King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's [sake] of mine own body.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"My wife can't stand my breath, I am loathsome to my own family.
Berean Standard Bible:
My breath is repulsive to my wife, and I am loathsome to my own family.
American Standard Version:
My breath is strange to my wife, And my supplication to the children of mine own mother.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
My breath{H7307} is strange{H2114} to my wife{H802}, though I intreated{H2589} for the children's{H1121} sake of mine own body{H990}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Job 17:1
- ¶ My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves [are ready] for me.
Job 2:9
- Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
Job 2:10
- But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Job 19:17
Job 19:17 is a poignant verse from the Book of Job, a text that explores the themes of suffering, faith, and the human condition. The Book of Job is part of the Wisdom Literature in the Hebrew Bible and is thought to have been written between the 7th and 4th centuries BCE. It addresses the question of why the righteous suffer and whether suffering is a divine punishment for sin.
In this verse, Job, who has lost his wealth, children, and health, speaks of his profound suffering and alienation. His "breath is strange" to his wife, indicating that his suffering has become so intense and alienating that even his closest companion, his wife, cannot relate to or understand his pain. The mention of his intercession "for the children's sake of mine own body" suggests that Job had pleaded with God, perhaps for mercy or for an explanation, particularly with the hope of sparing his children from the calamities that befell him.
This verse reflects the depth of Job's anguish, as he feels abandoned and misunderstood by those closest to him, emphasizing the themes of isolation and the incomprehensibility of suffering. Despite his pleas, Job's situation does not improve, which challenges the simplistic notion that suffering is directly related to personal sin. The Book of Job, and this verse in particular, invites readers to grapple with the complexities of human suffering and the nature of faith in the face of inexplicable loss.
*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: H7307
There are 348 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רוּחַ
Transliteration: rûwach
Pronunciation: roo'-akh
Description: from רוּחַ; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions); air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). - Strong's Number: H2114
There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זוּר
Transliteration: zûwr
Pronunciation: zoor
Description: a primitive root; to turn aside (especially for lodging); hence to be aforeigner, strange, profane; specifically (active participle) to commit adultery; (come from) another (man, place), fanner, go away, (e-) strange(-r, thing, woman). - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H2589
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַנּוֹת
Transliteration: channôwth
Pronunciation: klan-noth'
Description: from חָנַן (in the sense of prayer); supplication; be gracious, intreated. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H990
There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֶּטֶן
Transliteration: beṭen
Pronunciation: beh'-ten
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be hollow; the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything; belly, body, [phrase] as they be born, [phrase] within, womb.