TRV
Translation
King James Version
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
Complete Jewish Bible
They would outweigh the sands of the seas! No wonder, then, that my words come out stammered!
Berean Standard Bible
For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been rash.
American Standard Version
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.
World English Bible Messianic
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.
Geneva Bible (1599)
For it woulde be nowe heauier then the sande of the sea: therefore my wordes are swallowed vp.
Young's Literal Translation
For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.
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In the KJVVerse 12,982 of 31,102
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Commentary on Job 6 verses 1–7
1 ¶ But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
Eliphaz, in the beginning of his discourse, had been very sharp upon Job, and yet it does not appear that Job gave him any interruption, but heard him patiently till he had said all he had to say. Those that would make an impartial judgment of a discourse must hear it out, and take it entire. But, when he had concluded, he makes his reply, in which he speaks very feelingly.
I. He represents his calamity, in general, as much heavier than either he had expressed it or they had apprehended it, Job 6:2, Job 6:3. He could not fully describe it; they would not fully apprehend it, or at least would not own that they did; and therefore he would gladly appeal to a third person, who had just weights and just balances with which to weigh his grief and calamity, and would do it with an impartial hand. He wished that they would set his grief and all the expressions of it in one scale, his calamity and all the particulars of it in the other, and (though he would not altogether justify himself in his grief) they would find (as he says, Job 23:2) that his stroke was heavier than his groaning; for, whatever his grief was, his calamity was heavier than the sand of the sea: it was complicated, it was aggravated, every grievance weighty, and all together numerous as the sand. "Therefore (says he) my words are swallowed up;" that is, "Therefore you must excuse both the brokenness and the bitterness of my expressions. Do not think it strange if my speech be not so fine and polite as that of an eloquent orator, or so grave and regular as that of a morose philosopher: no, in these circumstances I can pretend neither to the one nor to the other; my words are, as I am, quite swallowed up." Now, 1. He hereby complains of it as his unhappiness that his friends undertook to administer spiritual physic to him before they thoroughly understood his case and knew the worst of it. It is seldom that those who are at ease themselves rightly weigh the afflictions of the afflicted. Every one feels most from his own burden; few feel from other people's. 2. He excuses the passionate expressions he had used when he cursed his day. Though he could not himself justify all he had said, yet he thought his friends should not thus violently condemn it, for really the case was extraordinary, and that might be connived at in such a man of sorrows as he now was which in any common grief would by no means be allowed. 3. He bespeaks the charitable and compassionate sympathy of his friends with him, and hopes, by representing the greatness of his calamity, to bring them to a better temper towards him. To those that are pained it is some ease to be pitied.
II. He complains of the trouble and terror of mind he was in as the sorest part of his calamity, Job 6:4. Herein he was a type of Christ, who, in his sufferings, complained most of the sufferings of his soul. Now is my soul troubled, Joh 12:27. My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, Mat 26:38. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Mat 27:46. Poor Job sadly complains here, 1. Of what he felt The arrows of the Almighty are within me. It was not so much the troubles themselves he was under that put him into this confusion, his poverty, disgrace, and bodily pain; but that which cut him to the heart and put him into this agitation, was to think that the God he loved and served had brought all this upon him and laid him under these marks of his displeasure. Note, Trouble of mind is the sorest trouble. A wounded spirit who can bear! Whatever burden of affliction, in body or estate, God is pleased to lay upon us, we may well afford to submit to it as long as he continues to the use of our reason and the peace of our consciences; but, if in either of these we be disturbed, our case is sad indeed and very pitiable. The way to prevent God's fiery darts of trouble is with the shield of faith to quench Satan's fiery darts of temptation. Observe, He calls them the arrows of the Almighty; for it is an instance of the power of God above that of any man that he can with his arrows reach the soul. He that made the soul can make his sword to approach to it. The poison or heat of these arrows is said to drink up his spirit, because it disturbed his reason, shook his resolution, exhausted his vigour, and threatened his life; and therefore his passionate expressions, though they could not be justified, might be excused. 2. Of what he feared. He saw himself charged by the terrors of God, as by an army set in battle-array, and surrounded by them. God, by his terrors, fought against him. As he had no comfort when he retired inward into his own bosom, so he had none when he looked upward towards Heaven. He that used to be encouraged with the consolations of God not only wanted those, but was amazed with the terrors of God.
