Job 7:17

KJV

¶ What [is] man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

KJV (with Strong's)

What is man {H582}, that thou shouldest magnify {H1431} him? and that thou shouldest set {H7896} thine heart {H3820} upon him?

Complete Jewish Bible

"What are mere mortals, that you make so much of them? Why do you keep them on your mind?

Berean Standard Bible

What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,

American Standard Version

What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 7:17 is a poignant lament from Job, expressing his profound bewilderment and anguish amidst intense suffering. He questions why God, in His infinite power and majesty, would devote such minute and seemingly burdensome attention to a frail and fleeting human being. For Job, God's relentless focus feels less like benevolent care and more like an oppressive, scrutinizing gaze that exacerbates his affliction, prompting a desperate cry for relief from divine preoccupation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 7:17 is situated within Job's second discourse (chapters 6-7), delivered in response to Eliphaz's initial, unhelpful counsel. Having already expressed a fervent desire for death in [Job 6:8-9](/job/6-8 "Job 6:8-9 - Job Desires Death"), Job continues his lament by directly addressing God. This particular verse follows Job's plea for God to leave him alone ([Job 7:16](/job/7-16 "Job 7:16 - Job's Plea for Solitude")) and precedes his desperate request for God to forgive his sin and withdraw His gaze ([Job 7:20-21](/job/7-20 "Job 7:20-21 - Job's Plea for Forgiveness and Release")). The verse encapsulates Job's feeling of being relentlessly pursued and scrutinized by the Almighty, a divine focus he perceives as oppressive rather than comforting.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, likely in the ancient Near East, a region where suffering was often interpreted as a direct consequence of sin, a common theological framework among Job's friends. Job's experience challenges this simplistic retribution theology, as he is portrayed as "blameless and upright" ([Job 1:1](/job/1-1 "Job 1:1 - Introduction to Job")). In the cultural milieu, a deity's "attention" could be a double-edged sword: a sign of favor and blessing, or a mark of judgment and scrutiny. For Job, enduring inexplicable suffering, God's attention feels like the latter, a relentless pursuit that offers no solace. His lament, a common literary form in the ancient world, reflects a deep human struggle with divine justice and the meaning of suffering.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes woven throughout the Book of Job and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights the stark contrast between **Divine Sovereignty and Human Frailty**, questioning why an omnipotent God would focus so intensely on a mere mortal, especially in a way that brings affliction. It explores the **Paradox of God's Attention**, where what is often a source of comfort (God's mindfulness of humanity, as seen in [Psalm 8:4](/psalms/8-4 "Psalm 8:4 - God's Mindfulness of Man")) becomes, for Job, a source of intense burden and despair. Furthermore, it underscores the theme of **Lament and Protest**, demonstrating that even in profound suffering, it is permissible to voice raw questions and frustrations to God, a pattern also found in many [Psalms](/psalms "The Book of Psalms - Prayers and Songs of Israel"). Job's cry challenges simplistic theological answers to suffering, pushing for a deeper understanding of God's mysterious ways.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Man (Hebrew, _'enosh'_):** This particular Hebrew word for "man" emphasizes human frailty, weakness, and mortality. Unlike _'adam_ (which refers to humanity in general or a specific man) or _'ish_ (a strong, individual man), _'enosh_ highlights the ephemeral and vulnerable nature of human existence. By using _'enosh',_ Job underscores his perceived insignificance and the vast disparity between his fleeting life and God's eternal majesty, making his question about God's intense focus even more poignant.
* **Magnify (Hebrew, _gadol'_):** In this context, _gadol_ does not carry its common meaning of to praise or exalt. Instead, it means "to make great," "to make a big deal of," "to observe minutely," or "to pay excessive attention to." For Job, God's "magnifying" him implies a detailed, almost obsessive focus that feels burdensome and punitive, as if God is meticulously scrutinizing every aspect of his suffering rather than offering relief.
* **Set thine heart upon (Hebrew, _shith lev al'_):** This idiom signifies directing one's intense thought, intention, or preoccupation towards someone or something. It implies a sustained and purposeful focus. When Job says God "sets His heart upon him," he is expressing his feeling that God is not merely observing but is actively and intently engaged in his affliction, making his suffering feel inescapable and divinely orchestrated.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"What [is] man":** This is a rhetorical question, not seeking an answer but expressing Job's profound bewilderment, despair, and a sense of his own utter insignificance. It highlights the vast chasm between the finite, suffering human and the infinite, powerful God.
* **"that thou shouldest magnify him?":** Job questions the very act of divine attention. Given his frailty and suffering, he cannot comprehend why God would make such a "big deal" of him, observing him so minutely and intensely. He perceives this divine focus as oppressive scrutiny, a source of his affliction, rather than a benevolent gaze.
* **"and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?":** This clause reinforces the previous one, emphasizing the sustained, intentional, and seemingly relentless nature of God's focus on Job. For Job, this divine preoccupation feels like an inescapable, burdensome surveillance that prevents him from finding rest or relief from his pain.

