Job 3 24

Job 3:24 kjv

For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.

Job 3:24 nkjv

For my sighing comes before I eat, And my groanings pour out like water.

Job 3:24 niv

For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water.

Job 3:24 esv

For my sighing comes instead of my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water.

Job 3:24 nlt

I cannot eat for sighing;
my groans pour out like water.

Job 3 verses

Job 3 24 Meaning

Job 3:24 conveys the profound and ceaseless nature of Job’s suffering. His deep internal grief, expressed as "sighing" (אָנְחָתִי, 'anḥātī), precedes even the basic human need for sustenance, indicating an overwhelming and all-consuming anguish. Furthermore, his "groanings" (שַׁאֲגֹתָי, ša'ăgōṯay), which carry the intense imagery of a lion’s roar of distress, are continuously "poured out like water," signifying an involuntary, unceendding flow of agony that cannot be contained or controlled. This verse encapsulates the extreme psychological and emotional toll of his afflictions, illustrating how suffering dominates every aspect of his existence.

Job 3 24 Context

Job 3:24 stands within Job's initial lament, his first spoken words after seven days of silent mourning with his friends. Having lost his wealth, children, and health, he has reached the depths of despair. This chapter is a direct expression of his desire that he had never been born, or that he had died at birth, viewing death as a peaceful release from his unimaginable agony. Verse 24 particularizes this general lament by describing the constant, overwhelming physical and emotional reality of his suffering, so acute that it consumes his very existence and overshadows even the most fundamental human acts like eating. It sets the stage for the intense theological debate that follows, as Job's inexplicable suffering challenges the conventional wisdom of his time regarding divine justice and retribution.

Job 3 24 Word analysis

• For (כִּי־ kī-): A particle often meaning "for" or "because," introducing the reason for Job's profound wish for death. It signals that what follows is an explanation or elaboration of his deep suffering.

• my sighing (אָנְחָתִי 'anḥātī): Derived from the root אָנַח ('anaḥ), meaning to sigh, groan, or mourn. The noun emphasizes the internal, deep-seated emotional distress. It is an audible expression of grief that rises from within Job's very being. The possessive suffix "my" personalizes the intensity of this affliction.

• comes before (לִפְנֵי...תָּבֹא lip̄nē...tāḇō'a): Literally "before my bread/food it comes." The phrase implies that Job's sorrow precedes and therefore preempts his ability to partake in basic nourishment. This idiom vividly portrays suffering as the first and most dominant experience of his day, even before sustenance.

• I eat (לַחְמִי laḥmī): Literally "my bread" or "my food." This represents a fundamental, daily human necessity. The fact that his sighing precedes this highlights how all-consuming and pervasive his distress is, overwhelming even basic biological urges.

• and my groanings (וְשַׁאֲגֹתָי wəša'ăgōṯāy): From the root שָׁאַג (sha'ag), which commonly means "to roar" (as a lion) or to bellow. It signifies a much louder, more forceful, and visceral expression of agony than 'sighing.' It conveys a deep, guttural wail of intense physical and emotional pain, often implying helplessness or fierce anguish. The possessive suffix "my" again personalizes the deep torment.

• are poured out (הִשְׁתַּפְּכוּ hištappəḵū): From the verb שָׁפַךְ (shāp̄akh), meaning "to pour out." The Hithpael stem, hištappəḵū, is reflexive, implying that his groans pour out of him automatically and involuntarily, as if they have a life of their own. He has no control over their outpouring, underscoring the uncontrollable nature of his suffering.

• like water (כַּמַּיִם kammayim): A powerful simile that emphasizes continuous, abundant, and unstoppable flow. Water is fluid and cannot be easily contained once released, just as Job’s anguish flows forth ceaselessly and unrestrained. This metaphor indicates not a temporary outburst but a persistent, overwhelming reality.

• "my sighing comes before I eat": This phrase captures the profound spiritual, emotional, and physical exhaustion that prevents Job from even the simplest act of self-sustenance. His sorrow is so pervasive it dictates his routine.

• "my groanings are poured out like water": This vivid imagery emphasizes the unceasing and uncontrollable nature of Job's suffering. The comparison to water signifies a flow that is both profuse and unrelenting, constantly overwhelming him. The use of "groanings" (lion's roar) in contrast to "sighing" suggests the spectrum of his pain, from internalized sorrow to raw, guttural cries.

Job 3 24 Bonus section

The depiction of sorrow pouring "like water" finds resonance in ancient Near Eastern lamentations, where suffering was often described as an uncontainable flood. This emphasizes the loss of control and overwhelming nature of grief, transforming a person's life into an ongoing experience of misery. Furthermore, Job's lament in this verse represents a challenge to the traditional retributive theology prevalent in his culture, where intense suffering was invariably linked to sin. Job, aware of his righteousness, implicitly questions divine justice, setting the stage for the profound theological inquiry that characterizes the Book of Job.

Job 3 24 Commentary

Job 3:24 paints a vivid picture of Job’s absolute despair and constant suffering. His life is so dominated by grief that his involuntary sighs and groans supersede even his hunger. The image of his 'roaring' pain pouring out like water powerfully conveys its ceaseless and overwhelming nature, signifying that his anguish is not merely emotional but physically debilitating and utterly uncontrollable. This verse encapsulates the crushing weight of his undeserved suffering, highlighting the extent to which his life has been reduced to an unending experience of pain and lament, making death a seemingly preferable escape from a reality defined by anguish.