Job 6:10

KJV

Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then should I yet have comfort {H5165}; yea, I would harden {H5539} myself in sorrow {H2427}: let him not spare {H2550}; for I have not concealed {H3582} the words {H561} of the Holy One {H6918}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then I would feel consoled; so that even in the face of unending pain, I would be able to rejoice; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Berean Standard Bible

It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

American Standard Version

And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 6:10 powerfully encapsulates Job's profound despair and unwavering integrity amidst his unimaginable suffering. In this poignant declaration, Job expresses a desperate longing for death, viewing it not as an end to existence but as the ultimate comfort and release from his relentless agony. Paradoxically, even in this plea for cessation, he boldly asserts his blamelessness and faithfulness, declaring that he has not denied, hidden, or compromised the words of the Holy One, thereby maintaining his righteousness in the face of his friends' accusations and God's seemingly inexplicable actions.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 6:10 is situated within Job's first extensive and emotionally charged response (Job 6-7) to his friend Eliphaz's initial speech in [Job 4-5](/job/4 "Job 4-5 - Eliphaz's First Speech"). Eliphaz, operating under the prevailing conventional wisdom of retributive justice, subtly implies that Job's immense suffering must be a direct consequence of hidden sin. Job's reply is not a theological debate but a raw, unvarnished outpouring of his soul, articulating the depth of his physical and emotional pain, his desperate longing for death, and his fervent need for vindication. This specific verse follows Job's lament about the bitterness of his words being a mere reflection of his overwhelming grief and his fervent wish for God to swiftly and decisively end his life (compare [Job 6:1-9](/job/6 "Job 6 - Job's Lament and Plea")). His resolute declaration of integrity in verse 10 serves as a foundational assertion of his blamelessness, setting the stage for his continued defense against his friends' accusations and his direct, often challenging, appeals to God throughout the remainder of the book.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a region generally identified as being east of Palestine, suggesting a non-Israelite yet monotheistic cultural milieu. The narrative deeply engages with ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions, which frequently explored profound themes of justice, suffering, and divine retribution. The arguments put forth by Job's friends largely align with the widespread belief that suffering is a direct punitive consequence of sin, a common theological tenet in many ancient cultures, including certain aspects of Israelite thought (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses and Covenant Obedience")). However, Job's personal experience profoundly challenges this simplistic and deterministic understanding of divine justice, pushing the boundaries of conventional theology and wisdom. His intense lamentations and direct appeals to God, even his desperate desire for death, resonate deeply with a broader human experience of profound grief and an existential quest for meaning in the face of inexplicable adversity, sentiments widely found in ancient laments and wisdom literature across various cultures.

