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.

When I lie down {H7901}, I say {H559}, When shall I arise {H6965}, and the night {H6153} be gone {H4059}? and I am full {H7646} of tossings to and fro {H5076} unto the dawning of the day {H5399}.

When I lie down, I ask, 'When can I get up?'But the night is long, and I keep tossing to and fro until daybreak.

When I lie down I think: โ€˜When will I get up?โ€™ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.

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.

Commentary

Job 7:4 captures the agonizing sleeplessness and profound despair of Job, who is enduring immense physical pain and emotional torment. This verse is part of his lament, expressing the relentless nature of his suffering.

Context of Job 7:4

This verse comes from a section where Job, having been afflicted with grievous boils and having lost his children and possessions, responds to the initial silence and then the theological pronouncements of his friends. He describes his daily reality, which is a continuous cycle of pain and longing for relief. His suffering is so intense that even the simple act of sleeping offers no respite; instead, the night becomes another period of torment, stretching endlessly until dawn. This lament highlights the depth of his physical affliction, as described in Job 2:7, and his overwhelming emotional distress.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Suffering and Despair: Job's inability to find rest underscores the extremity of his physical and emotional anguish. The night, often a time for rest and renewal, becomes a prolonged period of misery.
  • Sleeplessness as a Symptom: The "tossings to and fro" vividly portray the physical manifestation of deep spiritual and mental distress. His body is as restless as his soul.
  • Longing for Relief: The repeated question, "When shall I arise, and the night be gone?" reveals a desperate yearning for an end to his affliction, a hope for the oppressive darkness to lift and a new day to bring respite. This longing for an end to suffering is a recurring theme in the laments of the Bible, though often contrasted with the hope for joy in the morning, as seen in Psalms 30:5.
  • The Relentless Nature of Pain: For Job, time does not offer solace but rather prolongs his agony. Each night feels like an eternity, emphasizing the relentless grip of his pain.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "full of tossings to and fro" is midvadim (ืžึดื“ึฐื•ึธื“ึดื™ื), which conveys a sense of restless turning, agitation, or being tossed about. It powerfully illustrates Job's physical inability to find a comfortable position or stillness due to his pain, reflecting his inner turmoil. The desperation is further emphasized by "When shall I arise, and the night be gone?" expressing a deep desire for the oppressive darkness, both literal and metaphorical, to pass away.

Practical Application

Job's raw expression of pain in Job 7:4 offers several important lessons for us today:

  • Validation of Suffering: It validates the human experience of profound suffering, where physical pain, emotional distress, and spiritual anguish can merge into an overwhelming sense of despair and sleeplessness. It reminds us that it is okay to express such feelings honestly before God.
  • Empathy for the Afflicted: This verse fosters empathy for those who are suffering, whether physically or emotionally, and cannot find rest. It helps us understand the depth of their struggle.
  • The Hope of Dawn: While Job longs for the physical dawning of the day, it also speaks to the universal human hope for an end to darkness and the arrival of light and healing. This can be a spiritual metaphor for the coming of God's relief and comfort, even if it feels distant.
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Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 28:67 (8 votes)

    In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

  • Job 7:13 (5 votes)

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

  • Job 7:14 (5 votes)

    Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:

  • Job 17:12 (3 votes)

    They change the night into day: the light [is] short because of darkness.

  • Psalms 77:4 (3 votes)

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

  • Psalms 109:23 (2 votes)

    I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.

  • Psalms 6:6 (2 votes)

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