Job 16:12

Authorized King James Version

I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
שָׁ֘לֵ֤ו
H7961
I was at ease
tranquil; (in a bad sense) careless; abstractly, security
#2
הָיִ֨יתִי׀
H1961
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#3
וַֽיְפַרְפְּרֵ֗נִי
H6565
but he hath broken me asunder
to break up (usually figuratively), i.e., to violate, frustrate
#4
וְאָחַ֣ז
H270
he hath also taken
to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
#5
בְּ֭עָרְפִּי
H6203
me by my neck
the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative)
#6
וַֽיְפַצְפְּצֵ֑נִי
H6327
and shaken me to pieces
to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)
#7
וַיְקִימֵ֥נִי
H6965
and set me up
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
#8
ל֝֗וֹ
H0
#9
לְמַטָּרָֽה׃
H4307
for his mark
a jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection