Job 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

For God {H410} maketh my heart {H3820} soft {H7401}, and the Almighty {H7706} troubleth {H926} me:

God has undermined my courage; Shaddai frightens me.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me;

Commentary

In Job 23:16, the patriarch Job continues his lament, expressing the profound distress and fear he experiences under the hand of God. This verse captures the essence of Job's struggle: he perceives God not as a comforting presence, but as the direct cause of his overwhelming terror and internal dissolution.

Context

Job 23 is part of Job's third cycle of speeches, where he passionately longs to find God and present his case, believing he has been unjustly afflicted. He expresses frustration that God seems hidden and His ways inscrutable. Despite his desire to approach God, Job is simultaneously terrified by God's immense power and sovereignty. He feels utterly helpless and consumed by the divine mystery surrounding his suffering, a theme central to the entire Book of Job.

Key Themes

  • Job's Despair and Fear: The phrase "maketh my heart soft" indicates that Job's courage and inner fortitude are melting away. He is not merely sad but profoundly terrified, experiencing a debilitating fear that saps his strength and resolve. This illustrates the intense emotional toll of his unexplained suffering.
  • The Overwhelming Nature of God's Power: Job refers to God as "the Almighty" (Hebrew: Shaddai), a name emphasizing God's omnipotence and overwhelming might. However, Job perceives this immense power as being directed *against* him, causing him deep trouble and confusion rather than comfort or protection. This highlights a common human struggle with understanding divine actions during times of intense personal crisis.
  • The Mystery of Suffering: This verse poignantly expresses Job's central dilemma: how can a just and powerful God allow such intense, seemingly unwarranted suffering for a righteous man? He feels God is actively "troubling" him, yet the reasons remain hidden, deepening his agony.

Linguistic Insight

The Hebrew word translated "soft" (rakh) here means tenderized, weak, or melted. It conveys a sense of utter demoralization and a loss of internal strength due to overwhelming fear. The term "Almighty" (Shaddai) is one of the oldest and most profound names for God in the Old Testament, denoting His absolute power, self-sufficiency, and devastating might. Job's use of this term here emphasizes the terrifying, uncontainable power he feels God is wielding against him.

Practical Application

Job 23:16 offers a profound insight into the raw, honest emotions of human suffering. It reminds us that it is permissible to voice our deepest fears and confusion to God, even when we perceive Him as the source of our distress. Job's lament demonstrates that faith doesn't always mean understanding or comfort in the midst of trials; sometimes, it means grappling with divine mystery and expressing our profound fear to the One who holds all power. This verse can be a comfort to those who feel overwhelmed and troubled by life's circumstances, encouraging them to bring their authentic, 'softened' hearts before God, trusting that He hears even our cries of despair, just as He eventually responded to Job (Job 38:1).

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Cross-References

  • Job 27:2 (4 votes)

    [As] God liveth, [who] hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, [who] hath vexed my soul;

  • Psalms 22:14 (4 votes)

    I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

  • Deuteronomy 20:3 (3 votes)

    And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;

  • Isaiah 57:16 (2 votes)

    For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls [which] I have made.

  • Joel 1:15 (2 votes)

    Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD [is] at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

  • Psalms 88:16 (2 votes)

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

  • Ruth 1:20 (2 votes)

    And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.