Job 23:16

16 But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

Job 23:16 Meaning and Commentary

Job 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft
Not tender as Josiah's was, ( 2 Kings 22:19 ) , or as the heart of every penitent is, when God makes it humble and contrite by his spirit and grace, or takes away the stony heart, and gives an heart of flesh; though Job had such an heart, and God made it so; but he means a weak, feeble, fearful heart, pressed and broken with afflictions, that could not endure and bear up under the mighty hand of God; but became as water, and melted like wax in the midst of him, and was ready to faint, and sink, and die away:

and the Almighty troubleth me;
by afflicting him; afflictions cause trouble, and these are of God; or he "astonishes" ^F1, amazes me, throws me into the utmost consternation, the reason of which follows.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F1 (ynlyhbh) "me attonitum reddidit", Vatablus; "consternavit me", Drusius, Mercerus, Cocceius, Michaelis; "externavit me", Schultens.

Job 23:16 In-Context

14

15 Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered before my face.