Job 23:2

KJV

Even to day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

KJV (with Strong's)

Even to day {H3117} is my complaint {H7879} bitter {H4805}: my stroke {H3027} is heavier {H3513} than my groaning {H585}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Today too my complaint is bitter; my hand is weighed down because of my groaning.

Berean Standard Bible

“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.

American Standard Version

Even to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 23:2 encapsulates the profound and inexpressible anguish of Job, who declares his complaint to be "bitter" and his affliction "heavier than his groaning." This verse vividly portrays a suffering so immense that it transcends the capacity for verbal expression or lamentation, highlighting the overwhelming burden Job feels under what he perceives as God's heavy hand. It serves as a raw, emotional opening to his desperate longing to confront God and present his case, convinced of his own righteousness amidst inexplicable pain.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 23 initiates Job's final major discourse (chapters 23-24) in response to Bildad's brief and unhelpful speech in [Job 22](/job/22 "Job 22 - Bildad's Final Speech"). This chapter marks a pivotal moment where Job, having exhausted his arguments with his friends, turns his focus entirely towards God. He expresses a profound longing to find God and present his case directly, believing that if he could only stand before the Almighty, his innocence would be vindicated. Verse 2 serves as the raw, emotional opening to this plea, articulating the depth of his ongoing, unbearable suffering that fuels his desire for a divine encounter. It underscores the pervasive nature of his pain, which has not diminished but intensified, driving his desperate search for understanding and justice. His subsequent lament in [Job 23:3-7](/job/23-3-7 "Job 23:3-7 - Job's Desire to Find God and Present His Case") further elaborates on this yearning for a divine audience.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is a masterpiece of wisdom literature, set in the ancient Near East, likely in the land of Uz, as mentioned in [Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Introduction to Job"). While its exact historical period is debated, the narrative reflects a pre-Mosaic understanding of God, where suffering was often directly correlated with sin—a prevailing cultural belief that Job's experience profoundly challenges. In this cultural milieu, lament was a recognized and accepted form of expressing distress to the divine, yet Job's complaint here transcends the typical lament, suggesting a suffering so unique and overwhelming that even traditional expressions fall short. The concept of a "stroke" or "hand" of God was a common idiom for divine action, whether blessing or affliction, underscoring Job's perception that his suffering was directly imposed by God, rather than a mere consequence of circumstance or human agency.

* **Key Themes:** Job 23:2 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Book of Job. Primarily, it highlights the theme of **unbearable and inexpressible suffering**, emphasizing the limits of human language to convey profound pain. It also underscores the **problem of evil and divine justice**, as Job grapples with the apparent contradiction between God's righteousness and his own undeserved affliction. His bitter complaint and longing to find God, as expressed in [Job 23:3](/job/23-3 "Job 23:3 - Job's Desire to Find God"), illuminate the theme of **the quest for divine presence and vindication** amidst despair. This verse further reinforces the theme of **human limitation** in comprehending divine ways, a tension that permeates the entire book and is ultimately addressed in God's speeches from the whirlwind in [Job 38-41](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech"). It also touches upon the theme of **the nature of lament**, demonstrating its legitimate place within faith, even when it is filled with profound bitterness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bitter (Hebrew, _mᵉrîy'_):** This term (H4805) denotes a profound and intense bitterness, extending beyond mere taste to a figurative sense of severe, sharp, or deeply painful experience. It can also carry the connotation of "rebellion," suggesting that Job's complaint is not just an expression of pain but also a defiant, unyielding protest against his perceived injustice. This indicates a pervasive, ingrained agony that has permeated Job's very being, making his complaint a profound, unyielding distress.
* **Stroke (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** Literally meaning "hand" (H3027), this word is used idiomatically in this context to refer to the "hand" or "blow" of God's affliction upon Job. It implies a direct, heavy, and forceful impact from a divine source, emphasizing Job's conviction that his suffering is not accidental but a deliberate, overwhelming burden placed upon him by God. The "hand" here signifies power, authority, and direct action.
* **Heavier (Hebrew, _kâbad'_):** This root word (H3513) means "to be heavy," and in a bad sense, "burdensome" or "severe." When applied to Job's situation, it signifies that the weight of his affliction is overwhelming and oppressive, surpassing any capacity for him to endure or express. It conveys the idea of an immense, crushing burden that far exceeds any relief or expression his groaning might offer.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Even to day [is] my complaint bitter":** Job emphasizes the persistent, unyielding nature of his suffering. The phrase "Even to day" highlights that his anguish is not a fleeting emotion but an ongoing, continuous reality. His "complaint" (Hebrew _sîyach_, H7879, meaning "contemplation" or "utterance," often a lament or meditation) is characterized as "bitter," indicating a deep, acrid, and pervasive sorrow. This bitterness signifies that his lament is steeped in profound grief, frustration, and a sense of injustice that has not diminished over time.
* **"my stroke is heavier than my groaning":** This clause reveals the overwhelming and inexpressible nature of Job's affliction. The "stroke" (Hebrew _yâd_, H3027, "hand," here signifying the blow or affliction from God) is so immense and crushing that it surpasses his ability to articulate it through "groaning" (Hebrew _ʼănâchâh_, H585, "sighing" or "lament"). Job's deepest sighs and cries are inadequate to convey the full burden of his agony, highlighting a suffering that defies verbal expression and remains profoundly internal, suffocating, and overwhelming.

