Job 19:17
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Job 19:17
17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
Chapter Context
Job 19 is a wisdom dialogue chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of sacrifice, redemption, truth. Written during the patriarchal period (literary composition later), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Ancient wisdom traditions often wrestled with the problem of suffering and divine justice.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-29: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it illustrates divine judgment and mercy in response to human actions. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Job and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Job 19:17
17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
Analysis
'My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.' Job's isolation extends to intimate relationships: his 'breath' (רוּחִי, ruchi) is 'strange' (זָרָה, zarah—alien, foreign) to his wife, despite entreaties for sake of 'children of mine own body' (בְּנֵי בִטְנִי, beney vitni). His disease makes him repulsive even to his wife. Some scholars suggest this refers to bad breath from disease; others see emotional alienation. Either way, marital intimacy is destroyed. Suffering isolates, breaking closest bonds. This anticipates Christ's 'My God, why hast thou forsaken me?' Total isolation, even from intimates, characterizes extreme suffering. Job's experience, though not salvific like Christ's, reflects suffering's alienating power.
Historical Context
Ancient culture valued family intimacy and children highly. Job's alienation from his wife and loss of children would compound his suffering with profound social and emotional isolation.
Reflection
- How does suffering isolate us from those closest to us?
- What does Christ's experience of total abandonment mean for our isolation?