III. He reflects upon his friends for their severe censures of his complaints and their unskilful management of his case. 1. Their reproofs were causeless. He complained, it is true, now that he was in this affliction, but he never used to complain, as those do who are of a fretful unquiet spirit, when he was in prosperity: he did not bray when he had grass, nor low over his fodder, Job 6:5. But, now that he was utterly deprived of all his comforts, he must be a stock or a stone, and not have the sense of an ox or a wild ass, if he did not give some vent to his grief. He was forced to eat unsavoury meats, and was so poor that he had not a grain of salt wherewith to season them, nor to give a little taste to the white of an egg, which was now the choicest dish he had at his table, Job 6:6. Even that food which once he would have scorned to touch he was now glad of, and it was his sorrowful meat, Job 6:7. Note, It is wisdom not to use ourselves or our children to be nice and dainty about meat and drink, because we know not how we or they may be reduced, nor how that which we now disdain may be made acceptable by necessity. 2. Their comforts were sapless and insipid; so some understand Job 6:6, Job 6:7. He complains he had nothing now offered to him for his relief that was proper for him, no cordial, nothing to revive and cheer his spirits; what they had afforded was in itself as tasteless as the white of an egg, and, when applied to him, as loathsome and burdensome as the most sorrowful meat. I am sorry he should say thus of what Eliphaz had excellently well said, Job 5:8, etc. But peevish spirits are too apt thus to abuse their comforters.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–7. Public domain.
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Didymus the BlindAD 398
COMMENTARY ON JOB 6:3-4
Eliphaz believed that Job said all this out of desperation. Since Eliphaz’s first words to Job were trustworthy—words that insisted that Job suffered because of sin—Job responds, “It seems my words are valueless and lack faith.” Consequently, Job adds the reason why Eliphaz does not believe in him when he says, “For the arrows of the Almighty are in me,” thus making the following clear, “This is why my words are valueless. The Lord’s arrows are in my body.” For most people usually disregard words uttered by people in distress, those aggrieved by poverty, even if their words are understandable. This is expressed in the words, “The poor person speaks and they say, ‘Who is this fellow?’ ”
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
He that loves sojourn abroad instead of his own country, knows not how to grieve even in the midst of griefs. But the words of the righteous man are full of grief, for so long as he is subject to present ills, he sighs after something else in his speech; all that he brought upon himself by sinning is set before his eyes, and that he may return to the state of blessedness, he weighs carefully the judgments whereby he is afflicted.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
MORALS ON THE BOOK OF JOB 7.3
He who loves to sojourn abroad instead of in his own country does not know how to grieve, even in the midst of grief. But the words of the righteous person are full of grief. For as long as Job is subject to present ills, he sighs after something else in his speech. All that Job brought upon himself by sinning is set before his eyes. So that Job may return to the state of blessedness, he weighs carefully the judgments that afflict him.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Job passionately articulates the overwhelming and immeasurable weight of his suffering, responding to the simplistic accusations of his friend Eliphaz. He employs vivid hyperbole to convey that his anguish is far greater than any conventional words can express or comprehend, leading to a profound sense of futility in attempting to communicate his true state. This verse powerfully encapsulates the depth of his despair, highlighting both the crushing nature of his affliction and his inability to adequately articulate it, thereby challenging the superficial comfort offered by his companions.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Job 6:3 masterfully employs several powerful literary devices to convey the intensity of Job's suffering and his profound despair. The most prominent is Hyperbole, vividly expressed in the phrase "heavier than the sand of the sea." This deliberate exaggeration serves to emphasize the immeasurable and overwhelming nature of Job's affliction, suggesting a burden that transcends human comprehension or endurance. It is a rhetorical overstatement designed to impress upon the listener the profound depth of his despair. Furthermore, the phrase "my words are swallowed up" functions as a powerful Metaphor. It is not literally that his words are consumed, but rather that his pain is so vast and consuming that it renders his linguistic capacity ineffective. This metaphor vividly portrays the silencing effect of overwhelming grief, where articulation becomes futile and the sufferer feels utterly inarticulate. The verse also implicitly uses Pathos, evoking a strong sense of pity and empathy for Job's plight. By describing his suffering in such extreme and visceral terms, the text draws the reader into his emotional experience, making his agony palpable and highlighting the tragic isolation he feels due to his inability to communicate the true extent of his pain.