Job 16:12 Meaning and Explanation
“I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Job recalls his former peace, now shattered, and feels set up as God's target.
What Does Job 16:12 Mean?
Job remembers a settled life of ease, then describes how it was suddenly broken apart. He pictures God seizing him by the neck, shaking him violently, and propping him up as a target for arrows. The contrast between past peace and present ruin is total.
Such reversals test the soul to its depths. Job does not deny his former blessing, nor does he curse the God who gave it; he wrestles aloud. Faith here is not the absence of bewilderment but the refusal to let go of God even while feeling like His target.
Job 16:12 in the Original Language
mattarah (מַטָּרָה), ''target'' -- a mark set up for archers, the very picture Job uses of himself before God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 16:12
What does Job 16:12 mean?
Job recalls his former peace, now shattered, and feels set up as God's target.