Job 6:7

KJV

The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful meat.

KJV (with Strong's)

The things that my soul {H5315} refused {H3985} to touch {H5060} are as my sorrowful {H1741} meat {H3899}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I refuse to touch them; such food makes me sick.

Berean Standard Bible

My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.

American Standard Version

My soul refuseth to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 6:7 encapsulates the profound and debilitating anguish of Job, who, overwhelmed by inexplicable suffering, describes how his deep despair has permeated every aspect of his existence, rendering even the most basic sustenance utterly repugnant. This verse powerfully illustrates the holistic nature of suffering, where emotional and spiritual torment manifests physically, making life's necessities taste like the very bitterness of his sorrow itself. It is a poignant expression of a soul pushed to its absolute limits, finding no comfort or relief in the very things meant to sustain life.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 6:7 is embedded within Job's impassioned and deeply pained response to Eliphaz's initial, rather simplistic and insensitive, counsel. In [Job 4-5](/job/4 "Eliphaz's First Speech to Job"), Eliphaz suggests that suffering is a direct consequence of sin, implying Job's guilt. Job vehemently defends his integrity and expresses a desperate desire for death as a release from his torment, as seen in [Job 6:1-5](/job/6-1-5 "Job's Lament and Wish for Death"). This particular verse intensifies his lament, moving from a general wish for relief to a specific, visceral manifestation of his internal agony. It demonstrates how deeply his suffering has affected his physical being and appetite, serving as a powerful counter to the simplistic theological framework offered by his friends, asserting the inexplicable and overwhelming nature of his pain.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, hospitality and the sharing of food were fundamental cultural values, symbolizing fellowship, comfort, and life itself. To refuse food, or for food to become "sorrowful meat," was an extreme expression of distress, indicating a complete breakdown of normal life and social interaction. The term "meat" (Hebrew: _lechem_) often refers to "bread" or general "food" in the KJV, which was synonymous with daily sustenance and provision. For Job, a man of immense wealth and status who would have been accustomed to the finest provisions, to find even basic food repulsive underscores the depth of his fall and the severity of his affliction. His physical symptoms, including severe skin disease and boils mentioned in [Job 2:7](/job/2-7 "Job's Affliction with Boils"), would have further contributed to his physical discomfort and aversion to food, aligning with ancient understandings of how disease impacts the body and mind.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within the book of Job. Firstly, it highlights the **holistic nature of suffering**, demonstrating how profound emotional and spiritual anguish can manifest in tangible physical ways, affecting even basic bodily functions like appetite. Job's experience illustrates that suffering is not compartmentalized but impacts the entire person. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **unjustified suffering**, as Job's revulsion to food is not a consequence of gluttony or indulgence, but an involuntary reaction to an undeserved and overwhelming calamity, reinforcing his innocence in the face of his friends' accusations. Thirdly, it deepens the theme of **lament and protest**, as Job's words are not just a complaint but a cry of profound disorientation, where the normal order of life has been inverted, and even sustenance offers no comfort but rather mirrors his pain. This aligns with the broader biblical tradition of lament, where individuals pour out their deepest sorrows and questions before God, as seen in passages like [Psalm 13](/psalms/13 "Psalm 13 - A Prayer for Deliverance") or [Psalm 42](/psalms/42 "Psalm 42 - As a Deer Pants for Water").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Soul (Hebrew, _nephesh'_):** In biblical Hebrew, _nephesh_ is a rich and multifaceted term. While often translated "soul," it encompasses more than just the spiritual or inner essence; it refers to the whole person, the seat of life, emotion, desire, and appetite. It signifies the entire living being, the very life-force. When Job says "my soul refused to touch," it signifies that his entire being, his very vitality and inner self, recoiled from the idea of sustenance. It's not merely a physical aversion but a profound, holistic rejection stemming from the deepest part of his being, indicating a complete loss of the will to live or find pleasure in life.
* **Sorrowful (Hebrew, _dᵉvay'_):** This word, derived from a root meaning "sickness" or "languishing," describes a state of profound illness, pain, or loathing. It emphasizes the debilitating and sickening quality of Job's suffering. By applying it to "meat," Job conveys that his food is not just accompanied by sorrow, but is inherently sick, diseased, or loathsome, reflecting his internal state. It is the very essence of his anguish made manifest in his perception of food.
* **Meat (Hebrew, _lechem'_):** While translated "meat" in the KJV, _lechem_ primarily means "bread" and broadly refers to "food" or "sustenance" for humans or animals. It represents the most basic and essential provision for life. By describing this fundamental necessity as "sorrowful," Job underscores the complete inversion of his world. Food, which should bring comfort and strength, has become a symbol and embodiment of his suffering, a source of revulsion rather than nourishment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The things that my soul refused to touch":** This clause emphasizes the depth and involuntary nature of Job's aversion. The "things" refer to food or sustenance, and his "soul" (his entire being, the seat of his life and appetite) actively recoils from them. This highlights that his suffering has reached such a profound level that it impacts his most fundamental biological drives, indicating a complete loss of desire for life's basic comforts and necessities. It is not a conscious choice but an overwhelming, visceral reaction to his distress.
* **"[are] as my sorrowful meat":** This clause provides the powerful simile, equating the very sustenance he should consume with his overwhelming pain. Food, which is meant to nourish and bring strength, has become a symbol and embodiment of his suffering. His reality is so distorted by grief that the taste of life itself has become the taste of sorrow. This indicates a complete loss of joy, comfort, and the ability to find any relief from his anguish, as even the act of eating, a universal source of pleasure and sustenance, is tainted by his overwhelming grief.

