Job 11:16

KJV

Because thou shalt forget [thy] misery, [and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away:

KJV (with Strong's)

Because thou shalt forget {H7911} thy misery {H5999}, and remember {H2142} it as waters {H4325} that pass away {H5674}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"For you will forget your misery; you'll remember it like a flood that passed through long ago;

Berean Standard Bible

For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

American Standard Version

For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 11:16, spoken by Zophar the Naamathite, presents a conditional promise of future peace and prosperity to Job. Zophar, operating under the rigid framework of retribution theology, asserts that if Job would repent and turn to God, his immense suffering and past misery would be completely forgotten, vanishing like water that has flowed away, leaving no trace of its previous presence or impact. This verse offers a glimpse into the human longing for relief from pain and the hope of a future unburdened by past afflictions, albeit within a flawed theological premise.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of Zophar's first and most aggressive speech to Job (Job 11:1-20). Zophar, along with Eliphaz and Bildad, believes that Job's suffering is a direct consequence of his sin, implying that God is justly punishing him. His speech is characterized by a harsh, dogmatic insistence on divine justice and an unyielding demand for Job's repentance. In the verses immediately preceding Job 11:16, Zophar outlines the blessings that will follow Job's repentance: his life will be brighter than noonday, and he will be secure and full of hope (Job 11:13-15). Verse 16, therefore, serves as a vivid illustration of this promised restoration, emphasizing the complete eradication of past sorrow. It is a rhetorical promise designed to persuade Job to confess his supposed wrongdoing and embrace Zophar's rigid theological framework.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, a prevalent belief system was retribution theology, which posited a direct correlation between one's righteousness and one's prosperity, and conversely, between one's sin and one's suffering. This worldview, though containing elements of truth about God's justice, was often applied simplistically and rigidly, failing to account for the complexities of human suffering, especially that of the innocent. Job's friends, including Zophar, are staunch proponents of this view. They interpret Job's unparalleled calamities as irrefutable proof of his secret sin, and their counsel is rooted in this cultural and theological assumption. The imagery of "waters that pass away" would have been readily understood in an agricultural society dependent on the transient nature of rainfall and river flows.

* **Key Themes:** Job 11:16 contributes to several key themes within the book of Job. Foremost is the theme of **retribution theology**, as Zophar's entire argument hinges on the idea that repentance will automatically lead to the removal of suffering. It also highlights the **nature of suffering**, particularly the human desire for its cessation and the hope for a future free from its memory. The verse implicitly touches on **divine justice**, though Zophar's understanding of it is later corrected by God Himself (see [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends")). Furthermore, it introduces the theme of **conditional blessing**, where Zophar posits that God's favor is contingent upon Job's actions. While Zophar's counsel is ultimately deemed flawed, the verse's imagery of forgetting misery resonates with the broader biblical promise of ultimate peace and the wiping away of tears in God's future kingdom (compare [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Misery (Hebrew, _‘amal_):** This word carries the connotation of toil, trouble, sorrow, or painful labor. It describes a deep, burdensome affliction, often associated with the hard consequences of sin or the general hardship of life. In Job's context, it perfectly encapsulates the profound physical, emotional, and spiritual distress he was enduring.
* **Forget (Hebrew, _shakhach_):** While literally meaning to forget, in this context, it implies more than mere amnesia. It suggests a complete removal of the past misery's influence, its sting, and its power to define the present or future. It signifies that the pain will no longer be a source of active remembrance or emotional burden.
* **Pass away (Hebrew, _‘avar_):** This verb means to cross over, pass through, or go by. When applied to water, it vividly depicts a flow that is transient and non-returning. It emphasizes the finality and irreversible nature of the departure of the misery, much like a river that has flowed past and cannot be recalled.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Because thou shalt forget [thy] misery":** Zophar presents a direct consequence of Job's hypothetical repentance and turning to God. The "forgetting" here is not an act of willed amnesia on Job's part, but rather a divinely orchestrated removal of the misery's lingering effects. It implies a state of peace and restoration so profound that the past suffering no longer holds sway or causes pain in the present.
* **"[and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away":** This clause provides a powerful simile to clarify the nature of this "forgetting." The misery will be remembered, if at all, as something utterly transient and gone, like water that has flowed down a stream or river and is no longer present. The imagery emphasizes the complete cessation of the suffering's impact, its irrecoverable departure, and the fresh, unburdened state that would follow. It signifies that the past pain will hold no power, no emotional residue, and no continuing presence in Job's restored life.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Job 11:16 is **Simile**, specifically in the phrase "remember [it] as waters [that] pass away." This comparison vividly illustrates the transient and ultimately forgotten nature of the misery Zophar promises will vanish. The **Imagery** of flowing water effectively conveys the idea of something that moves on, leaving no trace, and cannot be brought back. This reinforces the concept of complete and irreversible cessation of suffering. Additionally, the verse functions as a **Conditional Promise**, where the outcome (forgetting misery) is directly linked to an implied condition (Job's repentance), forming a core part of Zophar's rhetorical strategy to persuade Job.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While Zophar's counsel to Job was ultimately flawed and based on a simplistic understanding of divine justice, the imagery of forgetting misery and remembering it as "waters that pass away" resonates with a profound biblical truth: God's capacity for complete restoration and the ultimate eradication of suffering. Though Zophar incorrectly attributed Job's suffering to sin and offered a conditional promise based on a faulty premise, the desire for such forgetting is deeply human and finds its true fulfillment in God's redemptive work. The Bible consistently points to a future where past sorrows will not overshadow present joy or future hope, and where God Himself will bring about a state of peace that transcends all former pain. This promise is not contingent on human works, but on divine grace and faithfulness.

