Job 16 13

Job 16:13 kjv

His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

Job 16:13 nkjv

His archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; He pours out my gall on the ground.

Job 16:13 niv

his archers surround me. Without pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground.

Job 16:13 esv

his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.

Job 16:13 nlt

and now his archers surround me.
His arrows pierce me without mercy.
The ground is wet with my blood.

Job 16 verses

Job 16 13 Meaning

Job expresses intense physical and emotional suffering, attributing it directly to God. He feels God is ruthlessly attacking his innermost being ("kidneys") and completely draining him of life and vitality, reducing him to nothing ("pours out my gall on the ground"). This describes a profound sense of inner violation, agony, and impending demise, indicating that his pain is not merely external but deeply spiritual and psychological.

Job 16 13 Context

Job 16 is part of Job’s third response to his friends. Here, Job directly counters the empty words of his companions, whom he labels "miserable comforters" (v. 2) and whose advice he finds unhelpful and accusatory. He reiterates his innocence while deeply lamenting his afflictions. In this chapter, Job feels increasingly isolated, convinced that God himself is his relentless persecutor, dismantling him limb by limb, body and spirit. Verse 13 articulates his profound internal suffering, portraying God's actions as a violent, unsparing assault that empties him of his very essence and leaves him in a state of utter degradation, symbolizing his complete emotional and physical ruin at the hands of what he perceives to be divine hostility.

Job 16 13 Word analysis

• He pierces (יְפַצֵּחַ - yefatstseakh): From a root signifying to "break open," "cleave," or "split apart violently." This term implies a forceful, destructive penetration, not just a wound but a shattering, highlighting the severity and invasive nature of the perceived attack.
• my kidneys (כִּלְיוֹתָ֑י - kilyoṯāy): In ancient Hebrew understanding, the kidneys were believed to be the seat of deepest emotions, inner feelings, thoughts, and conscience, often coupled with the heart. To pierce them signifies an attack on the core of one's being, producing profound spiritual and emotional agony beyond mere physical pain.
• and does not spare (וְלֹ֖א יַחְמ֣וֹל - wə-lōʾ yaḥmōl): Literally "and not he shows pity/mercy." This phrase emphasizes the unyielding, relentless, and pitiless nature of the perceived divine affliction. It underscores a deliberate absence of compassion or restraint from the tormentor.
• He pours out (יִשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ - yišpōḵ): To spill, to empty completely, or to shed. This action indicates a total depletion or eradication, implying that what is poured out is often wasted or rendered irretrievable.
• my gall (מְרֹרָתִ֥י - merôrāṯî): Gall or bile, often associated with intense bitterness, severe suffering, or even deadly poison in biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts. Its "pouring out" symbolizes the draining away of life force, dignity, or the very essence of Job's inner being, resulting in complete desolation.
• on the ground (לָאָֽרֶץ - lāʾāreṣ): To pour or spill something on the ground renders it useless, contaminated, and despised. This detail signifies utter degradation, complete loss of value, public shame, and the finality of an irreversible destruction or disposal.
• "He pierces my kidneys and does not spare": This phrase portrays an internal, profoundly painful, and merciless assault on Job's innermost self. It paints God as an active, relentless assailant targeting the very core of Job's vitality and emotions without any hint of compassion.
• "He pours out my gall on the ground": This is a powerful image of complete desolation, disgrace, and total bodily and spiritual desecration. It signifies that Job's bitter essence, life, or vital fluids are contemptuously spilled, wasted, and rendered utterly worthless, emphasizing his utter ruination and public humiliation.

Job 16 13 Bonus section

Job's language here is highly anthropopathic, as he attributes human-like, vengeful actions and emotions (such as not sparing) to God. This reflects the intensity of his suffering which leads him to describe God's actions in terms he can comprehend, given his physical and emotional state. The detailed description of internal organ destruction goes beyond typical expressions of pain, emphasizing a comprehensive breakdown of Job's being—body, mind, and spirit—due to the divine hand. This specific depiction highlights Job's acute sense of unfairness and persecution, serving as a powerful cry against a perceived unjust divine affliction.

Job 16 13 Commentary

Job 16:13 vividly portrays Job's anguish and his perception of God's active hand in his suffering. He sees God as a brutal assailant who not only causes physical harm but also penetrates and dismantles his very inner being, reaching the symbolic "kidneys" where emotions and conscience reside. The pouring out of his "gall" on the ground serves as a graphic metaphor for utter ruin, the draining away of all vitality, dignity, and inner substance, leaving him stripped, exposed, and utterly degraded. This verse reflects Job's struggle to reconcile God's power and perceived hostility with his own righteousness, articulating his intense personal pain and a feeling of absolute abandonment and relentless torment by his Creator.