Job 33 11

Job 33:11 kjv

He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.

Job 33:11 nkjv

He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.'

Job 33:11 niv

He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.'

Job 33:11 esv

he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.'

Job 33:11 nlt

He puts my feet in the stocks
and watches my every move.'

Job 33 verses

Job 33 11 Meaning

Job 33:11 conveys Job's deeply anguished perception of God, articulated by Elihu as part of Job's complaint. Job views God as an oppressive jailer, treating him as a criminal deserving of the most severe and humiliating confinement. The "stocks" signify painful physical restraint and public disgrace, while "watching all my paths" denotes incessant, hostile surveillance. Job feels completely trapped, without freedom or privacy, and under constant, malicious divine scrutiny. He perceives God not as a righteous judge but as an unjust adversary inflicting undue suffering and inescapable monitoring.

Job 33 11 Context

Job 33 falls within Elihu's speeches (chapters 32-37), where he takes on the role of mediator between Job and God. Elihu, a younger and seemingly more impatient man, steps forward after Job's three friends have exhausted their arguments and Job remains steadfast in his righteousness. In verses 8-11, Elihu recounts Job's bitter complaints about God, summarizing the very core of Job's struggle. Elihu aims to show that Job has a distorted view of God, particularly concerning the purpose of suffering. He quotes Job not necessarily to endorse these words, but to address them. Elihu introduces the concept that God communicates with humans not only through great power but also through various means, including dreams, visions, and even affliction, all with the goal of turning humanity away from sin and toward salvation. Therefore, verse 11 is crucial because it highlights Job's profound sense of abandonment, injustice, and extreme divine oppression, which Elihu subsequently seeks to correct by presenting God's true nature as merciful and redemptive, even through hardship.

Job 33 11 Word analysis

• He puts (וְיָּשֵׂם - v'yasem): Derived from the Hebrew root שִׂים (sim), meaning "to place," "set," or "lay." This conveys intentional, deliberate action on God's part. Job perceives this as a conscious act of unwarranted infliction and control by God, not as an accident or consequence of impersonal law.
• my feet (רַגְלַי - raglay): From the Hebrew רֶגֶל (regel), meaning "foot." The plural signifies Job's literal feet but metaphorically represents his progress, movements, life course, and ability to act or move freely. The emphasis is on complete restriction of his life's path.
• in the stocks (בַּסַּד - ba-sad): From the Hebrew סַד (sad), referring to an instrument of restraint, usually a wooden frame with holes for feet, and sometimes hands and neck. This device was used for punishing criminals, often accompanied by public humiliation and pain from contorted limbs. It represents extreme, painful, and humiliating confinement, painting God as treating Job not just as an accused but as a convicted criminal worthy of severe, public suffering.
• and watches (יִשְׁמֹר - yishmor): From the Hebrew root שָׁמַר (shamar), meaning "to keep," "guard," "watch," or "observe." While shamar can mean benevolent guardianship elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Psa 121:7), in this context, it takes on a sinister connotation for Job. It implies relentless, obsessive, even hostile scrutiny, preventing any move from being unnoticed. It is a suffocating vigilance that offers no escape or privacy.
• all my paths (כָּל־אֲרָחוֹתָֽי - kol-arachaotai): Consists of כָּל (kol) meaning "all" or "every," and אֲרָחוֹת (arachaot) from אֹרַח (orach) meaning "path" or "way." This phrase encompasses every aspect of Job's life: his actions, intentions, thoughts, and course of life. The word "all" emphasizes the pervasive and inescapable nature of this surveillance. Job feels God is meticulously observing every single step he takes, not for guidance or protection, but to find fault or ensure continued torment.
• "He puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths": This combined imagery powerfully conveys Job's utter despair and sense of entrapment. It portrays a divine antagonist who not only physically immobilizes Job (through affliction seen as "stocks") but also ceaselessly monitors his every thought and deed, denying him any personal space or freedom. Job's complaint reflects a deep psychological torment rooted in the perception of God's pervasive hostility and injustice towards him, magnifying his sense of victimhood.

Job 33 11 Bonus section

• While Elihu accurately reports Job's specific words and sentiments, the theological weight of his arguments, especially concerning the purpose of suffering, is complex. Elihu attempts to bridge the gap between Job's flawed understanding and the friends' rigid dogma, asserting God's omnipotence and righteous administration in ways that align with God's ultimate revelation to Job in the Whirlwind.
• The tension in the book of Job centers on why a righteous man suffers. This verse highlights the profound spiritual crisis arising when suffering leads one to perceive God not as just or benevolent, but as a direct oppressor. It touches on the universal human struggle to reconcile divine power with personal pain and find meaning amidst trials.
• This verse can be understood as Job struggling with God's perceived sovereignty in his suffering, mirroring broader questions of divine justice when faced with seemingly arbitrary affliction. The challenge is not denying God's power but comprehending His moral character in the face of deep pain.

Job 33 11 Commentary

Job 33:11, quoted by Elihu, captures Job's profound lament that God, the very One he served faithfully, is treating him with unwarranted cruelty and constant oppression. Job feels imprisoned and tortured as if he were a criminal (symbolized by the stocks) and perpetually under a watchful, hostile divine eye. This is not the watchful eye of a loving father or protective shepherd, but the intrusive gaze of a warden seeking to find fault or prolong suffering. Elihu presents this as Job's mistaken accusation, a view born out of immense suffering rather than a true understanding of God's nature. Ultimately, Elihu's aim, as well as the broader book of Job, is to correct this distorted perception, revealing that God's actions, even if inscrutable and painful, are neither arbitrary nor malicious. Instead, they serve wise, righteous, and ultimately redemptive purposes, often to draw a person closer to God or refine their character.