* [Isaiah 43:18-19](/isaiah/43-18 "Forget the Former Things")
* [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "No More Tears, No More Pain")
* [Psalm 30:5](/psalms/30-5 "Weeping May Last for a Night, But Joy Comes in the Morning")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 11:16, despite its origin in Zophar's flawed theology, offers a powerful image of hope for those enduring hardship. It speaks to the deep human yearning for relief from suffering and the desire for past pain to no longer define one's present or future. For believers, this verse can serve as a reminder that while suffering is a real part of the human experience, it is not eternal. God, in His sovereign grace, has the power to bring about healing and restoration so profound that the sting of past sorrows can indeed fade into memory, becoming like "waters that pass away." This does not mean we deny our pain, but rather that we trust in a God who can redeem and transform our experiences, enabling us to move forward with hope, knowing that our ultimate peace and joy are secured in Him. It encourages a forward-looking perspective, trusting that God's grace can bring about a time when past pain no longer dominates, and true restoration involves a profound healing of the soul.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I tend to remember past difficulties? Do they still hold power over me, or have they "passed away" in their emotional impact?**
* **In what ways does my understanding of God's justice align with or differ from Zophar's rigid retribution theology?**
* **What steps can I take to embrace a forward-looking perspective, trusting God to bring healing and peace from past hurts?**

### FAQ
**Was Zophar's promise in Job 11:16 true for Job?**

Answer: No, not in the way Zophar intended. Zophar's promise was conditional on Job's repentance for sins Job had not committed. God later rebukes Zophar and the other friends for speaking incorrectly about Him (see [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "God Rebukes Job's Friends")). While Job was eventually restored, it was not because he confessed to specific sins as his friends demanded, but because of God's sovereign grace and Job's unwavering faith. The "forgetting of misery" ultimately came from God's restoration, not from Job's repentance for a non-existent sin.

**How can a person "forget misery" or have it "pass away" in a biblical sense?**

Answer: Biblically, "forgetting misery" doesn't mean literal amnesia, but rather that the past pain loses its power to dominate or define one's present life. This happens through God's healing and transformative work. It involves repentance for actual sins, forgiveness received through Christ, and the Holy Spirit's work in bringing comfort and new perspective. It's a process of moving forward in faith, trusting God to redeem even the most painful experiences. The ultimate fulfillment of this promise is found in God's new creation, where He will wipe away every tear and former things will truly pass away (see [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "No More Tears")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Zophar's words in Job 11:16 were spoken from a flawed theological premise, the deep human longing they express—for misery to be forgotten and to pass away like transient waters—finds its ultimate and perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Our true "misery," stemming from sin and its pervasive effects, is precisely what Christ came to address. Through His atoning sacrifice, He offers not merely the forgetting of past troubles, but the complete removal of sin's guilt and power, enabling a new creation in Him (see [2 Corinthians 5:17](/2_corinthians/5-17 "New Creation in Christ")). The Lord Jesus invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him, promising rest for their souls and a light yoke (see [Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28 "Come to Me, All Who Are Weary")). Furthermore, the New Covenant, established in His blood, promises that God will remember our sins no more (see [Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "God Will Remember Their Sins No More")), truly causing our spiritual misery to "pass away." Ultimately, the vision of a future where all tears are wiped away and death, mourning, crying, and pain are no more (see [Revelation 21:4-5](/revelation/21-4 "New Heaven and New Earth")) is the glorious, Christ-centered reality where all misery is not just forgotten, but utterly abolished, having passed away forever.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 65:16

That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

Ecclesiastes 5:20

For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth [him] in the joy of his heart.

John 16:21

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

Isaiah 54:4

Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

Isaiah 54:9

For this [is as] the waters of Noah unto me: for [as] I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

Job 6:15

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;

Job 22:11

Or darkness, [that] thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.