Job 6:4

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

For the arrows {H2671} of the Almighty {H7706} are within {H5978} me, the poison {H2534} whereof drinketh up {H8354} my spirit {H7307}: the terrors {H1161} of God {H433} do set themselves in array {H6186} against me.

Complete Jewish Bible

For the arrows of Shaddai find their mark in me, and my spirit is drinking in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

Berean Standard Bible

For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

American Standard Version

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 6:4 is a raw, heart-wrenching lament from Job, articulating the profound and multifaceted nature of his suffering. He perceives his torment not as mere misfortune, but as a direct, active assault from God, describing "arrows of the Almighty" and "terrors of God" as forces that have penetrated his innermost being, consuming his spirit and leaving him utterly besieged. This verse powerfully conveys Job's conviction that his pain is divinely inflicted, underscoring his desperate plea for understanding and relief in the face of inexplicable and overwhelming calamity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 6:4 is a central component of Job's impassioned response to Eliphaz's initial speech, found in [Job 4-5](/job/4-5 "Job 4-5 - Eliphaz's First Speech"). Eliphaz had presented a conventional theological framework, suggesting that suffering is a direct consequence of sin, thereby implying Job's guilt. Job vehemently rejects this simplistic explanation, asserting that his anguish is too immense and consuming to be dismissed by such a formula. Chapters [Job 6-7](/job/6-7 "Job 6-7 - Job's Lament and Plea for Death") serve as Job's passionate defense of his lamentations, where he articulates the overwhelming nature of his affliction and his profound desire for death as an escape from his torment. This verse, therefore, stands as a pivotal declaration of his perceived divine antagonism, setting the stage for the protracted and complex theological debate between Job and his friends regarding the nature of suffering, divine justice, and human righteousness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the ancient Near East, a region where the "retribution principle" was a deeply ingrained theological concept. This principle posited a direct correlation between human actions and divine response: righteousness led to prosperity, while wickedness resulted in suffering and punishment. Job's experience fundamentally challenges this prevailing worldview, as he is depicted as a righteous man who endures immense and inexplicable suffering. The vivid imagery of "arrows" and "terrors" aligns with ancient warfare and the common understanding of divine judgment or affliction in the region, where deities were often depicted as wielding weapons or unleashing destructive forces against their perceived enemies. Job's lament reflects the universal human struggle with the problem of evil and suffering, particularly when it appears to contradict established theological norms and personal experience.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes explored throughout the Book of Job. Firstly, it vividly portrays the theme of **Profound Suffering and Despair**, depicting pain not as an external circumstance but as an internal, consuming force that "drinketh up my spirit." This emphasizes the holistic nature of Job's affliction—physical, emotional, and spiritual—leading to utter depletion. Secondly, it powerfully underscores the theme of **Perceived Divine Antagonism**. Job does not merely feel abandoned by God; he feels actively targeted, believing the "Almighty" is directly assailing him. This perception is crucial to understanding Job's intense confusion and sense of injustice, a central tension throughout the book, echoed in other biblical laments such as [Psalm 38:2](/psalms/38-2 "Psalm 38:2 - God's Arrows of Affliction"). Lastly, the verse brings to the forefront the theme of **Spiritual and Emotional Anguish**, demonstrating that the "terrors of God" are not just external threats but internal psychological and spiritual torments that "set themselves in array against me," like an overwhelming army, leaving him in utter desolation and without refuge.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **arrows (Hebrew, _chêts'_):** Properly, a piercer, an arrow; by implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunderbolt; the shaft of a spear. In Job 6:4, "arrows" symbolize the swift, penetrating, and acutely painful afflictions Job endures. They represent a targeted, sharp, and relentless form of suffering, suggesting that his pain is not diffuse but strikes deep into his being, akin to divine judgment or sudden calamity.
* **Almighty (Hebrew, _Shadday'_):** This term refers to God, emphasizing His omnipotence and overwhelming power. Job's use of "Shadday" is poignant; he perceives his suffering as emanating directly from the all-sufficient and all-powerful God, making his torment feel inescapable and divinely ordained, rather than a random misfortune.
* **poison (Hebrew, _chêmâh'_):** This word denotes heat, figuratively anger, or poison (from its fever). In this context, "poison" describes the consuming, corrosive, and debilitating effect of the divine "arrows." It signifies not merely physical pain but a spiritual and emotional toxicity that "drinketh up my spirit," implying a life-draining force that leaves Job utterly depleted and despairing.
* **terrors (Hebrew, _biʻûwthîym'_):** This plural noun refers to alarms or terrors. In Job 6:4, "terrors" signifies the profound psychological and spiritual dread that overwhelms Job. These are not just external threats but internal anxieties and fears that besiege him, contributing to his sense of being utterly assailed and without refuge.
* **set themselves in array (Hebrew, _ʻârak'_):** A primitive root meaning to set in a row, i.e., arrange, put in order, or put (set) (the battle, self) in array. This verb vividly portrays the "terrors of God" as an organized, hostile army actively opposing Job. This imagery underscores the relentless, strategic, and all-encompassing nature of his torment, leaving him feeling besieged and without refuge.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me":** Job attributes his suffering directly to God, using the powerful name "Almighty" (Shaddai) to emphasize the divine source and overwhelming force of his affliction. The "arrows" are a potent metaphor for the sharp, piercing pains and calamities he endures, which he feels have penetrated deep into his inner being, not merely affecting him externally. This highlights his perception of God as an active, formidable antagonist.
* **"the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit":** This clause describes the devastating and internal effect of these perceived divine "arrows." The "poison" (or venom/wrath) signifies a consuming, corrosive force that drains Job's vitality, inner strength, and will to live. "My spirit" refers to his very life force, his inner essence, indicating that his suffering is not just physical but profoundly spiritual and emotional, leading to utter despair and depletion.
* **"the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me":** Job experiences not just pain but profound psychological and spiritual dread. The "terrors of God" are overwhelming fears and anxieties that he perceives as an organized, hostile army ("set themselves in array") actively opposing him. This vivid military imagery underscores the relentless, strategic, and all-encompassing nature of his torment, leaving him feeling besieged and without refuge.

