Job 16:7

KJV

But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

KJV (with Strong's)

But now he hath made me weary {H3811}: thou hast made desolate {H8074} all my company {H5712}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"But now he has worn me out; you have desolated this whole community of mine.

Berean Standard Bible

Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.

American Standard Version

But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 16:7 powerfully articulates Job's profound and multi-layered suffering, depicting him as utterly exhausted and his entire social support system as having been laid waste. In this poignant lament, Job directly attributes both his overwhelming weariness and the desolation of his companions—who have become his accusers rather than comforters—to the hand of God. The verse thus encapsulates the depth of his physical and spiritual anguish, his perception of divine antagonism, and the crushing failure of human solace in his time of extreme distress.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 16:7 is embedded within Job's third cycle of speeches, specifically his impassioned response to Eliphaz's second address in [Job 15](/job/15 "Job 15 - Eliphaz's Second Speech"). By this stage of the narrative, the dialogue has devolved into a cycle of accusations and defenses, with Job increasingly expressing his frustration not only with his "miserable comforters" ([Job 16:2](/job/16-2 "Job 16:2 - Job's Lament Against His Comforters")) but also with God Himself. Chapter 16 is a deeply personal and visceral lament, where Job vividly portrays his physical affliction, the perceived injustice of God's actions against him, and the profound sense of betrayal by his friends. This particular verse serves as a poignant summary of his current state: utterly depleted and completely isolated, with God seemingly acting as his adversary and his human companions offering no solace, but rather compounding his pain. It underscores the escalating tension between Job's unwavering conviction of his own righteousness and his friends' rigid adherence to a simplistic retribution theology.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, a pervasive belief known as retribution theology often linked suffering directly to sin, implying that calamity was divine punishment for wrongdoing. Within this cultural framework, friends and community members were expected to offer comfort, empathy, and practical support during times of distress, often through prescribed mourning rituals and a compassionate presence. Job's friends initially fulfill this societal expectation by sitting with him in silence for seven days ([Job 2:11-13](/job/2-11-13 "Job 2:11-13 - Job's Friends Arrive to Comfort Him")). However, their subsequent speeches reveal their rigid adherence to conventional wisdom, interpreting Job's immense suffering as irrefutable proof of his hidden iniquity. Job 16:7 directly challenges this cultural expectation of comfort, portraying his friends not as sources of solace but as instruments of further desolation. Job's lament is a culturally recognized form of expression, yet his direct accusation of God for his plight, and for the failure of his "company," pushes against the boundaries of acceptable piety, highlighting the unique and radical nature of the book of Job's theological inquiry into the nature of suffering.
* **Key Themes:** Job 16:7 contributes significantly to several overarching themes that permeate the book of Job. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the **problem of innocent suffering**, as Job, despite his steadfast piety and God's own testimony of his blamelessness ([Job 1:8](/job/1-8 "Job 1:8 - God's Testimony of Job's Righteousness")), experiences immense pain and attributes it directly to God, thereby challenging the neat equation of sin leading to suffering. Secondly, the verse highlights the **inadequacy of human wisdom and comfort**; Job's friends, despite their initial good intentions, fail to provide genuine solace, instead compounding his anguish with their judgmental theology. This emphasizes the critical theme of **true empathy versus simplistic answers** in the face of profound grief. Thirdly, Job's lament deepens the theme of **divine sovereignty and the mystery of God's ways**, as he grapples with a God who seems to be his adversary, forcing him to confront the limits of human understanding regarding divine justice and action. Finally, it powerfully expresses the theme of **profound isolation and betrayal**, a common human experience in suffering, as Job feels abandoned by both God and man, a sentiment echoed in other laments throughout the Psalms, such as [Psalm 6:6-7](/psalms/6-6-7 "Psalm 6:6-7 - Weariness from Weeping and Trouble").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Weary (Hebrew, _lâʼâh'_):** The Hebrew verb לָאָה (_lâʼâh_) signifies a state of being utterly exhausted, faint, or disgusted. It extends beyond mere physical tiredness to encompass a deep, pervasive weariness that affects the spirit and mind. In Job's context, it denotes a profound emotional and spiritual exhaustion brought on by relentless physical affliction, the crushing weight of his friends' accusations, and the perceived divine antagonism. It suggests a state where one's strength has completely given out, leaving them utterly depleted and without recourse.
* **Desolate (Hebrew, _shâmêm'_):** The Hebrew verb שָׁמֵם (_shâmêm_) means to be stunned, appalled, astonished, or laid waste. It conveys a sense of ruin, abandonment, and utter devastation. When Job states that God "made desolate" his company, he is not merely saying his friends left him, but that God actively caused a state of ruin and emptiness in his relationships, turning his once supportive community into a source of further pain and isolation. This word emphasizes the active, destructive role Job perceives God to be playing in his life, leading to a profound sense of abandonment and emptiness.
* **Company (Hebrew, _ʻêdâh'_):** The Hebrew noun עֵדָה (_ʻêdâh_) refers to an assembly, congregation, or community. While it can denote a formal gathering, in this context, it refers to Job's close circle of friends and companions. The use of this term underscores the social dimension of Job's suffering; it's not just personal pain but the destruction of his relational network, the very people who should have provided comfort and solidarity. The desolation of his "company" means the ruin of his entire social support system, leaving him in profound isolation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But now he hath made me weary":** This clause reveals Job's direct attribution of his profound exhaustion to God ("he"). The "now" signifies a current, ongoing state, a culmination of his relentless suffering. Job is not merely tired; he is utterly depleted—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—to the point of collapse. He sees God as the active agent behind this crushing weariness, implying a divine assault on his strength and resilience, leaving him utterly without energy or hope.
* **"thou hast made desolate all my company":** Here, Job shifts to direct address ("thou," referring to God), intensifying his accusation and making it deeply personal. He blames God for the ruin and abandonment of his social circle. This implies that God either directly caused his friends to turn against him or allowed their judgmental and unhelpful behavior to further isolate him, thus actively "desolating" his community. This statement highlights Job's profound sense of betrayal and isolation, seeing his human support system not merely as failing, but as having been actively destroyed by divine action, leaving him utterly alone.

