Job 23:16
Job 23:16 in Multiple Translations
God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.
For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me;
For God has made my heart feeble, and my mind is troubled before the Ruler of all.
God has made me faint-hearted; the Almighty has scared me to death.
For God hath softened mine heart, and the Almightie hath troubled me.
And God hath made my heart soft, And the Mighty hath troubled me.
For God has made my heart faint. The Almighty has terrified me.
For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
God hath softened my heart, and the Almighty hath troubled me.
Almighty God has caused me [SYN] to feel terrified [DOU].
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 23:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 23:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ֭/אֵל
הֵרַ֣ךְ
לִבִּ֑/י
וְ֝/שַׁדַּ֗י
הִבְהִילָֽ/נִי
וְ֭/אֵל
ʼêl
H410
god
Conj | N-ms
הֵרַ֣ךְ
râkak
H7401
be tender
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms
לִבִּ֑/י
lêb
H3820
heart
N-ms | Suff
וְ֝/שַׁדַּ֗י
Shadday
H7706
Almighty
Conj | N-proper
הִבְהִילָֽ/נִי
bâhal
H926
to dismay
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 23:16
וְ֭/אֵל
ʼêl
H410
"god"
Conj | N-ms
In the Bible, 'el means strength or power, and is often used to refer to God or false gods. It describes something or someone as mighty or powerful, like the Almighty. This concept is central to understanding the Bible's view of God.
Definition: : god 1) god, god-like one, mighty one 1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 1b) angels 1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah 2) mighty things in nature 3) strength, power Also means: ": power" (el אֵל H0410L)
Usage: Occurs in 235 OT verses. KJV: God (god), [idiom] goodly, [idiom] great, idol, might(-y one), power, strong. Compare names in '-el.' See also: Genesis 14:18; Job 33:14; Psalms 5:5.
הֵרַ֣ךְ
râkak
H7401
"be tender"
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms
To be tender means to be soft or weak, often describing a heart that is penitent or fearful. In the Bible, it is used to describe a person who is timid or soft-hearted. The KJV translates it as faint-hearted or soft.
Definition: 1) to be tender, be soft, be weak 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be tender, be weak (of heart) 1a1a) to be timid, be fearful 1a1b) to be softened, be penitent 1a2) to be soft (of treacherous words) 1b) (Pual) to be softened 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to be weak 1d) (Niphal) tender
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: (be) faint(-hearted), mollify, (be, make) soft(-er), be tender. See also: Deuteronomy 20:3; Psalms 55:22; Isaiah 1:6.
לִבִּ֑/י
lêb
H3820
"heart"
N-ms | Suff
Leb refers to the heart, but also represents feelings, will, and intellect in the Bible. It is used figuratively to describe the center of something, and is often translated as heart or mind. Leb is a complex concept that encompasses emotions and thoughts.
Definition: 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding 1a) inner part, midst 1a1) midst (of things) 1a2) heart (of man) 1a3) soul, heart (of man) 1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory 1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will) 1a6) conscience 1a7) heart (of moral character) 1a8) as seat of appetites 1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage
Usage: Occurs in 552 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom] themselves, [idiom] unawares, understanding, [idiom] well, willingly, wisdom. See also: Genesis 6:5; 2 Samuel 13:33; Psalms 4:8.
וְ֝/שַׁדַּ֗י
Shadday
H7706
"Almighty"
Conj | N-proper
Shadday means Almighty, referring to God's great power. It is another name for the Lord, emphasizing His strength and might. This name is used in the Bible to describe God's power and authority.
Definition: Shaddai, the Almighty (God) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) This name means almighty, most powerful
Usage: Occurs in 48 OT verses. KJV: Almighty. See also: Genesis 17:1; Job 22:25; Psalms 68:15.
הִבְהִילָֽ/נִי
bâhal
H926
"to dismay"
V-Hiphil-Perf-3ms | Suff
This verb means to be alarmed or agitated, often suddenly. It's used in the Bible to describe people's reactions to frightening events, like battles or natural disasters. It can also mean to hurry or act hastily.