#### Literary Devices
The entire verse functions as a powerful **Rhetorical Question**, not posed for an answer but to express Job's deep anguish, frustration, and bewilderment at God's actions. There is a profound **Irony** at play: what is often understood as a source of comfort and honor—God's attention and mindfulness of humanity (as in [Psalm 8:4](/psalms/8-4 "Psalm 8:4 - God's Mindfulness of Man"))—is, for Job, a source of intense suffering and perceived oppression. This highlights the subjective experience of divine interaction during times of crisis. Furthermore, the phrase "set thine heart upon him" employs **Anthropomorphism**, attributing a human-like emotional and mental focus to God, allowing Job to articulate his perception of God's intense engagement with his suffering in relatable terms.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 7:17 encapsulates a profound theological tension: the immense, transcendent God engaging intimately with the frail, immanent human. While Job experiences this divine attention as burdensome scrutiny, the broader biblical narrative consistently affirms God's mindfulness of humanity as a foundational aspect of His character and covenant relationship. God's "setting His heart upon" humanity is ultimately an act of sovereign love and purpose, even when it involves discipline, testing, or allowing suffering for a greater, often inscrutable, divine plan. Job's lament, though born of pain, forces us to grapple with the mystery of God's ways and the depth of His engagement with His creation.

* [Psalm 8:4](/psalms/8-4 "God's Mindfulness of Man")
* [Psalm 144:3](/psalms/144-3 "God's Regard for Man")
* [Isaiah 40:15](/isaiah/40-15 "Nations as a Drop in the Bucket")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's desperate question resonates deeply with anyone who has felt overwhelmed by life's trials, particularly when suffering seems inexplicable or God's presence feels like a heavy, scrutinizing gaze rather than a comforting embrace. This verse validates the raw human experience of pain and the right to lament and question God from a place of profound anguish. It reminds us that God is indeed intimately aware of every detail of our lives, even when we feel forgotten or misunderstood. While Job's perspective was born of extreme suffering, the Bible also teaches that God's attention, though sometimes leading to trials or discipline, is ultimately purposeful and for our good, aiming to refine us and draw us closer to Him. Our challenge is to trust in God's ultimate benevolence, even when His ways are inscrutable and His attention feels overwhelming in the moment of pain.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we reconcile God's infinite majesty with His intimate knowledge and involvement in our finite lives?**
* **In what ways might God's "attention" feel burdensome or overwhelming to us, and how can we reframe that perception biblically?**
* **How does Job's lament help us understand the validity of expressing raw emotion and questioning God in times of deep suffering?**

### FAQ

**Is Job accusing God of being cruel?**

Answer: Job is not necessarily accusing God of being cruel in a malicious sense, but rather expressing his profound bewilderment and anguish at God's seemingly relentless and overwhelming focus on his suffering. He feels God's attention is burdensome and punitive, not benevolent. His questions, as seen in [Job 7:17](/job/7-17 "Job's Lament on God's Attention") and throughout his laments, are born of intense pain and a desperate desire for relief, questioning God's *method* of interaction rather than His *existence* or *goodness* outright. He is lamenting and protesting his situation, seeking understanding and relief, rather than blaspheming.

**How does this verse relate to Psalm 8:4?**

Answer: While both [Job 7:17](/job/7-17 "Job's Lament on God's Attention") and [Psalm 8:4](/psalms/8-4 "God's Mindfulness of Man") ask the rhetorical question "What is man?", their tone, context, and underlying sentiment are diametrically opposed. In Psalm 8, the question is asked in awe and wonder, marveling at God's benevolent mindfulness and the incredible dignity He bestows upon humanity, even crowning him with glory and honor and giving him dominion over creation. For Job, the question is a cry of despair and frustration, viewing God's intense attention as oppressive scrutiny leading to affliction. The stark contrast highlights the differing human experiences of divine interaction, demonstrating how the same theological truth (God's attention to humanity) can be perceived vastly differently depending on one's circumstances and spiritual state.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's lament in [Job 7:17](/job/7-17 "Job's Lament on God's Attention"), questioning why God would "magnify" and "set His heart upon" frail humanity, finds its ultimate and transformative answer in the person and work of Jesus Christ. God's "magnifying" of humanity is not for punitive scrutiny, but for redemptive love, culminating in the Incarnation where God Himself "set His heart upon" humanity by becoming one with us ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "The Word Became Flesh")). Jesus, the perfect Man, truly experienced the ultimate divine scrutiny and abandonment on the cross, crying out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). Yet, this was not for His own sin, but to bear the judgment for ours, transforming the meaning of God's intense focus from potential condemnation to the very act of salvation. Through Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, human nature is not merely scrutinized but glorified, elevated to co-heirship with Christ ([Romans 8:17](/romans/8-17 "Heirs with Christ")). Thus, God's heart is indeed set upon humanity, not to afflict, but to redeem, restore, and bring us into eternal fellowship, demonstrating that His profound attention is the very essence of His unfailing love ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "God So Loved the World")).

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

Hebrews 2:6

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalms 8:4

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Psalms 144:3

LORD, what [is] man, that thou takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

Job 34:14

If he set his heart upon man, [if] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;

Job 34:15

All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

Job 7:12

[Am] I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?

1 Samuel 24:14

After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.