#### Literary Devices
Job 16:7 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey the depth of Job's anguish and despair. The most prominent is **personification**, where Job attributes human-like actions and intentions to God, portraying Him as an active agent in causing his weariness and desolating his company. This direct, accusatory address to God is characteristic of **lament literature**, a genre in which the sufferer pours out raw, often confrontational, emotions before the divine. Job's language also borders on **hyperbole**, using extreme terms like "made me weary" and "made desolate all my company" to emphasize the overwhelming and complete nature of his suffering and isolation, suggesting an experience beyond normal human endurance. Furthermore, there is a poignant **irony** at play: those who came to comfort Job, his "company," have become the instruments of his further desolation, a bitter twist that underscores the profound failure of human empathy in the face of profound, inexplicable suffering.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 16:7 stands as a stark theological statement on the nature of suffering and the human perception of divine action. It challenges simplistic understandings of God's justice, forcing the reader to confront the mystery of why the righteous suffer and why God sometimes appears to be an adversary rather than a comforter. Job's raw lament, though seemingly blasphemous to his friends, is presented in the biblical narrative as an honest expression of faith grappling with incomprehensible pain. It affirms that authentic faith does not require suppressing one's true feelings, even anger or accusation towards God, but rather bringing them directly into His presence. This verse also highlights the profound human need for genuine empathy and the devastating impact of judgmental "comfort." It ultimately points to the truth that true solace in suffering must often come from a source beyond human capacity, even when God's immediate actions seem to contradict His nature, reminding us that God's ways are often beyond our full comprehension.

* [Job 13:24](/job/13-24 "Job 13:24 - Job Asks Why God Treats Him as an Enemy")
* [Psalm 6:6](/psalms/6-6 "Psalm 6:6 - Weariness from Weeping")
* [Lamentations 1:16](/lamentations/1-16 "Lamentations 1:16 - Jerusalem's Desolation and Lack of Comforters")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 16:7 offers profound insights for believers navigating seasons of intense suffering and isolation. It grants permission for honest lament, reminding us that authentic faith embraces the full spectrum of human emotion, including weariness, despair, and even anger or confusion towards God. Job's example teaches us that it is not a lack of faith to feel abandoned or to question God's actions, but rather an act of profound trust to bring those raw feelings directly to Him, knowing He is big enough to handle our deepest pain. Furthermore, this verse serves as a powerful call to empathy for those who seek to comfort the suffering. It warns against the danger of offering simplistic theological explanations or judgmental advice, which can "desolate" rather than comfort. Instead, we are called to sit with others in their pain, listen with compassion, and offer presence rather than pronouncements. Ultimately, while Job felt utterly alone, his story encourages us to anchor our hope in God's ultimate sovereignty and wisdom, even when His ways are beyond our comprehension, trusting that He is the true source of comfort when all human company fails.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do you tend to express your weariness or sense of desolation when facing prolonged suffering or disappointment?**
* **How might your words or actions, even with good intentions, inadvertently "desolate" someone who is suffering, rather than providing true comfort?**
* **What does Job's radical honesty in attributing his suffering to God teach you about the nature of genuine faith and prayer?**

