Job 33:20

Job 33:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.
• New International Version (NIV)so that their body finds food repulsive and their soul loathes the choicest meal.
• English Standard Version (ESV)so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food.

Context of Job 33:20

18He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction], And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead). 19“Man is also disciplined with pain on his bed, And with unceasing complaint in his bones, So that his life makes him loathe food, And his soul [loathe] even his favorite dishes. 21His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, And his bones which were not seen now stick out. 22Then his soul draws near to the pit [of destruction], And his life to those who bring death (the destroyers).

Job 33:20 word by word

וְזִֽהֲמַ֣תּוּ חַיָּת֣וֹ לָ֑חֶם וְ֝נַפְשׁ֗וֹ מַאֲכַ֥ל תַּאֲוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• So that his lifeחַיָּהchay · living thingH2416
• abhorrethזָהַםzâham · to loatheH2092
• breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
• and his soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: appetiteH5315
• daintyתַּאֲוָהta'ăvâh · desireH8378
• meatמַאֲכָלma'ăkâl · foodH3978

Cross-references for Job 33:20

• Psalms 107:17Fools, because of their rebellious way, And because of their sins, were afflicted.
• Genesis 3:6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise and insightful, she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate.
• Jeremiah 3:19“Then I said, ‘How [gloriously and honorably] I would set you among My children And give you a pleasant land—a wonderful heritage, The most beautiful inheritance of the nations!’ And I said, ‘You shall call Me, My Father And not turn away from following Me.’
• Amos 5:11Therefore, because you impose heavy rent on the poor And demand a tribute (food-tax) of grain from them, Though you have built [luxurious] houses of square stone, You will not live in them; You have planted beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.

Commentaries on Job 33:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20His life abhorreth bread - These expressions strongly and naturally point out that general nausea, or loathing which sick persons feel in almost every species of disorder.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20So that his life abhorreth bread - It is a common effect of sickness to take away the appetite. Elihu here regards it as a part of the wholesome discipline of the sufferer. He has no relish for the comforts of life. And his soul dainty meat - Margin, “meat of desire.” The Hebrew is, “food of desire.” The word rendered “meat” (מאכל ma'ăkâl ) does not denote animal food only, but any kind of food. So the Old English word meat was used. The idea is, that…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-28Verses 19-28 Job complained of his diseases, and judged by them that God was angry with him; his friends did so too: but Elihu shows that God often afflicts the body for good to the soul. This thought will be of great use for our getting good from sickness, in and by which God speaks to men. Pain is the fruit of sin; yet, by the grace of God, the pain of the body is often made a means of good to the soul. When afflictions have done their work, they shall…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. life--that is, the appetite, which ordinarily sustains "life" (Job 38:39; Psa 107:18; Ec 12:5). The taking away of desire for food by sickness symbolizes the removal by affliction of lust, for things which foster the spiritual fever of pride. soul--desire.Read the comment

Topics related to Job 33:20

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Agency
• Conviction
• God
• God Continued...
• Philosophy
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Account
• Elihu
• Path
• Ransom
• Soul
• Stick
• Wish
• Affliction
• Elihu (2)

Commentaries on Job 33

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings