Job 33:19

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;

Job 33:19 Meaning and Commentary

Job 33:19

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed
This seems to be another way, in which God, according to his eternal purposes, speaks unto men, as the word "also" intimates; namely, by afflictions, and sometimes painful ones; which have a voice in them, and men of wisdom will hearken to it, ( Micah 6:9 ) . Pain here signifies not pain of the mind, or a wounded spirit, which is very afflicting, distressing, and intolerable; but pain of the body, as the next clause shows; and this endured on the bed, it being so great as to confine a man to his bed, or is what he felt there, where he might hope for ease and rest; see ( Job 7:13 ) ;

and the multitude of his bones with strong [pain];
not with a slight one, but a very strong one, such as those felt who gnawed their tongues for pain, ( Revelation 16:10 ) . Jarchi interprets it, the multitude of his bones, which are strong; though they are hardy and strong, yet filled with exquisite pain; and not one, or a few of them, but a multitude of them, as there are a multitude of them in a man's body; even all of them, as Hezekiah complains, which must be very excruciating indeed, ( Isaiah 38:13 ) ; and which was Job's case; not only his flesh was in pain, through the sores and ulcers upon him, but his bones were pierced in him, and his sinews had no rest, and he was full of tossings to and fro, ( Job 7:3 Job 7:4 ) ( 30:17 ) ; and in this way he was, as other good men are, reproved and chastened by the Lord; and in which way he had spoke to him, as he does to others, and which should be attended to; and since such painful afflictions are but fatherly chastisements, they should be patiently endured, and the voice of God in them listened to, and before long there will be no more pain: the "Cetib", or textual writing, is, "the contention of his bones is strong"; through pain, or with which God contends with men; we follow the marginal reading.

Job 33:19 In-Context

17 That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, And hide pride from man;

18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

19 He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;

20 So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.

21 His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.