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Job 7

21 verses

TL;DR

Job laments the brevity and bitterness of human life, questioning God's purpose and feeling weighed down by suffering.

Summary

In Job 7, the speaker reflects on the appointed, fleeting nature of human existence, comparing it to a hired worker and a cloud that vanishes. He describes his physical decline and emotional exhaustion, expressing that his days are swift and without hope. Job expresses a desire to escape pain, wishing death over continued living, and claims to have sinned, yet feels condemned by God. He questions why God watches him constantly and why He allows him to suffer. The chapter concludes with Job pleading for mercy and asking why he must endure such hardship.

Outline
  1. Job’s lament on the brevity of life and the certainty of death
  2. Expressions of physical decay and longing for release from suffering
  3. Questioning God’s purpose and pleading for relief
Themes
MortalityHuman sufferingDivine judgmentLament
Keywords
mortalitysufferinglamentdeathGodhearttimesinburdenpain
People
Job
Places
earthgrave
Things
timeshadowweaver's shuttlewindclouddreamsvisionsbedcouchspittle
Key Verses
  • Job 7:1: Introduces the theme of appointed time and human frailty
  • Job 7:13: Highlights Job’s desire for comfort contrasted with divine terror
  • Job 7:21: Summarizes Job’s plea for mercy and acknowledgment of sin
Questions
  • Why does Job describe his life as a ‘wind’?
  • What does he mean by ‘I have sinned’ and why does he feel condemned?
  • How does the concept of an appointed time shape his perception of suffering?
  • What role does the imagery of a cloud and a weaver’s shuttle play in conveying Job’s feelings?
  • In what way does Job’s lament reflect the broader human experience of confronting mortality?
Sentiment

negative
The chapter is marked by sorrowful lament and a sense of existential anguish.