#### Literary Devices
Job 6:4 is rich in **Metaphor**, primarily employing military imagery to convey the intensity of Job's suffering. The "arrows of the Almighty" serve as a potent metaphor for the sharp, penetrating pains and afflictions Job endures, directly linking them to divine agency. This imagery is further extended by the **Personification** of "terrors of God" which "set themselves in array against me," portraying fear and dread as an organized, attacking army. This device emphasizes the relentless and overwhelming nature of his psychological and spiritual torment. Furthermore, the phrase "the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit" employs a vivid **Metaphor** for the consuming, debilitating effect of his suffering on his inner being, suggesting a draining of his very life force. The cumulative effect of these devices is a dramatic and visceral portrayal of extreme anguish, bordering on **Hyperbole** to underscore the incomprehensible depth of his pain and the feeling of being utterly overwhelmed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 6:4 profoundly articulates the human experience of inexplicable suffering, particularly when it feels divinely inflicted. It challenges simplistic notions of cause and effect in divine justice, forcing a deeper theological inquiry into God's sovereignty, human innocence, and the nature of evil. Job's raw honesty in blaming God, even in his despair, underscores a foundational biblical truth: God can handle our anger, our questions, and our deepest laments. This verse invites empathy for those who feel abandoned or targeted by God in their suffering, validating their anguish and providing a voice for their cries. It points to the mystery of divine providence, which often defies human understanding, and sets the stage for the profound theological dialogue that unfolds throughout the book, ultimately revealing a God who is sovereign, just, and merciful, even when His ways are inscrutable.

