King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids [is] the shadow of death;
Complete Jewish Bible:
my face is red from crying, and on my eyelids is a death-dark shadow.
Berean Standard Bible:
My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;
American Standard Version:
My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
My face{H6440} is foul{H2560} with weeping{H1065}, and on my eyelids{H6079} is the shadow of death{H6757};
Cross-References (KJV):
Mark 14:34
- And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
Psalms 69:3
- I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Psalms 32:3
- When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
Psalms 31:9
- ¶ Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, [yea], my soul and my belly.
Isaiah 52:14
- As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
Psalms 102:3
- For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
Psalms 102:5
- By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Job 16:16
Job 16:16 is a poignant verse from the Book of Job, a text that explores the themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of evil. In this verse, Job laments the depth of his anguish as he endures severe trials that have left him in a state of profound grief and physical decay. The "shadow of death" on his eyelids suggests a darkness or gloom that envelops him, symbolizing the closeness of death and the despair that has overtaken his life.
The historical context of the Book of Job is somewhat uncertain, as it is one of the poetic books in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament, and is traditionally ascribed to the genre of wisdom literature. It is likely that the story of Job, which is set in the land of Uz, is a fictional tale that uses the character of Job to grapple with questions about divine justice and human suffering that have perplexed humankind throughout history.
In the narrative, Job is a righteous man who is subjected to a series of calamities, including the loss of his wealth, his children, and his health, as part of a divine test orchestrated by Satan with God's permission. The verse in question reflects the emotional and physical toll of Job's ordeal. His face, disfigured by continuous weeping, and the "shadow of death" upon his eyelids, convey the extent to which his suffering has marked him both internally and externally.
The broader themes of the Book of Job include the problem of evil, the mystery of undeserved suffering, the limitations of human wisdom, and the sovereignty of God. Job's friends insist that his suffering must be a punishment for sin, but Job maintains his innocence, challenging the simplistic retributive theology of his time. The verse encapsulates the raw emotion and existential crisis that suffering can bring, while also inviting readers to reflect on the deeper spiritual and philosophical questions that arise from human pain and divine silence.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H2560
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָמַר
Transliteration: châmar
Pronunciation: khaw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; also as denominative (from חֵמָר); properly, to boil up; hence, to ferment (with scum); to glow (with redness); to smear with pitch; daub, befoul, be red, trouble. - Strong's Number: H1065
There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּכִי
Transliteration: Bᵉkîy
Pronunciation: bek-ee'
Description: from בָּכָה; a weeping; by analogy, a dripping; overflowing, [idiom] sore, (continual) weeping, wept. - Strong's Number: H6079
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַפְעַף
Transliteration: ʻaphʻaph
Pronunciation: af-af'
Description: from עוּף; an eyelash (as fluttering); figuratively, morning ray; dawning, eye-lid. - Strong's Number: H6757
There are 17 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צַלְמָוֶת
Transliteration: tsalmâveth
Pronunciation: tsal-maw'-veth
Description: from צֵל and מָוֶת; shade of death, i.e. the grave (figuratively, calamity); shadow of death.