* **Key Themes:** Job 6:10 powerfully contributes to several central and enduring themes woven throughout the Book of Job. Firstly, it starkly underscores the theme of **intense suffering and the longing for ultimate relief**, vividly illustrating the extreme physical and psychological torment Job endures, to the point where death is perceived as the only true and welcome comfort (compare [Job 3:20-22](/job/3-20 "Job 3:20-22 - Job's Desire for Death and Rest")). Secondly, and arguably most significantly, it highlights Job's **unwavering integrity and profound righteousness** despite his immense suffering. His emphatic declaration, "for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One," serves as a foundational assertion of his blamelessness, directly countering his friends' accusations and establishing the central theological dilemma of the book: why does a truly righteous person suffer so profoundly? This theme of steadfast integrity in the face of overwhelming adversity is absolutely crucial to understanding Job's character and the ultimate vindication he receives from God in [Job 42:7-9](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7-9 - God Rebukes Job's Friends and Vindicates Job")). Finally, the verse powerfully touches on the theme of **bold lament and wrestling with God**, as Job, even in his deepest despair, directly addresses God, challenging Him to bring about his end, thereby demonstrating a profound, albeit painful, and deeply personal engagement with the divine.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Comfort (Hebrew, _nechâmâh_):** Derived from the root meaning to sigh or breathe strongly, this noun (H5165) signifies "consolation" or "comfort." In Job's context, it denotes a profound yearning for the cessation of pain and suffering, a final solace that only death seems capable of offering. It is not merely a wish for a pleasant feeling, but for an end to the unbearable burden of his existence, a deep, ultimate relief.
* **Concealed (Hebrew, _kâchad_):** This primitive root (H3582) means "to secrete, by act or word; hence (intensively) to destroy." It encompasses the ideas of hiding, denying, repudiating, or disavowing. When Job states he has "not concealed" the words of the Holy One, he is making a powerful and unequivocal declaration of his consistent adherence to God's truth and commands. He asserts that he has not secretly harbored sin, nor has he denied God's revealed will, even in the face of immense pressure and suffering that might tempt one to abandon faith or confess false guilt.
* **Holy One (Hebrew, _qâdôwsh_):** This significant title for God (H6918) emphasizes His absolute purity, moral perfection, and transcendence. It means "sacred (ceremonially or morally)," and as a noun, it refers to God "by eminence." By referring to God as the "Holy One," Job acknowledges God's unique, set-apart nature and His supreme divine authority. His claim of not concealing "the words of the Holy One" is therefore a claim of unwavering fidelity to the highest moral and spiritual standard, underscoring the profound depth of his integrity and blamelessness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow:"** Job expresses a desperate longing for death as the ultimate and only true comfort available to him. The phrase "I would harden myself in sorrow" suggests a grim, resolute determination to face death, or perhaps an acknowledgment that his sorrow is so overwhelming it has consumed him, yet he remains steadfast in his integrity. It implies a stoic acceptance of his fate if it means a definitive end to his unbearable suffering.
* **"let him not spare;"** This is a direct, defiant, yet deeply trusting plea to God. Job is not merely wishing for death but actively challenging God, his sovereign Lord, to bring it about swiftly and decisively. It reflects a paradoxical combination of utter despair and a desperate, albeit painful, trust that God, in His ultimate sovereignty, possesses the power and the right to end his agony.
* **"for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One."** This is the foundational justification for Job's plea and the bedrock of his assertion of integrity. He argues emphatically that his suffering is not due to any hidden sin, secret rebellion, or denial of God's truth. He has lived in accordance with God's revealed will and commands. Therefore, his suffering is inexplicable and unjustifiable in light of the conventional understanding of divine retribution and justice. This declaration is the very core of his righteous stance throughout the entire narrative of the book.

#### Literary Devices
Job 6:10 employs several potent literary devices that profoundly amplify its emotional and theological weight. **Irony** is prominently featured, as Job seeks "comfort" in death, a state typically feared and avoided, thereby highlighting the extreme and unbearable nature of his suffering. His intense longing for death as a means of release functions as a form of **hyperbole**, emphasizing the overwhelming and excruciating intensity of his physical and emotional pain. The direct and forceful plea, "let him not spare," serves as an **apostrophe**, a direct address to God, even though God is not explicitly present in this immediate conversation, powerfully showcasing Job's bold, personal, and deeply engaged relationship with the divine. Finally, his concluding statement, "for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One," acts as a powerful **declaration** or **confession** of his unwavering integrity and blamelessness, a central and recurring theme that undergirds the entire narrative of the Book of Job.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 6:10 offers profound theological insights into the nature of suffering, the unwavering resilience of human integrity, and the complex, often challenging, relationship between the believer and God. It boldly challenges simplistic notions of divine retribution by presenting a truly righteous individual who suffers inexplicably, thereby forcing a deeper, more nuanced exploration of God's justice, sovereignty, and wisdom. Job's desperate plea for death, coupled with his resolute declaration of integrity, powerfully underscores the legitimacy of raw, honest, and unvarnished lament before God, even in the darkest and most despairing moments of life. It affirms that authentic faith can and often does wrestle with God's mysterious ways without abandoning His fundamental truth, demonstrating a profound, albeit painful, trust that God is indeed the "Holy One," even when His actions appear inscrutable or His presence seems absent. This verse sets the stage for the book's larger theological argument that God's wisdom and ways transcend human comprehension, and that genuine faith can endure even when answers are withheld or suffering persists.