#### Literary Devices
Job 6:7 employs several potent literary devices to convey the depth of Job's suffering. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where "sorrowful meat" functions as a powerful image for his entire existence. His food is not just *like* his sorrow; it *is* his sorrow, implying that every act of sustenance is steeped in his pain. This is further amplified by **Hyperbole**, as Job's statement exaggerates the extent of his aversion to convey the overwhelming nature of his despair. It's not merely that he has lost his appetite, but that the very thought of food is repulsive, an extreme expression of his internal state. Additionally, there is a subtle form of **Personification** where his "soul" is depicted as actively "refusing to touch," giving agency to his inner being in its rejection of sustenance, underscoring the deep, internal nature of his revulsion rather than a mere physical symptom.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 6:7 offers a profound theological insight into the human experience of suffering, particularly the way it can permeate and distort every aspect of life, including the most basic necessities. It challenges simplistic notions of cause and effect in suffering, presenting a reality where pain is so overwhelming that it defies easy explanation or resolution. This verse connects to the broader biblical theme of lament, affirming that it is permissible, even necessary, to express raw, unfiltered anguish to God, even when it involves physical manifestations of distress. It underscores that suffering is not merely a spiritual or intellectual battle but a holistic assault on the human person, affecting body, mind, and spirit, and that God is big enough to hear and hold even our most visceral expressions of pain.

* [Psalm 42:3](/psalms/42-3 "Psalm 42:3 - My Tears Have Been My Food")
* [Lamentations 3:19-20](/lamentations/3-19-20 "Lamentations 3:19-20 - Remembering Affliction and Suffering")
* [Psalm 102:4](/psalms/102-4 "Psalm 102:4 - My Heart is Withered Like Grass")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 6:7 serves as a powerful reminder of the profound and pervasive impact of deep grief and suffering on the human person. It invites us to cultivate a profound empathy for those who are overwhelmed by sorrow, recognizing that their pain can manifest in surprising and debilitating ways, even affecting their most basic physical needs like appetite. This verse challenges us to move beyond superficial comfort or simplistic explanations when confronting suffering, instead encouraging us to sit with the uncomfortable reality of another's anguish, offering presence rather than platitudes. It also grants us permission to be fully honest with God about our own pain, acknowledging that our laments, no matter how raw or physically expressed, are valid and heard by a compassionate Creator. In a world that often pressures us to "get over it" quickly, Job's lament reminds us that true healing often begins with acknowledging the full scope of our brokenness and allowing ourselves to feel the bitter taste of our own "sorrowful meat," trusting that God meets us even in our deepest despair.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's physical aversion to food in this verse challenge my understanding of suffering as purely spiritual or emotional?**
* **In what ways might my own or others' physical symptoms be a manifestation of deeper emotional or spiritual distress?**
* **How can I better empathize with those whose suffering is so profound that it impacts their basic physical functions and desires?**
* **What does Job's raw honesty in this verse teach me about the nature of lament and how I can express my own pain to God?**

### FAQ

**Does Job 6:7 suggest that Job is rejecting God's provision or being ungrateful?**

Answer: No, Job 6:7 does not suggest Job is rejecting God's provision or being ungrateful in a rebellious sense. Instead, it is a desperate and honest expression of the extreme physical and emotional toll his suffering has taken. His "soul refused to touch" and his food became "sorrowful meat" because his overwhelming grief and pain had so thoroughly permeated his being that even the most basic act of sustenance became repulsive. This is a common physiological response to profound stress, trauma, or depression, where appetite is suppressed, and food loses its appeal. Job is not intentionally spurning God's gifts; rather, his body and spirit are so broken that they cannot receive comfort or nourishment from anything, even food. It highlights the depth of his anguish, not a deliberate act of ungratefulness, much like a person in deep mourning might find it impossible to eat, as reflected in [Psalm 102:4-5](/psalms/102-4-5 "Psalm 102:4-5 - My Heart is Withered").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 6:7, with its depiction of a soul so burdened that even sustenance becomes "sorrowful meat," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Job's suffering was inexplicable to him, Christ's suffering was a deliberate, redemptive act. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, truly tasted the bitterness of human sin and the full weight of divine wrath on the cross, becoming "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - A Man of Sorrows")). In Gethsemane, His soul was "overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death" ([Matthew 26:38](/matthew/26-38 "Matthew 26:38 - Jesus' Anguish in Gethsemane")), a spiritual agony so intense that it caused Him to sweat drops of blood. He willingly embraced the "sorrowful meat" of our sin and separation from God, enduring the ultimate rejection and abandonment so that we might partake of the "bread of life" ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life")) and never hunger spiritually. His sacrifice transforms our "sorrowful meat" into a feast of grace, offering true sustenance and comfort where Job found only revulsion, ultimately leading to eternal life and joy in His presence ([John 6:53-58](/john/6-53-58 "John 6:53-58 - Eating the Flesh and Drinking the Blood of the Son of Man")).

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

Ezekiel 4:14

Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.

Job 3:24

For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

Ezekiel 12:18

Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;

Ezekiel 12:19

And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, [and] of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.

Daniel 10:3

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Psalms 102:9

For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

1 Kings 17:12

And she said, [As] the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.