### FAQ
**Why does Job blame God directly for his suffering and the failure of his friends?**

Answer: Job's theology, though being tested and refined throughout the book, still operates under the premise of God's absolute sovereignty over all things. For Job, if something happens, especially something as catastrophic as his suffering, it must ultimately originate from God's hand, whether directly or by divine permission. He doesn't see his friends' actions as independent of God's overarching control; rather, he views their failure to comfort him as part of the divine desolation he experiences. This is a consistent theme for Job, as seen in his initial response to calamity: "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" ([Job 1:21](/job/1-21 "Job 1:21 - Job's Response to Loss")). His blaming God is not necessarily a denial of God's goodness but an honest, agonizing wrestling with a God who seems to have become his adversary, allowing or even causing his profound distress and the failure of his human support system. It's a deeply personal lament, not a detached theological treatise, reflecting a profound struggle within faith.

**Is it acceptable for believers to feel "weary" and "desolate" or to express anger towards God, as Job does?**

Answer: Yes, the biblical narrative, particularly the book of Job and many Psalms, validates the full spectrum of human emotion, including profound weariness, desolation, anger, and confusion, even when directed towards God. Job's laments are a testament to the fact that authentic faith is not about suppressing difficult emotions but about bringing them honestly and directly into God's presence. The Psalms, for example, are replete with cries of despair and questions directed at God (e.g., [Psalm 42:5](/psalms/42-5 "Psalm 42:5 - Why are you cast down, O my soul?")). While such expressions should always be offered with a heart that ultimately seeks God's truth and acknowledges His sovereignty, the Bible clearly shows that God is big enough to handle our rawest emotions and deepest questions. It is in this honest wrestling that true spiritual growth and deeper intimacy with God can often be found, as we learn to trust Him even when we don't understand His ways.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 16:7, with its raw depiction of Job's weariness and the desolation of his company, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the perfectly innocent and righteous one, experienced a profound weariness far beyond Job's, not merely from physical exertion during His earthly ministry ([John 4:6](/john/4-6 "John 4:6 - Jesus, weary from His journey")), but from bearing the crushing weight of humanity's sin. His desolation was absolute: He was abandoned by His disciples in His hour of greatest need ([Matthew 26:56](/matthew/26-56 "Matthew 26:56 - All the disciples deserted Him and fled")), betrayed by a trusted friend ([John 13:21](/john/13-21 "John 13:21 - Jesus Predicts His Betrayal")), and ultimately, on the cross, experienced a unique and terrifying sense of divine abandonment, crying out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?")). Unlike Job, whose suffering was for his own testing and vindication, Christ's desolation was vicarious, endured to reconcile a desolate humanity to God, bridging the chasm of sin. Through His ultimate weariness and abandonment, Jesus became the true and faithful "company" who will never leave or forsake us ([Hebrews 13:5](/hebrews/13-5 "Hebrews 13:5 - I will never leave you nor forsake you")). His suffering transforms ours, offering not just empathy but the promise of ultimate comfort and an eternal presence through the Holy Spirit, the Helper whom He promised to send to abide with us forever ([John 14:16](/john/14-16 "John 14:16 - The Helper, the Spirit of Truth")). In Christ, our weariness finds rest, and our desolation is met with an unbreakable communion, for He has walked the path of ultimate suffering to bring us ultimate peace.

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

Job 7:3

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

Job 1:15

And the Sabeans fell [upon them], and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 1:19

And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Job 3:17

There the wicked cease [from] troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

Isaiah 50:4

¶ The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to [him that is] weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

Job 7:16

I loathe [it]; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days [are] vanity.

Psalms 6:6

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.