Job 30:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Job feels his very life draining out of him as days of affliction seize and hold him fast.
What Does Job 30:16 Mean?
With "and now" Job turns inward to his own collapse. His soul is "poured out upon me," as though his life were ebbing away like spilled water, and "the days of affliction" have laid hold of him and will not let go. The siege and flood of the previous verses have become an inner emptying.
To feel one's soul poured out is to reach the end of one's reserves, when grief has hollowed a person from within. Scripture does not rush past such moments. Hannah "poured out" her soul before the Lord, and the Savior in Gethsemane was "sorrowful unto death." The very pouring out becomes a prayer when it is offered toward heaven. Job's anguish, laid bare before God, traces the path by which the afflicted soul is finally met and held by mercy.
Job 30:16 in the Original Language
nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ), 'soul' -- the living self, the whole person in its breath and longing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 30:16
What does Job 30:16 mean?
Job feels his very life draining out of him as days of affliction seize and hold him fast.