Job 7:13

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

Job 7:13 Meaning and Commentary

Job 7:13

When I say, my bed shall comfort me
When he thought within himself that he would lie down upon his bed and try if he could get a little sleep, which might comfort and refresh him, and which he promised himself he should obtain by this means, as he had formerly had an experience of:

my couch shall ease my complaint;
he concluded, that by lying down upon his couch, and falling asleep, it would give some ease of body and mind; that his body would, at least, for some time be free from pain, and his mind composed, and should cease from complaining for a while; which interval would be a relief to him, and of considerable service. Some render it, "my couch shall burn" F8; be all on fire, and torture me instead of giving ease; and so may have respect to his burning ulcers.


FOOTNOTES:

F8 (avy) "ardebit", Pagninus; so Kimchi in Sepher Shorash. & Ben Melech in loc.

Job 7:13 In-Context

11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;
14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions:
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than [these] my bones.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.