Job 7:19
How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
Original Language Analysis
כַּ֭מָּה
How long
H4100
כַּ֭מָּה
How long
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
1 of 9
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
2 of 9
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשְׁעֶ֣ה
wilt thou not depart
H8159
תִשְׁעֶ֣ה
wilt thou not depart
Strong's:
H8159
Word #:
3 of 9
to gaze at or about (properly, for help); by implication, to inspect, consider, compassionate, be nonplussed (as looking around in amazement) or bewil
מִמֶּ֑נִּי
H4480
מִמֶּ֑נִּי
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
4 of 9
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 9
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַ֝רְפֵּ֗נִי
from me nor let me alone
H7503
תַ֝רְפֵּ֗נִי
from me nor let me alone
Strong's:
H7503
Word #:
6 of 9
to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
7 of 9
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern prayers sometimes sought divine distance when the deity's presence brought judgment (compare Jonah fleeing God's presence). Job's request reflects human inability to sustain direct encounter with the holy without covenant mediation—a theme developed throughout Scripture (Exodus 33:20, Isaiah 6:5).
Questions for Reflection
- Why is unmediated divine presence terrifying rather than comforting for sinners?
- How does Christ's mediatorial work transform God's scrutiny from judgment to fatherly love?
- What does Job's experience teach about the necessity of Christ as our advocate and mediator?
Analysis & Commentary
Job demands respite: 'How long wilt thou not depart from me' (shur, שׁוּר) 'nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?' The idiom of swallowing spittle refers to the briefest moment—Job can't even complete a simple reflexive action before God's scrutiny overwhelms him again. The verb 'depart' (sha'ah, שָׁעָה) means to look away, regard, or turn attention toward—Job pleads for God to look away even momentarily.
The imagery reverses the normal prayer for God's presence (Psalm 27:9, 'Hide not thy face from me'). Job wants God's absence, not His presence—suffering has made divine fellowship unbearable. This illustrates the terror of experiencing God's holiness without mediatorial grace. The Reformed understanding emphasizes that sinful humanity cannot bear unmediated divine presence; we require Christ's mediation (Hebrews 12:18-24).
Job's plea anticipates the gospel solution: Christ bears God's full scrutiny and judgment in our place, so we can experience divine attention as blessing rather than curse. On the cross, Christ cried, 'My God, why hast thou forsaken me?'—experiencing the divine abandonment Job craves, so believers never experience it.