Job 6:7 - Job Replies: My Complaint is Just

Audio Bible

Context

Job Replies: My Complaint is Just
…6Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg? 7My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me. 8If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:…

Cross References

Psalm 42:3
My tears have been my food both day and night, while men ask me all day long, “Where is your God?”Psalm 102:4
My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.Proverbs 27:7
The soul that is full loathes honey, but to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.Lamentations 3:15-16
He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me with wormwood. / He has ground my teeth with gravel and trampled me in the dust.Isaiah 33:15-16
He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil— / he will dwell on the heights; the mountain fortress will be his refuge; his food will be provided and his water assured.Ezekiel 4:14
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.Psalm 69:21
They poisoned my food with gall and gave me vinegar to quench my thirst.Psalm 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.Psalm 107:18
They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death.Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.John 4:34
Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.John 6:35
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.John 6:53-54
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you. / Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.John 6:66
From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.

1 Kings 17:12
And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

1 Kings 22:27
And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

Psalm 102:9
For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,

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Job 6

My soul refuses to touch them;
In this phrase, Job expresses a deep internal rejection of what he perceives as repulsive. The "soul" in Hebrew thought often refers to the entire being, indicating a profound aversion. This reflects Job's emotional and spiritual state, where he finds no comfort or satisfaction in what is being offered to him, possibly referring to the advice or comfort from his friends. This can be connected to Psalm 42:11, where the soul's turmoil is evident, highlighting the depth of inner conflict and distress.

they are loathsome food to me.
The imagery of "loathsome food" suggests something that is not only undesirable but also repugnant. In the cultural context of the Ancient Near East, food was often symbolic of fellowship and sustenance. Job's use of this metaphor indicates that what is being presented to him is not only unhelpful but also offensive. This can be compared to the manna in the wilderness (Numbers 11:6), which the Israelites grew to detest despite its provision from God. Theologically, this phrase can be seen as a type of Christ, who in John 6:35 is described as the "bread of life," contrasting the loathsome food with the true spiritual sustenance found in Jesus.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing intense suffering and questioning the reasons behind it.

2. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar
Job's three friends who come to comfort him but end up arguing with him about the reasons for his suffering, often suggesting that it is due to sin.

3. Uz
The land where Job lived, often associated with the region east of Israel, possibly in Edom or northern Arabia.

4. Job's Suffering
The series of calamities that befall Job, including the loss of his children, wealth, and health, which set the stage for his lament and dialogues with his friends.

5. God
The ultimate sovereign being who allows Job's testing, later responding to Job out of the whirlwind to reveal His wisdom and power.

Teaching Points

Understanding Suffering
Job's rejection of "loathsome food" symbolizes his deep anguish and the spiritual and emotional toll of his suffering. It reminds us that suffering can affect every aspect of our being.

Spiritual Discernment
Just as Job discerns what is loathsome, believers are called to discern what is spiritually nourishing versus what is harmful, aligning with Philippians 1:9-10.

Endurance in Trials
Job's steadfastness, despite his revulsion and despair, encourages believers to endure trials with faith, trusting in God's ultimate purpose and sovereignty.

The Role of Friends in Suffering
Job's friends fail to provide true comfort, teaching us the importance of empathy and understanding when supporting others in their trials.

God's Sovereignty and Wisdom
The account of Job ultimately points to God's greater wisdom and purpose, encouraging believers to trust in His plan even when it is not immediately clear.

Verse 7. - The things that my soul refuse to touch are as my sorrowful meat; rather, as in the Revised Version, my soul refuseth to touch them; they are as loathsome meat to me. The doubt remains whether Job is speaking of the arguments of Eliphaz, or of the series of afflictions which have befallen him. Either explanation is possible. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

My soul
נַפְשִׁ֑י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

refuses
מֵאֲנָ֣ה (mê·’ă·nāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3985: To refuse

to touch them;
לִנְגּ֣וֹעַ (lin·gō·w·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

they are
הֵ֝֗מָּה (hêm·māh)
Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

loathsome
כִּדְוֵ֥י (kiḏ·wê)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1741: Sickness, loathing

food to me.
לַחְמִֽי׃ (laḥ·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

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