Job 3:25
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 8
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
פַ֣חַד
For the thing which I greatly
H6343
פַ֣חַד
For the thing which I greatly
Strong's:
H6343
Word #:
2 of 8
a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling)
פָּ֭חַדְתִּי
feared
H6342
פָּ֭חַדְתִּי
feared
Strong's:
H6342
Word #:
3 of 8
to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general
וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
וַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 8
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Job 1:5And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.Job 30:15Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.Job 31:23For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
Historical Context
Wisdom literature frequently addresses the relationship between prosperity and the fear of loss. Job's honesty about his fears is notable in a genre that often presents idealized portraits of the wise.
Questions for Reflection
- What role do fear and foreboding play in your spiritual life, even when circumstances are good?
- How do you distinguish between realistic caution and sinful anxiety?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Job confesses, 'For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.' This reveals that even in prosperity, Job lived with some level of fear about potential loss. The Hebrew 'pachad' (feared/dreaded) suggests not mere worry but deep foreboding. This raises questions about the relationship between fear and faith, and whether Job's fear was prescient or spiritually problematic. The text doesn't condemn Job's admission, suggesting that even righteous people can harbor fears that God may permit to be realized.