* [Job 3:20-22](/job/3-20 "Job 3:20-22 - Job's Longing for Death and Rest")
* [Job 27:5-6](/job/27-5 "Job 27:5-6 - Job's Unwavering Integrity and Righteousness")
* [Psalm 119:11](/psalms/119-11 "Psalm 119:11 - Hiding God's Word in the Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 6:10 provides a powerful and deeply validating message for anyone undergoing intense suffering, reminding us that it is not only permissible but often spiritually healthy to express raw, unvarnished emotions to God. Job's desperate longing for an end to his pain, far from being a sign of weak faith or spiritual failure, is a profound testament to the depth of his humanity and the extremity of his affliction. His unwavering declaration of integrity in the face of such agony offers a profound and enduring model for believers: even when life makes no sense, and God's hand seems heavy or His presence distant, maintaining one's commitment to God's truth and refusing to compromise one's faith is paramount. This verse encourages us to bring our whole selves—our pain, our questions, our despair, and our deepest convictions—before God, trusting that He is vast enough to handle our honest cries and that our integrity, rooted in His revealed word, will ultimately be vindicated, even if not on our timetable or in our expected manner. It teaches us that authentic faith often involves a profound wrestling with God, not just passive acceptance, and that such wrestling can paradoxically deepen and strengthen our relationship with the Holy One.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's raw honesty in expressing his desire for death resonate with your own experiences of profound suffering, grief, or despair?**
* **In what specific ways might the pressures of suffering or difficult circumstances tempt you to "conceal" or compromise "the words of the Holy One," and how can Job's example strengthen your resolve to remain steadfast?**
* **How can we, like Job, maintain our integrity and faith in God even when His ways seem inscrutable, His justice appears absent, or His presence feels distant in our personal circumstances?**

### FAQ
**Is it acceptable for a believer to wish for death, as Job does here?**

Answer: Job's longing for death in [Job 6:10](/job/6-10 "Job 6:10 - Job's Desire for Comfort in Death") and elsewhere in the book (e.g., [Job 3](/job/3 "Job 3 - Job's Lament and Curse of His Birth")) reflects the extreme, unbearable nature of his suffering and despair, not a desire to escape God or His will. The Bible, in its honest portrayal of human experience, presents a wide range of emotions, including profound sorrow, intense grief, and even a longing for release from unbearable pain. While suicide is unequivocally condemned, expressing a wish for the cessation of suffering, even if it means death, is portrayed as a raw, honest lament before God. It validates the human experience of agony and reminds us that God is big enough and compassionate enough to handle our darkest thoughts and deepest cries. It's an expression of desperation, a cry for relief, and not necessarily a sinful desire. It highlights the profound need for compassion and understanding for those in deep distress.

**What does it mean that Job has "not concealed the words of the Holy One"?**

Answer: When Job declares, "I have not concealed the words of the Holy One," he is making a powerful assertion of his unwavering spiritual integrity and profound faithfulness. The Hebrew word for "concealed" (_kâchad_) means to deny, hide, or repudiate. Job is emphatically stating that he has not denied God's truth, nor has he hidden any secret sin or acted in any way that would justify his current, inexplicable suffering. He has lived in accordance with God's revealed will and commands, holding fast to divine truth and upholding his blamelessness even as his world collapses around him. This declaration is central to the book's argument, as it firmly establishes Job as a truly righteous man, whose suffering cannot be adequately explained by the conventional wisdom of retributive justice. It speaks to his deep commitment to live by God's word, much like the psalmist who declares, "Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You" in [Psalm 119:11](/psalms/119-11 "Psalm 119:11 - Hiding God's Word in the Heart").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate longing for comfort in death, coupled with his unwavering declaration of integrity, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While Job sought death as an escape from his personal agony, Jesus, the perfect and sinless Son of God, willingly embraced suffering and death, not for any sin of His own (for He had none, having "not concealed the words of the Holy One" but perfectly fulfilled every jot and tittle of God's law, as He Himself declared in [Matthew 5:17](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law and the Prophets")), but for the sins of all humanity. Jesus, the true "Holy One of God" ([Mark 1:24](/mark/1-24 "Mark 1:24 - Jesus, the Holy One of God")), experienced an agony far deeper than Job's, even crying out from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), a lament that echoes Job's profound despair. Yet, in His perfect obedience and absolute integrity, Jesus did not conceal, deviate from, or compromise the Father's will, even to the point of a humiliating death on the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Jesus' Obedience to Death")). His death, unlike Job's desired release, was not an end to suffering for Himself, but the divine means by which true and eternal comfort is offered to all who believe, providing ultimate release from the ultimate sorrow of sin and the bondage of death ([2 Corinthians 1:3-5](/2_corinthians/1-3 "2 Corinthians 1:3-5 - God of All Comfort")). Through Christ, the "words of the Holy One" are not merely preserved or declared, but embodied, perfectly fulfilled, and made effective, bringing everlasting life and salvation to a world consumed by sorrow and sin.

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 23:12

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Leviticus 19:2

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God [am] holy.

Habakkuk 1:12

¶ [Art] thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

Isaiah 30:11

Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

Isaiah 30:12

Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

Psalms 37:30

The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.