Definition: 1) to disturb, alarm, terrify, hurry, be disturbed, be anxious, be afraid, be hurried, be nervous 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be disturbed, dismayed, terrified, anxious 1a2) to be in haste, be hasty 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make haste, act hastily, be hurried, be hastened 1b2) to dismay, terrify 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to hasten 1c2) hastened, hastily gained (part.) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to hasten, hurry, make haste 1d2) to dismay, terrify
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: be (make) affrighted (afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash), (be, get, make) haste(-n, -y, -ily), (give) speedy(-ily), thrust out, trouble, vex. See also: Genesis 45:3; Psalms 6:4; Psalms 2:5.
Study Notes — Job 23:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 23:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 23:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 23:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 23:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 23:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Job 23:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 23:16
- Cambridge Bible on Job 23:16
- Barnes' Notes on Job 23:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 23:16
- Sermons on Job 23:16
Context — Job Longs for God
14For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.
15Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.
16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.
17Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 22:14 | I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me. |
| 2 | Job 27:2 | “As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice— the Almighty, who has embittered my soul— |
| 3 | Psalms 88:16 | Your wrath has swept over me; Your terrors have destroyed me. |
| 4 | Isaiah 6:5 | Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 20:3 | saying to them, “Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be alarmed or terrified because of them. |
| 6 | Ruth 1:20 | “Do not call me Naomi, ” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me. |
| 7 | Joel 1:15 | Alas for the day! For the Day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty. |
| 8 | Isaiah 57:16 | For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made. |
| 9 | Jeremiah 51:46 | Do not let your heart grow faint, and do not be afraid when the rumor is heard in the land; for a rumor will come one year— and then another the next year— of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler. |
Job 23:16 Summary
This verse, Job 23:16, means that Job is feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by God's power and presence in his life. He is acknowledging that God is all-powerful and sovereign, as seen in Psalms 115:3, and that He is not limited by human expectations. This feeling of being overwhelmed is not unique to Job, as many people in the Bible experienced similar feelings, such as Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-5, and it can be a natural response to encountering God's holiness and majesty. By recognizing God's power and sovereignty, we can, like Job, cultivate a deeper reverence and fear of God in our own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Job say God has made his heart faint?
Job says this because he is overwhelmed by God's power and presence, as seen in Job 23:16, and is reminded of God's sovereignty, similar to what is described in Psalms 115:3 and Isaiah 46:10.
Is Job saying that God is cruel or unloving?
No, Job is not saying that God is cruel or unloving, but rather that He is all-powerful and righteous, as stated in Deuteronomy 32:4 and Romans 3:26, and that Job's perception of God's actions is limited, as expressed in Job 23:16.
How can Job's statement be reconciled with the idea of a loving God?
Job's statement can be reconciled with the idea of a loving God by understanding that God's love and power are not limited by human expectations, as seen in Job 23:16 and supported by Jeremiah 31:3 and 1 John 4:8.
What is the significance of the Almighty terrifying Job?
The significance of the Almighty terrifying Job is that it highlights Job's reverence and fear of God, as seen in Job 23:16, similar to the fear expressed in Psalms 33:8 and 1 Peter 1:17, and reminds us of the importance of having a healthy fear of God in our own lives.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have experienced God's power and presence in my life, and how have I responded to those experiences?
- How can I, like Job, cultivate a deeper reverence and fear of God in my own life, and what role does humility play in this process?
- In what ways do I try to limit or control God's power and presence in my life, and what are the consequences of doing so, as seen in Job 23:16 and other scriptures?
- How can I balance my understanding of God's love and power, and what role does trust play in this balance, as expressed in Proverbs 3:5-6 and other verses?
Gill's Exposition on 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
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 23:16
For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: Soft - faint. Hath melted my courage. Here again Job's language is that of Jesus Christ (Psalms 22:14, "My heart is like wax: it is melted in the midst of my bowels").
