Job 33:19-22

TEXT 33:19-22

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,

And with continual strife in his bones;

20 So that his life abhorreth bread,

And his soul dainty food.

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen;

And his bones that were not seen stick out.

22 Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit,

And his life to the destroyers.

COMMENT 33:19-22

Job 33:19Job's afflictions were to humble him; instead by his rebelliousness he reveals his profound pride, which is at the heart of all sin. Eliphaz had earlier said that Job was visited with pain upon his bedJob 5:17; Deuteronomy 8:5; Proverbs 3:12; Psalms 38. He has agony (rib mean conflict or strife, A. V. continual strife) in his bones. Elihu is saying that God speaks in the discipline of suffering, in the torment of pain.

Job 33:20Here life clearly means appetite. It is parallel to soul which also means appetite in the second lineJob 38:39; Psalms 107:17.

Job 33:21His sickness destroys his appetite. The lack of food causes his body to waste away, and his bones stick outlit. and his bones which were not seen are laid bareJeremiah 3:2; Jeremiah 3:21. His bones protrude because of a lack of flesh to cover them up.

Job 33:22The allusion is perhaps to the destroying angels2 Samuel 24:16; 2 Kings 19:35; 1 Chronicles 21:15; Psalms 78:49. The parallelism between pitsahatand killersmemitimindicates that the reference is to the abode of the dead.