Job 7:13

KJV

When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;

KJV (with Strong's)

When I say {H559}, My bed {H6210} shall comfort {H5162} me, my couch {H4904} shall ease {H5375} my complaint {H7879};

Complete Jewish Bible

When I think that my bed will comfort me, that my couch will relieve my complaint,

Berean Standard Bible

When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,

American Standard Version

When I say, My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 7:13 encapsulates the profound agony of a man stripped of all earthly comforts, including the most basic solace of rest. In this verse, Job desperately hopes that his bed might offer a fleeting moment of peace or ease his overwhelming complaint, only to find that even this intimate space fails to provide any respite from his relentless physical and emotional torment. It powerfully illustrates the inadequacy of worldly remedies to alleviate deep spiritual and existential suffering, highlighting the depth of Job's despair and the elusiveness of true comfort in his desolate state.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 7 is a pivotal lament within the book of Job, following the initial exchanges between Job and his friends. After enduring the loss of his children, wealth, and health, Job moves from a state of resigned acceptance (Job 1-2) to one of profound and vocal anguish. This chapter marks the beginning of Job's direct complaints against God, expressing his weariness with life, his terrifying nightmares, and his sense of being relentlessly pursued by divine affliction. Verse 13 specifically occurs as Job articulates his desperate search for any form of relief, even in the expected sanctuary of his bed, only to find it denied. This personal lament sets the stage for the escalating theological debate with his friends who continue to misinterpret his suffering through a rigid doctrine of retribution.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the bed or couch (`miṭṭah` and `ʿereś` in Hebrew, often used interchangeably) was not merely a place for sleep but also a symbol of rest, healing, and intimacy. For the sick or suffering, it was the expected place of recuperation and comfort. The act of lying down was associated with finding peace and relief from the day's burdens. Job's expectation that his bed would "comfort" and "ease his complaint" reflects this common cultural understanding. His lament that even this most personal and expected source of solace fails him underscores the extraordinary depth of his affliction, suggesting a suffering so profound that it transcends conventional human experience and defies natural remedies. His complaint also aligns with the broader tradition of lament literature, common in the ANE, where individuals expressed profound distress and appealed to the divine in times of overwhelming hardship.
* **Key Themes:** Job 7:13 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Job. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the **elusiveness of earthly comfort** in the face of profound suffering, challenging the human tendency to seek ultimate solace in physical or material means. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **profound despair and the limits of human endurance**, as Job's agony is so pervasive that even basic rest is denied him, echoing the cries of other sufferers in the biblical tradition, such as those found in [Psalm 6:6](/psalms/6-6 "Psalm 6:6 - David's Weariness and Groaning"). Thirdly, it subtly points to the **sovereignty of God over all aspects of life**, including sleep and rest, implying that even these fundamental human needs are subject to His will, and in Job's case, His permissive will in his suffering. This verse also foreshadows the ultimate need for a transcendent source of comfort, a theme explored later in the book and throughout the wisdom literature, such as in [Proverbs 3:24](/proverbs/3-24 "Proverbs 3:24 - Rest and Sleep in Wisdom").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **comfort (Hebrew, _nāḥam_):** This verb carries a rich semantic range, including "to sigh," "to lament," "to console," "to repent," or "to find relief." In Job 7:13, Job longs for his bed to bring him a deep, internal sigh of relief, a soothing of his tormented soul. It implies not just physical ease but a psychological and emotional consolation that would alleviate his profound distress. The choice of this word underscores the depth of his desire for inner peace amidst his outward suffering.
* **ease (Hebrew, _śāḥah_):** This verb means "to sink down," "to settle," or "to subside." When Job wishes his couch to "ease his complaint," he desires for his intense, vocalized suffering (`śîaḥ`, "complaint" or "meditation") to settle into quietude, to diminish, or to be absorbed by the rest his couch should provide. It paints a picture of a troubled spirit that longs to sink into a state of calm, much like water settling after being stirred. The failure of the couch to do so signifies the unyielding nature of his pain.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"When I say, My bed shall comfort me,"**: This clause reveals Job's desperate, almost hopeful, intention. He articulates a conscious decision or a deep longing, believing that the physical act of lying in his bed, a place traditionally associated with rest and recuperation, will bring him solace. The use of "my bed" emphasizes the personal and intimate nature of this anticipated comfort, highlighting his reliance on a familiar, accessible source of relief. However, the subsequent reality in the following verses (Job 7:14-15) immediately negates this hope, showcasing the futility of his expectation.
* **"my couch shall ease my complaint;"**: This parallel clause reinforces the first, deepening the sense of Job's yearning for relief. "My couch" acts as a synonymous parallel to "my bed," underscoring the universal human desire for rest from affliction. "My complaint" (`śîaḥ`) refers to his deep, internal anguish, his troubled thoughts, and his vocalized lamentations. He hopes that the very act of resting on his couch will cause this overwhelming burden of sorrow and grievance to "sink down" or subside, allowing him a moment of quietude and peace. The tragic irony, revealed in the verses that follow, is that his nights are filled with terrifying dreams and visions, making true ease impossible.

