Job 30:17
My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.
Original Language Analysis
לַ֗יְלָה
in me in the night season
H3915
לַ֗יְלָה
in me in the night season
Strong's:
H3915
Word #:
1 of 7
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
עֲ֭צָמַי
My bones
H6106
עֲ֭צָמַי
My bones
Strong's:
H6106
Word #:
2 of 7
a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame
מֵעָלָ֑י
H5921
מֵעָלָ֑י
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 7
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְ֝עֹרְקַ֗י
and my sinews
H6207
וְ֝עֹרְקַ֗י
and my sinews
Strong's:
H6207
Word #:
5 of 7
to gnaw, i.e., (figuratively) eat (by hyberbole); also (participle) a pain
Historical Context
Ancient medicine had limited understanding of internal pain mechanisms but recognized that night intensified suffering. Darkness brought isolation, prevented activity that might distract from pain, and triggered psychological dread. Job's description matches symptoms of severe inflammatory conditions—possibly the 'sore boils' mentioned in 2:7. Ancient Near Eastern medical texts from Egypt and Mesopotamia describe similar bone and joint pains, often attributed to divine or demonic causes. That Job's suffering peaks at night aligns with ancient observations about disease patterns.
Questions for Reflection
- How does chronic physical pain affect spiritual life? What resources sustain faith when the body is under constant assault?
- Why does suffering often feel worse at night? How can nighttime become a space for meeting God rather than drowning in pain?
- How does Job's description of bones being pierced foreshadow Christ's crucifixion and validate physical suffering as real spiritual trial?
Analysis & Commentary
My bones are pierced in me in the night season (לַיְלָה עֲצָמַי נִקַּר מֵעָלָי)—The verb naqar (נָקַר) means to pierce, bore through, or dig out; atsam (עֶצֶם) means bones, the body's structural framework. Job's skeletal system—what gives him shape and support—is being hollowed out, pierced through. Night intensifies suffering when darkness amplifies pain and prevents distraction. The psalmist echoes this: 'my bones are vexed' (Psalm 6:2); Christ's bones were 'out of joint' on the cross (Psalm 22:14).
My sinews take no rest (וְעֹרְקַי לֹא יִשְׁכָּבוּן)—Araq (עֹרֵק) means sinews, gnawing pains, or possibly arteries; shakav (שָׁכַב) means to lie down or rest. Job's connective tissues, the ligaments and tendons binding his bones, won't be still—constant pain prevents sleep. This describes neuropathic or inflammatory pain that worsens at night. Job's suffering is comprehensive: bones (structure), sinews (connection), day and night (time)—no respite exists.