Job 6:11

KJV

What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?

KJV (with Strong's)

What is my strength {H3581}, that I should hope {H3176}? and what is mine end {H7093}, that I should prolong {H748} my life {H5315}?

Complete Jewish Bible

"Have I enough strength to go on waiting? What end can I expect, that I should be patient?

Berean Standard Bible

What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?

American Standard Version

What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 6:11 encapsulates the raw, unvarnished despair of a man pushed to the brink of his physical and emotional endurance. In this poignant verse, Job articulates a profound existential crisis, questioning the very purpose of his continued existence amidst overwhelming suffering and the perceived absence of hope or a meaningful resolution to his pain. It is a lament that reveals a soul utterly depleted, grappling with the futility of prolonging a life that offers no apparent strength for the present and no discernible positive outcome for the future.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 6:11 is embedded within Job's impassioned response (chapters 6-7) to Eliphaz the Temanite's initial, unhelpful counsel (chapters 4-5). Eliphaz had suggested that Job's suffering must be a consequence of hidden sin, implying a direct correlation between righteousness and prosperity, and wickedness and affliction. Job's speech in chapters 6-7 is a visceral rejection of this simplistic theology and a desperate cry to God. Specifically, Job 6:11 follows his lament about the bitterness of his words being a reflection of his overwhelming grief (Job 6:2-3) and his plea for God to end his life swiftly (Job 6:8-9). This verse serves as a rhetorical question, underscoring the perceived lack of any compelling reason—either internal strength or external hope—to continue enduring his agonizing existence. It highlights his utter exhaustion and the perceived meaninglessness of his prolonged suffering, setting the stage for his direct complaints to God and his friends' continued inability to comprehend his plight.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, suffering was often interpreted through a retributive lens, where calamity was seen as divine punishment for sin, and prosperity as a reward for righteousness. This perspective is precisely what Job's friends, including Eliphaz, represent. Job's lament in 6:11 challenges this prevailing worldview by asserting his innocence while enduring immense pain, thereby exposing the inadequacy of their theological framework. Furthermore, the cultural expectation of "comforters" was to offer solace and support, but Job's friends, by adhering rigidly to their theological presuppositions, instead inflict further emotional and spiritual torment. Job's cry here is not merely a personal outburst but also a poignant critique of a cultural and theological system that failed to account for innocent suffering. His questions reflect a human experience that transcends cultural boundaries: the search for meaning and purpose in the face of inexplicable hardship, especially when traditional explanations offer no comfort.
* **Key Themes:** Job 6:11 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Book of Job. It vividly portrays the theme of **Profound Despair and Hopelessness**, as Job sees no internal resource ("strength") and no external incentive ("end") to sustain his life. This challenges the conventional wisdom of the time, which often encouraged stoicism or a simple acceptance of divine will. The verse also underscores the **Limits of Human Endurance**, demonstrating that even the most righteous and resilient individuals can reach a breaking point where the will to live is severely tested. Job's lament here serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human resolve when faced with relentless, inexplicable pain, a theme explored further in [Psalm 77:7-9](/psalm/77-7 "Psalm 77:7-9 - A Questioning Spirit"). Furthermore, the verse implicitly raises the **Quest for Meaning in Suffering**. If there is no "end" that justifies his pain, then prolonging life becomes an exercise in futility. This existential questioning is central to the entire narrative of Job, as he grapples with the apparent purposelessness of his affliction and seeks to understand God's justice and sovereignty, a struggle that resonates with the laments found in [Lamentations 3:1-20](/lamentations/3 "Lamentations 3 - Jeremiah's Lament").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Strength (Hebrew, _kōaḥ'_):** This term refers to physical vigor, power, or ability. In Job 6:11, Job is not merely questioning his physical capacity but his inner fortitude, his spiritual and emotional resilience. He is asking, "What remaining power or vitality do I possess that would enable me to cling to hope?" It speaks to a complete depletion of internal resources, a sense of being utterly spent and incapable of self-sustained endurance.
* **End (Hebrew, _qēṣ'_):** This word denotes an extremity, a boundary, a conclusion, or a limit. Job's question, "what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?" is not simply asking about the cessation of his life, but rather, "What positive outcome, what beneficial conclusion, what meaningful purpose awaits me that would justify the continuation of this agonizing existence?" He perceives no hopeful horizon, no ultimate vindication or restoration that would make his present suffering worthwhile. He sees no "light at the end of the tunnel" that would motivate him to endure.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What [is] my strength, that I should hope?":** This rhetorical question expresses Job's profound sense of internal depletion and utter hopelessness. He feels utterly devoid of any inner resource—physical, emotional, or spiritual—that could possibly sustain a glimmer of hope. His strength is so diminished that the very concept of hope seems alien and unattainable. It is a cry of absolute exhaustion, where the will to strive or believe in a better future has evaporated.
* **"and what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?":** This second rhetorical question reveals Job's desperate search for meaning and purpose in his suffering. He is not merely contemplating death but questioning the *reason* for continuing to live. If there is no discernible positive outcome, no ultimate vindication, no meaningful resolution to his pain, then what justification is there for enduring such prolonged agony? This clause highlights his existential crisis, where life itself, without a hopeful "end," appears to be an unbearable burden.

