Job 16:6
Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
Original Language Analysis
אִֽם
H518
אִֽם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 9
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
אֲ֭דַבְּרָה
Though I speak
H1696
אֲ֭דַבְּרָה
Though I speak
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
2 of 9
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 9
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֵחָשֵׂ֣ךְ
is not asswaged
H2820
יֵחָשֵׂ֣ךְ
is not asswaged
Strong's:
H2820
Word #:
4 of 9
to restrain or (reflexive) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe
וְ֝אַחְדְּלָ֗ה
and though I forbear
H2308
וְ֝אַחְדְּלָ֗ה
and though I forbear
Strong's:
H2308
Word #:
6 of 9
properly, to be flabby, i.e., (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle
מַה
H4100
מַה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
7 of 9
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern lament literature often explored whether voicing grief helped or hindered healing. The Mesopotamian 'Ludlul Bel Nemeqi' ('I Will Praise the Lord of Wisdom') similarly depicts a sufferer whose complaints bring no relief. Job adds the opposite: silence helps no more than speech.
Questions for Reflection
- Have you experienced suffering so total that neither expressing it nor suppressing it brought relief?
- How does Job's experience challenge the modern therapeutic assumption that 'talking about it' always helps?
- What does it mean to faithfully endure when neither action nor inaction alleviates pain?
Analysis & Commentary
Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged (אִם־אֲדַבְּרָה לֹא־יֵחָשֵׂךְ כְּאֵבִי, im-adabberah lo-yechasekh ke'evi)—The verb חָשַׂךְ (chasakh) means 'to withhold, restrain, hold back.' Job's כְּאֵב (ke'ev, pain/grief) remains uncontainable regardless of speech.
And though I forbear, what am I eased? (וְאַחְדְּלָה מַה־מִמֶּנִּי יַהֲלֹךְ, ve'achdela mah-mimmenni yahalokh)—Whether Job speaks or remains silent, his suffering continues unabated. The verb הָלַךְ (halakh, 'to go, depart') governs his pain—it won't 'leave.' This captures the inescapable totality of extreme suffering: neither expression nor suppression provides relief. Job's friends assume speech itself causes his problem; Job knows the problem transcends language.