Tyndale Open Study NotesJob 7

Job responds by criticizing his counselors and questioning God (chapters 6 and 7). He explains his intense words by indicating his deep "grief" or "anguish" (6:2–3; 7:11). Job states that Eliphaz has not provided comfort or sympathy as a friend. Instead, Eliphaz chose to argue about out of date religious or theological ideas.

Human life has been difficult since the effects of the first human sin (Genesis 3:17; 5:29; Ecclesiastes 1:2, 13–14; 2:11, 17; Romans 8:20–22).

Employers had the obligation to pay workers at the end of each day (Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:15). But this did not always happen (Jeremiah 22:13; Malachi 3:5; James 5:4).

• Job's testing might have lasted for months.

• The Hebrew word ('amal) appears throughout Job and means "misery" or "miserable" or "trouble" (3:20; 11:16; 16:2; 20:22; 3:10; 4:8; 5:6, 7; 15:35).

Job's mention of worms symbolized the human fate of death and the widespread corruption in Sheol (25:6; 17:14; 21:26; 24:20; see Isaiah 14:11).

Job cried out to God, saying life was too short (7:6–10). This complaint contrasts with his earlier wish for God to end his life (6:9).

• People who ask God to remember usually seek his promised mercy (Psalms 35:6; 106:4).

• Job's statement that life is but a breath (Hebrew ruakh) meant he was either close to death or that life is like the passing of the wind (Psalm 39:9, 11).

You will look for me, but I will be no more: The ancient Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) left out this verse. They did not want to suggest that God could not see Job in Sheol (see study note on 7:9).

goes down to Sheol: This is the first plain mention of Sheol in Job.

It is described as:

1. A place of rest from the pressures and distinctions of earth (3:13–19).

2. "Darkness" (10:21–22; 17:13).

3. Deep in the earth (11:8).

4. Covered in dust (17:16).

5. The fate of all living beings from which no one can return (30:23; 10:21; see Genesis 37:25; 2 Samuel 12:12).

I will not restrain my mouth: Job echoed Eliphaz's struggle to "keep from speaking" (4:2).

The sea (Hebrew yam) and the monster (Hebrew tannin) symbolize chaos opposing God's order of creation. In Canaanite mythology, "Yam" was the original sea god, and "Tannin" was a sea monster or a god of the myth of chaos (Jeremiah 51:34; Psalm 74:13–14). This chaos also appears in Job as "Leviathan" or "Rahab" (Job 3:8; Isaiah 27:1; Job 9:13; 26:12; Isaiah 51:9). The Lord has total control (sovereignty) over the sea and everything it represents (Job 26:12; 38:8–11; Psalm 89:9–10; Jeremiah 5:22).

Job's dreams and visions while sick were similar to those of Eliphaz (4:12–16).

for my days are but a breath: Literally for my days are a vapor (Hebrew hebel); see the Theme Note titled “All Is ‘Vapor’.”

• that You should exalt him: Compare with Psalm 8:4–5, which expresses similar thoughts in a positive way.

• attend (Hebrew paqad): In Psalm 8:4, this term means "to honor or care for." Job used it ironically to mean "You bother yourself" (compare with "punished," Isaiah 26:14).

• Will You never look away from me (literally How long will you not look away from me): Job wanted the opposite of the attention that loyal people usually desire (Numbers 6:25; Psalms 27:9; 69:17; 80:3, 7, 19; Lamentations 1:9).

• to swallow: This means “a chance to calm my breathing.”

• Watcher of mankind: Instead of praising God for his goodness shown in careful attention, Job accused God of hostile surveillance. This actually describes Satan's actions (Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 25:21; Proverbs 24:12; Job 1:7).

• Why comes from the language of grief (see study note on 3:11–24).

• Your target: See 6:4; Lamentations 3:12.