention to weak human beings. He wonders why God would focus on someone as small and troubled as he is. Job feels overwhelmed by his suffering and wishes that God would give him some relief. He also admits his own sin and asks for forgiveness, showing both his pain and his desire for God’s mercy.

v. 17–18: Job asks, “What is man, that you should magnify him, and that you should set your heart upon him, that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?” (Job 7:17-18 ^b). Job wonders why God pays so much attention to humans, especially when they are so small and weak. He feels as if God keeps testing him again and again, just as a doctor checks a patient every day (Psalm 8:4 ^c).

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v. 19: Job complains, “How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spittle?” . He asks God for a break from his suffering, even just for a moment. Job feels like God’s attention is too heavy for him to bear.

v. 20: He says, “If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you set me as a target, so that I am a burden to myself?” . Job admits he has sinned, but he does not understand why his punishment is so great. He feels like God is treating him as an enemy, making his life very hard.

v. 21: Job finishes by pleading, “Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, and you will seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.” (Job 7:21 ^d). He begs God for forgiveness before he dies, because soon it will be too late. Job wants to be at peace with God before he leaves this world.