#### Literary Devices
Job 23:2 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the depth of Job's despair. **Hyperbole** is powerfully evident in the declaration that his "stroke is heavier than my groaning," emphasizing the immeasurable and inexpressible nature of his suffering, which exceeds any human capacity for lament or articulation. The phrase "my stroke" functions as a **Metonymy**, where "stroke" (literally "my hand," referring to God's hand) stands in for the affliction or devastating blow inflicted upon him. The verse also functions as a profound **Lament**, a common genre in biblical literature, but one that here pushes the boundaries of typical expressions of sorrow by asserting the inadequacy of even lament itself. This raw, unvarnished expression of pain draws the reader into the visceral reality of Job's experience, highlighting the limits of language in the face of overwhelming anguish.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job's bitter complaint and the overwhelming weight of his suffering resonate deeply with the broader biblical narrative of human anguish and the mystery of divine providence. His experience challenges simplistic notions of cause and effect in suffering, forcing a confrontation with the reality of pain that is not always a direct consequence of sin. The verse underscores the biblical permission to lament honestly before God, even when one feels God's hand is heavy upon them. It highlights the human struggle to reconcile a just and loving God with inexplicable suffering, a tension that is not fully resolved within the human understanding but ultimately rests on divine sovereignty and wisdom. Job's cry echoes the laments of many biblical figures who wrestled with God in their pain, seeking understanding and vindication, demonstrating that authentic faith can coexist with profound grief and questioning.

* [Psalm 6:6](/psalms/6-6 "Psalm 6:6 - Weeping all night")
* [Psalm 38:2](/psalms/38-2 "Psalm 38:2 - God's hand heavy")
* [Lamentations 3:1-20](/lamentations/3 "Lamentations 3:1-20 - The Suffering of Jeremiah")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 23:2 offers profound validation for those experiencing intense, inexpressible suffering today. It reminds us that there are times when our pain is so overwhelming that words fail, and even our deepest groans seem inadequate to convey the depth of our distress. Job's raw honesty grants permission to voice our bitter complaints to God, acknowledging that faith does not preclude anguish or doubt, but rather provides a framework for expressing it. This verse encourages deep empathy for those whose suffering seems to defy comprehension, urging us to listen not just to words, but to the inexpressible burdens carried by others. For individuals grappling with chronic pain, profound grief, spiritual desolation, or mental illness, Job's experience provides a voice, assuring them that their feelings of being overwhelmed and unheard are acknowledged within the sacred text. It challenges us to minister to suffering individuals with patience, compassion, and a willingness to sit with them in their incomprehensible pain, rather than offering simplistic answers or immediate solutions.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's raw honesty in expressing his pain resonate with your own experiences of suffering or grief?**
* **In what ways might our "groaning" or complaints feel inadequate to express the depth of our burdens?**
* **How can we better empathize with and support those whose suffering feels "heavier than their groaning"?**

### FAQ
**Does Job's "bitter complaint" imply a lack of faith or sin?**

Answer: No, Job's "bitter complaint" does not imply a lack of faith or sin. Instead, it represents an honest and agonizing expression of his profound distress within the context of his unwavering, though tested, faith. The Book of Job makes it clear from the outset that Job is "blameless and upright, a man who feared God and shunned evil" ([Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Introduction to Job")). His complaints are not a rejection of God, but a desperate plea for understanding and vindication from God. This is a crucial distinction between lament (a cry of pain to God) and rebellion (a turning away from God). Many biblical figures, including the psalmists (e.g., [Psalm 22](/psalms/22 "Psalm 22 - A Psalm of Lament and Trust")), voiced bitter complaints and deep questions to God without being condemned for a lack of faith. Job's integrity is consistently affirmed, even in his most anguished moments.

**What does "my stroke is heavier than my groaning" truly mean?**

Answer: This powerful phrase means that the affliction Job is experiencing, which he perceives as a direct "stroke" or heavy hand from God, is so immense and overwhelming that it far surpasses his capacity to express it through any form of lamentation or "groaning." It signifies an inexpressible agony, a burden so profound that even his deepest sighs, cries, or verbal complaints cannot adequately convey its weight or bring any relief. It highlights the sheer magnitude of his suffering, suggesting that his internal pain is far greater than any outward manifestation or emotional release he can muster. It speaks to a deep, pervasive, and suffocating burden that defies articulation, leaving Job in a state of profound, unalleviated distress.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 23:2, with its raw depiction of inexpressible suffering and a perceived divine "stroke," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Job's suffering was a mystery to him, Christ's suffering was the deliberate, redemptive act of God. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, truly experienced a "complaint bitter" and a "stroke heavier than His groaning" on behalf of humanity. In the Garden of Gethsemane, His agony was so profound that His sweat became like drops of blood, a physical manifestation of a spiritual and emotional burden that exceeded all human capacity for endurance ([Luke 22:44](/luke/22-44 "Luke 22:44 - Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane")). On the cross, He bore the full "stroke" of God's righteous wrath against sin, becoming the ultimate Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). The prophet Isaiah foretold Him as "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Jesus, a Man of Sorrows")), who was "pierced for our transgressions" and upon whom the "punishment that brought us peace was on him" ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant")). Unlike Job, whose suffering was a test, Christ's suffering was a substitutionary atonement, a divine act of love. He understands our inexpressible groans, for He Himself "learned obedience through what he suffered" ([Hebrews 5:8](/hebrews/5-8 "Hebrews 5:8 - Jesus Learned Obedience Through Suffering")), and now serves as our sympathetic High Priest who can truly empathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). In Christ, our bitter complaints are heard, our heavy strokes are carried, and our groaning finds its ultimate comfort and hope in His victorious resurrection, as the Spirit intercedes for us with groans too deep for words ([Romans 8:26-28](/romans/8-26 "Romans 8:26-28 - The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness")).

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 10:1

¶ My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Job 7:11

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Job 11:6

And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that [they are] double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee [less] than thine iniquity [deserveth].

Job 6:2

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

Job 6:3

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

Psalms 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

Psalms 77:9

Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.