#### Literary Devices
Job 7:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey the depth of Job's suffering. The most prominent is **Irony**, as the very objects designed for comfort—his bed and couch—fail to provide any solace. This inversion of expectation highlights the extraordinary nature of Job's pain, which transcends the capacity of physical rest to alleviate. There is also a subtle use of **Personification**, as Job attributes an active, comforting agency to his inanimate bed and couch ("shall comfort me," "shall ease my complaint"). This personification underscores his desperate longing for these objects to fulfill their intended purpose, even as they remain unresponsive to his profound need. Furthermore, the verse functions as a form of **Lament**, a common literary genre in the Old Testament, where the speaker expresses deep sorrow and appeals for relief, often from God. Job's personal lament here is a microcosm of the larger lament that constitutes much of the book, giving voice to the raw, unvarnished experience of human suffering.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 7:13 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of true comfort and the limitations of human remedies for spiritual and existential distress. It reveals that while physical rest and earthly comforts are good gifts, they are utterly insufficient to address the deepest pains of the human soul, especially when confronted with profound loss, injustice, or a perceived abandonment by God. Job's experience underscores the truth that ultimate solace cannot be found in created things, but only in the Creator. His inability to find peace even in his bed points to a spiritual void that only God can fill, echoing the biblical understanding that true rest and peace are ultimately divine gifts, not human achievements or material possessions. This verse thus prepares the reader for the eventual revelation of God's character as the ultimate source of comfort and restoration.

* [Psalm 6:6](/psalms/6-6 "Psalm 6:6 - David's Weariness and Groaning")
* [2 Corinthians 1:3-4](/2-corinthians/1-3 "2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - God, the Father of Mercies and God of All Comfort")
* [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - God Wipes Away Every Tear")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's desperate cry in Job 7:13 resonates deeply with the human experience of suffering that defies easy solutions. It reminds us that there are times when our pain is so overwhelming that even the most basic and expected sources of comfort—like a peaceful night's sleep or the solace of our own home—become elusive. This verse encourages us to acknowledge the limits of our own resources and the inadequacy of worldly comforts when faced with profound grief, illness, or spiritual desolation. It calls us to cultivate empathy for those who are suffering deeply, recognizing that their pain may not be alleviated by simple advice or superficial gestures. Ultimately, Job's experience points us beyond the temporal and physical, urging us to seek a transcendent source of hope and comfort when all else fails. It is a powerful reminder that true peace is not merely the absence of trouble, but a deeper spiritual reality found in trusting God even when He seems distant or silent.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When have you experienced a time when earthly comforts, like rest or distraction, proved inadequate to ease your deepest pain or complaint?**
* **How does Job's inability to find comfort in his bed challenge your own assumptions about where true peace and solace can be found?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the importance of empathy and compassion for those whose suffering seems to defy conventional solutions?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 7:13 suggest that physical rest is unimportant or bad?**
Answer: Not at all. Physical rest, including sleep and a comfortable bed, is a good and necessary gift from God for human well-being. The Bible often speaks positively about rest, as seen in the creation account of [Genesis 2:2](/genesis/2-2 "Genesis 2:2 - God Rests on the Seventh Day") and the wisdom of [Psalm 127:2](/psalms/127-2 "He Gives Sleep to His Beloved"). However, Job 7:13 highlights that while physical rest is beneficial, it is not a panacea for all suffering, especially profound spiritual or existential anguish. Job's experience demonstrates that there are levels of pain so deep that even the most basic physical comforts cannot penetrate or alleviate them. The verse underscores the limitations of the created order to provide ultimate comfort for a soul in deep distress, pointing instead to the need for a transcendent source of peace.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate longing for comfort and ease in his bed, only to find it elusive, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate human need for a rest and solace that only Christ can provide. Job sought relief in a physical object, but his deep spiritual and physical torment could not be assuaged by anything earthly. Jesus, the true "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), perfectly understood and experienced the depths of human suffering, even to the point of crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). Yet, through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ offers the ultimate comfort and rest that Job so desperately craved. He invites all who are weary and burdened to come to Him, promising, "and I will give you rest" ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary and Burdened")). This is not merely physical rest, but a profound spiritual peace and security that transcends all earthly turmoil, a "peace that surpasses all understanding" ([Philippians 4:7](/philippians/4-7 "Philippians 4:7 - The Peace of God")). In Christ, the longing for a bed that truly comforts and a couch that truly eases complaint finds its eternal fulfillment, as He is the one who ultimately wipes away every tear and brings an end to all pain and suffering in the new heaven and new earth ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears or Pain")).

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 6:6

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

Job 7:3

So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

Job 7:4

When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.

Psalms 77:4

Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

Job 9:27

If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself]:

Job 9:28

I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.