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 6:3 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of suffering, particularly suffering that feels inexplicable and overwhelming. It challenges simplistic theological frameworks that attempt to neatly categorize or explain away human pain, asserting that some experiences of grief are so vast they defy articulation and conventional understanding. Job's lament highlights the reality that human language and wisdom often fall short in the face of profound existential anguish, pointing instead to a deeper mystery surrounding divine providence and human endurance. This verse underscores the biblical theme that lament is a legitimate and necessary expression of faith, even when directed towards God in questioning and anguish. It validates the experience of feeling utterly crushed and unable to speak, reminding us that God hears even the inarticulate groans of His people, recognizing the limits of human expression when faced with overwhelming sorrow.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 6:3 serves as a poignant reminder of the profound and often inexpressible nature of human suffering. It calls us to cultivate a deep empathy for those who are overwhelmed by grief, recognizing that their pain may indeed feel "heavier than the sand of the sea." When someone's words are "swallowed up" by sorrow, it is a sign not of weakness or lack of faith, but of an immense burden that has surpassed their capacity for coherent articulation. In such moments, our role is not to offer quick fixes, theological explanations, or platitudes, but to practice patient, compassionate presence. We are invited to listen deeply, even to the silence or the fragmented expressions, and to acknowledge the crushing weight of their experience without judgment. This verse validates the reality of feeling utterly consumed by life's challenges, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, and encourages us to extend grace and understanding to ourselves and others when words fail and only lament remains. It reminds us that true comfort often lies not in having the right answers, but in simply being present with another in their pain.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does Job use such an extreme comparison, "heavier than the sand of the sea," to describe his suffering?
Answer: Job employs this extreme comparison, "heavier than the sand of the sea," as a powerful hyperbole to convey the immeasurable and overwhelming nature of his suffering. In ancient Near Eastern thought, "the sand of the sea" was a common idiom for something countless or innumerable, often used in promises of abundant descendants (e.g., Genesis 22:17) or vast armies. Job innovatively applies this idiom to weight, transforming it into a vivid metaphor for a burden that is not just great, but literally beyond measure or human capacity to bear. He uses this dramatic language because conventional expressions are insufficient to describe the depth of his physical, emotional, and spiritual agony. It underscores his conviction that his friends, like Eliphaz, simply cannot grasp the magnitude of his pain, leading to their unhelpful and simplistic advice. This rhetorical strategy aims to impress upon his listeners (and the reader) the true, crushing reality of his affliction, emphasizing its unique and unprecedented severity.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's profound lament in Job 6:3, where his suffering is "heavier than the sand of the sea" and his "words are swallowed up," finds its ultimate resonance and transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Job's suffering was inexplicable to him, Christ's suffering was a purposeful, redemptive act, yet equally (if not more) overwhelming. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus' soul was "exceedingly sorrowful, even to death" (Matthew 26:38), a burden so heavy that He sweat drops of blood (Luke 22:44). This was the crushing weight of the world's sin, a burden far heavier than any individual could bear, a weight that truly swallowed up His words in agonizing prayer. On the cross, bearing the full wrath of God for humanity's sin, He cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46), a cry that, like Job's, expressed the depths of an incomprehensible burden and a profound sense of abandonment. Yet, unlike Job, Christ's suffering was not a mystery of divine justice but the very means of our salvation. He is the "Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3), who fully understands the inexpressible anguish of humanity because He experienced it perfectly. Through His ultimate sacrifice, He bore the crushing weight that no human could, so that our words of lament might ultimately be transformed into songs of praise, and our burdens might be lifted by His grace (Matthew 11:28). He is our empathetic High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), offering us solace and understanding when our own words fail and only groans remain.