#### Literary Devices
Job 6:11 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey Job's profound despair. The primary device is **Rhetorical Question**, where Job poses two questions not to elicit information but to emphasize his utter lack of strength and hope. These questions highlight the futility he perceives in his situation. The verse also demonstrates **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, as the second question ("what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?") echoes and intensifies the sentiment of the first ("What [is] my strength, that I should hope?"). Both clauses convey the same core message of despair and the absence of a reason to live, reinforcing the depth of his suffering. Furthermore, the language borders on **Hyperbole** or **Lament**, characteristic of wisdom literature, as Job expresses his pain in an extreme and emotionally charged manner, typical of a man overwhelmed by grief and seeking to articulate the inexpressible.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 6:11 stands as a stark theological statement on the nature of human suffering and the limits of human endurance. It challenges simplistic theological frameworks that posit a direct, mechanistic relationship between sin and suffering, forcing a deeper inquiry into divine justice and sovereignty. Job's lament here is not a rejection of God, but a desperate, honest cry *to* God, revealing the profound spiritual struggle inherent in inexplicable pain. It underscores the reality that faith is not always characterized by unwavering strength or constant hope, but often by raw honesty and persistent questioning, even when God's ways are inscrutable. This verse invites us to consider the theological necessity of lament and the space God provides for such expressions of human brokenness, ultimately pointing to a hope that transcends human strength or understanding.

* [Psalm 42:5](/psalm/42-5 "Psalm 42:5 - Why are you cast down, O my soul?")
* [Lamentations 3:18](/lamentations/3-18 "Lamentations 3:18 - My strength has perished, and so has my hope from the LORD.")
* [Psalm 88:15](/psalm/88-15 "Psalm 88:15 - Afflicted and close to death from my youth up")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 6:11 offers a profound permission for those enduring immense suffering to voice their deepest pains, questions, and even their despair, without pretense. In a world that often demands a brave face or quick spiritual answers, Job's raw honesty reminds us that authentic faith includes the capacity for lament and the acknowledgment of our human limitations. This verse encourages us to cultivate empathy for those in distress, resisting the urge to offer simplistic solutions or theological platitudes that can further wound a suffering soul. Instead, like Job, we are invited to bring our brokenness before God, trusting that even in our weakness and despair, He hears our cries. It challenges us to look beyond our own finite strength and perceived "ends" for meaning, recognizing that true hope and purpose often emerge from a source greater than ourselves, especially when our own resources are utterly depleted.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When facing overwhelming difficulties, do I feel permission to express my raw emotions and questions to God, or do I feel I must always maintain a facade of strength?**
* **How do I respond to others who express profound despair or question the meaning of their suffering? Am I quick to offer solutions, or do I first seek to listen and empathize?**
* **What does Job's lament in this verse teach me about the nature of hope, particularly when my own strength is depleted and no clear "end" is in sight?**

### FAQ
**Does Job's statement in Job 6:11 imply a loss of faith or a desire to die?**

Answer: Job's statement in Job 6:11 does not necessarily imply a complete loss of faith, but rather a profound expression of utter despair and a questioning of the *purpose* of his continued existence under such extreme conditions. It is a lament, a cry of anguish from a man pushed to his absolute limit, rather than a definitive renunciation of God. While he does express a desire for his life to end swiftly in other verses (e.g., [Job 3:20-21](/job/3-20 "Job 3:20-21 - Why is light given to him who is in misery?")), 6:11 specifically questions the *justification* for prolonging his agony if there is no strength to hope and no positive outcome. It highlights the human experience of feeling utterly depleted and seeing no meaningful reason to continue, a common sentiment in deep suffering. The Book of Job, as a whole, demonstrates that Job maintains his integrity and continues to engage with God, even in his complaints, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty (as seen in [Job 42:5-6](/job/42-5 "Job 42:5-6 - I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 6:11, with its raw depiction of human weakness and the existential question of purpose in suffering, finds its ultimate answer and fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job's desperate cry, "What is my strength, that I should hope?", resonates with the human condition apart from divine intervention, where all human strength proves insufficient in the face of sin and suffering. Christ, however, embodies the divine strength that is made perfect in weakness, as articulated in [2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "2 Corinthians 12:9 - My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"). His life, culminating in the cross, provides the "end" that Job desperately sought—not a mere cessation of suffering, but a glorious purpose and ultimate victory. The suffering of Christ, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), was not meaningless; it was the means by which humanity's hope was secured. His resurrection is the definitive "end" that justifies enduring all earthly trials, offering a living hope that transcends death itself (as seen in [1 Peter 1:3](/1_peter/1-3 "1 Peter 1:3 - Born again to a living hope through the resurrection")). In Christ, the question of prolonging life finds its profound answer: life is prolonged and redeemed for the glory of God and the eternal joy of His people, a hope that Job, in his limited understanding, could only dimly perceive but which is fully revealed in the [gospel](/romans/1-16 "Romans 1:16 - The power of God for salvation").

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

Psalms 103:14

For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we [are] dust.

Psalms 103:16

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

Psalms 102:23

¶ He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.

Job 17:1

¶ My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves [are ready] for me.

Psalms 39:5

Behold, thou hast made my days [as] an handbreadth; and mine age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether vanity. Selah.

Job 13:25

Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?

Job 7:5

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.