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 23:16
Soft, or tender. He hath bruised, and broken, or melted it, so that I have no spirit, nor courage, nor strength in me, as this or the like phrase is used, .
Trapp's Commentary on Job 23:16
Job 23:16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:Ver. 16. For God maketh my heart soft] Methinks I feel it fall asunder in my bosom like drops of water, and dissolved with manifold afflictions, so that I am hardly able to bear up any longer; I am almost done, as we use to speak, and my heart faileth me. How should it do otherwise when God withdraweth from his own the supplies of his Spirit, Philippians 1:19, that Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind, 2 Timothy 1:7 Acts 20:22, saith that great apostle, "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit up to Jerusalem," &c. Whereupon Dr Preston gives this good note, The Spirit hemmeth us about, comprehendeth and keepeth us. When a man’ s own strength would fall loose, this supernatural strength stayeth and strengtheneth it. Hence that of David, Psalms 138:3, "In the day when I cried unto thee thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul." So Psalms 27:14, "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart," which else will melt (as did the hearts of the men of Jericho, Joshua 2:11), like metal melted with fire, or like ice thawed into water and spilt upon the ground, which cannot be taken up again. And this is the soft heart Job here complaineth of. God had dispirited him, and The Almighty troubleth me] sc. With the thoughts of his Almightiness; see Psalms 39:11; and with so many miseries growing upon him, Tot malis ingruentibus (Jun.). Now it is not amiss for God’ s people thus to be melted and troubled otherwise; for by this means shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin, Isaiah 37:9-14.
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 23:16
(16) For God maketh my heart soft.—That is, “He has made it full of apprehension and fear, and the Almighty hath troubled me in these two respects: that He did not cut me off before the darkness, so that I had never been born, or that He did not hide darkness from mine eyes after giving me life.” (Comp. Job 3:11; Job 3:20, &c.) We may understand this of the physical suffering to which he was subjected, or of the mental distress and perplexity under which he laboured.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 23:16
Verse 16. For God maketh my heart soft] Prostrates my strength, deprives me of courage, so that I sink beneath my burden, and I am troubled at the thought of the Almighty, the self-sufficient and eternal Being.
Cambridge Bible on Job 23:16
16. For God maketh] Or, and God. The emphasis is on God; it is God,—the thought that God should act in this unrighteous manner—that makes his heart “soft,” i. e. makes him faint-hearted and terror-stricken.
Barnes' Notes on Job 23:16
For God maketh my heart soft - That is, “faint.” He takes away my strength; compare the notes at Isaiah 7:4. This effect was produced on Job by the contemplation of the eternal plan and the power of God.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 23:16
16. For — Better, And. Soft — Faint.
Sermons on Job 23:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Mountain Made a Plain by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches about the spiritual significance of Zerubbabel's completion of the temple, drawing parallels between the obstacles faced in rebuilding the physical temple and |
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A Divine Cordial by Thomas Watson | Thomas Watson preaches about the transformative power of God's love and mercy in the lives of believers, highlighting how afflictions, when sanctified, draw them closer to God, tea |
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No Hand but a Divine Hand by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes that true repentance involves a deep, godly sorrow for sin, which is a gift from God that transforms a hardened heart into one that is soft and tender. He |
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Expand Your Borders by K.P. Yohannan | K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the need for believers to expand their compassion beyond their immediate circles, urging them to embrace a broader sense of family that includes those suff |
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Psalms - Part 1 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of filling one's heart with the Word of God rather than simply avoiding evil. He references the story of a demon being cast ou |
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A Light in the Land (Christianity in Wales 200-2000) by Gwyn Davies | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the history of Christianity in Wales, acknowledging both the blessings and challenges that have been faced. He mentions the presence of disa |
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The Tabernacle #1 - Outer Court by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the concept of purification and service in the believer's life. He explains that the water mentioned in 1 John 5 represents the life of Jesu |