* [Psalm 7:12](/psalms/7-12 "Psalm 7:12 - God Prepares His Arrows")
* [Psalm 7:13](/psalms/7-13 "Psalm 7:13 - God Prepares His Arrows")
* [Lamentations 3:12](/lamentations/3-12 "Lamentations 3:12 - God's Arrows in Lament")
* [Psalm 38:2](/psalms/38-2 "Psalm 38:2 - God's Arrows of Affliction")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 6:4 offers a profound validation for the human experience of suffering, particularly when it feels overwhelming and inexplicable. It reminds us that it is permissible, even necessary, to voice our deepest anguish and confusion to God, even when those feelings are directed *at* God. Job's lament is not a sign of faithlessness but a desperate cry for understanding from the very source of his perceived pain. For those enduring chronic illness, mental health struggles, profound grief, or spiritual desolation, this verse provides a mirror for their own internal battles, acknowledging that suffering can indeed feel like a direct, consuming assault on one's spirit. It challenges us to move beyond simplistic explanations for pain and to cultivate deep empathy for those in distress, recognizing that their journey may involve wrestling with God Himself. Ultimately, Job's experience teaches us that even in the darkest valleys, honesty with God, though painful, is often the path to eventual, though often delayed, understanding, healing, and restoration.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's raw honesty in expressing his pain to God resonate with your own experiences of suffering or questioning God's role?**
* **In what ways might we, like Job's friends, be tempted to offer simplistic explanations for suffering, and how can Job 6:4 challenge that tendency?**
* **If suffering can feel like "arrows of the Almighty," how does this verse shape your understanding of God's character and His relationship with those who suffer?**
* **How can we offer genuine empathy and support to others who feel their spirit is being "drunk up" by overwhelming pain or despair?**

### FAQ
**Does Job truly believe God is actively attacking him, or is this just hyperbole?**

Answer: Job's language in [Job 6:4](/job/6-4 "Job 6:4 - Job's Lament") and throughout his speeches strongly suggests he genuinely perceives God as the direct cause of his suffering. While there is certainly hyperbole in his expressions of anguish, his conviction that the "arrows of the Almighty" are within him and the "terrors of God" are arrayed against him is deeply felt. He doesn't see his suffering as random misfortune or merely permitted by God, but as an active, targeted assault from the divine. This perception is central to his lament and his struggle with the problem of evil, as he cannot reconcile his righteousness with what he believes is divine hostility. The book's narrative framework, where God allows Satan to test Job [Job 1:12](/job/1-12 "Job 1:12 - Satan's First Test of Job"), provides an external perspective that Job himself does not have at this stage, making his perception understandable from his limited viewpoint.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's agonizing cry in [Job 6:4](/job/6-4 "Job 6:4 - Job's Lament"), where he feels the "arrows of the Almighty" and "terrors of God" consuming his spirit, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. While Job was a righteous man suffering inexplicably, Jesus, the perfectly righteous Son of God, truly bore the full weight of divine wrath against sin. On the cross, Jesus experienced a suffering far deeper than Job's, not merely physical or emotional, but spiritual, as He was "made to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Made Sin for Us"). His cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" [Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction"), echoes Job's sense of divine abandonment and antagonism, yet it was for a redemptive purpose—to "drink up" the poison of sin and death on our behalf. The "terrors of God" that Job felt arrayed against him were fully unleashed upon Christ, who willingly endured them to disarm the powers of darkness and reconcile humanity to God [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers"). Thus, Job's lament foreshadows the unique suffering of the Lamb of God, who, by enduring the ultimate divine judgment, became the source of eternal comfort and hope for all who suffer, offering true peace that surpasses all understanding [Philippians 4:7](/philippians/4-7 "Philippians 4:7 - The Peace of God").

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 38:2

For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.

Job 30:15

¶ Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.

Psalms 88:15

I [am] afflicted and ready to die from [my] youth up: [while] I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.

Psalms 88:16

Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.

Job 16:12

I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken [me] by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

Job 16:14

He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

Proverbs 18:14

¶ The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?