Job 7:15

15 So that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my pains.

Job 7:15 Meaning and Commentary

Job 7:15

So that my soul chooseth strangling
Not to strangle himself, as Ahithophel did, or to be strangled by others, this being a kind of death inflicted on capital offenders; but rather, as Mr. Broughton renders it, "to be choked to death" by any distemper and disease, as some are of a suffocating nature, as a catarrh, quinsy and kill in that way; and indeed death in whatsoever way is the stopping of a man's breath; and it was death that Job chose, let it be in what way it would, whether natural or violent; so weary was he of life through his sore and heavy afflictions:

[and] death rather than my life;
or, "than my bones" ^F9; which are the more solid parts of the body, and the support of it, and are put for the whole and the life thereof; or than these bones of his, which were full of strong pain, and which had nothing but skin upon them, and that was broken and covered with worms, rottenness, and dust; the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "and my bones death"; that is, desired and chose death, being so full of pain, see ( Psalms 35:10 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 (ytwmuem) "prae ossibus meis", Montanus, Tigurine version, Bolducius, Cocceius, Schmidt, Schultens; so Mercerus, Piscator, Michaelis.

Job 7:15 In-Context

13 "If I say, 'My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,'

14 Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions;

15 So that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my pains.

16 "I waste away; I will not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

17 "What is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned about him,

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "bones"