Job 7:7

7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.

Job 7:7 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
English Standard Version (ESV)
7 "Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.
New Living Translation (NLT)
7 O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness.
The Message Bible (MSG)
7 "God, don't forget that I'm only a puff of air! These eyes have had their last look at goodness.
American Standard Version (ASV)
7 Oh remember that my life is a breath: Mine eye shall no more see good.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
7 Remember, my life is only a breath, and never again will my eyes see anything good.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
7 Remember that my life is [but] a breath. My eye will never again see anything good.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
7 God, remember that my life is only a breath. I'll never be happy again.

Job 7:7 Meaning and Commentary

Job 7:7

O remember that my life [is] wind
Or, "breath" F3; man's life is in his breath, and that breath is in his nostrils, and therefore not to be accounted of, or depended on; man appears by this to be a poor frail creature, whose life, with respect to himself, is very precarious and uncertain; it is but as a "vapour", an air bubble, full of wind, easily broken and dissipated, and soon vanishes away; it is like the "wind", noisy and blusterous, full of stir and tumult, and, like that, swiftly passes and sweeps away, and returns not again: this is an address to God; and so some F4 supply it, "O God", or "O Lord, remember" not that forgetfulness is in God, or that he needs to be reminded of anything; but he may seem to forget the frailty of man when he lays his hand heavy on him; and may be said to be mindful of it when he mercifully takes it off: what Job here prays for, the Lord often does, as he did with respect to the Israelites, ( Psalms 78:39 ) ;

mine eye shall no more see good:
meaning not spiritual and eternal good, here and hereafter; he knew he should, after this life, see his living Redeemer even with the eyes of his body, when raised again; that he should see him as he is, not through a glass, darkly, but face to face, in all his glory; and that for himself, and not another, and even see and enjoy things he had never seen before: but his sense is, that he should see or enjoy no more temporal good; either in this world, being without hope of any, or in the grave, whither he was going and would shortly be; and therefore entreats that some mercy might be shown him while he lived; to which sense the following words incline.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (xwr) "hali us", Cocceius, Michaelis.
F4 So Beza, Vatablus, Drusius, Michaelis.

Job 7:7 In-Context

5 My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering.
6 “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope.
7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again.
8 The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more.
9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver 16; Genesis 27:46; Ps 39:4,5,11; Psalms 62:9; Psalms 78:39; Psalms 89:47; Psalms 144:4; Ecclesiastes 7:15; S James 4:14
  • 2. Job 10:20; Job 9:25
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.