Job 7 8

Job 7:8 kjv

The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.

Job 7:8 nkjv

The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.

Job 7:8 niv

The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more.

Job 7:8 esv

The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more; while your eyes are on me, I shall be gone.

Job 7:8 nlt

You see me now, but not for long.
You will look for me, but I will be gone.

Job 7 verses

Job 7 8 Meaning

Job 7:8 expresses Job's profound sense of the finality and transience of human life, especially under the weight of his suffering. He laments that those who see him now will soon not behold him, signifying his impending death and disappearance from the earthly realm. Even God, who is omniscient and always observing, will search for him but will find him non-existent in the land of the living. This verse highlights Job's desperate despair and his view of death as a permanent cessation of his presence among humanity and from God's immediate interaction on earth.

Job 7 8 Context

Job chapter 7 is a poignant lament from Job, following the initial wave of his friends' counsel, particularly Eliphaz's. Job responds by pouring out the depth of his despair, suffering, and his wish for death. He views his life as short, full of pain, and devoid of hope for relief. This verse (Job 7:8) is part of a longer soliloquy (Job 7:1-21) where Job articulates the miserable state of human existence, drawing parallels to a slave or hired hand yearning for the end of their difficult labor. His immediate preceding statements highlight the swiftness and brevity of life, emphasizing that there is no returning from death to earthly existence. He directly addresses God, questioning why God focuses such attention on afflicting him, seeing himself as insignificant yet targeted. The verse underscores Job's perception that once he dies, he will be completely gone from the view and memory of people, and even God's search will prove futile in the realm of the living. It is a desperate cry, reflecting Job's intense physical pain and mental anguish, feeling utterly abandoned and annihilated by his circumstances.

Job 7 8 Word analysis

• The eye: (עֵין, ‘ayin) In this context, "the eye" refers to human vision, perception, and observation. It represents those who presently see and acknowledge Job's existence and suffering, likely his friends, family, and acquaintances. Its significance lies in the coming cessation of this human recognition.
• of him who sees me: (רֹאִי, ro'iy) This participle emphasizes an ongoing state of "seeing" or "observing." It specifies the person or people who are currently witnessing Job's state. Job expresses that these individuals, the human spectators of his life, will eventually look for him but will no longer find him among the living.
• will behold me no more; (לֹא־יְשׁוּרֶ֬נִּי, lo-yeshureni) lo: Hebrew negation, "no," "not." yeshureni: From the verb שׁוּר (shur), meaning "to behold," "to gaze," "to survey," often implying a continuous or intent look. The negative particle with this verb indicates a definitive cessation of seeing or finding. The implication is total absence and irrecoverability from earthly sight. This phrase signifies the absolute finality of his earthly presence from the human perspective, a state of oblivion.
• Your eyes: (עֵינֶ֣יךָ, ‘eyneykha) This is a direct address to God, singular "Your." In stark contrast to "the eye" of mere mortals, "Your eyes" signifies God's divine, omniscient, and omnipresent gaze. This highlights God's constant awareness and knowledge, seeing all things and all beings. Job acknowledges God's unfailing perception, even as he feels utterly forsaken.
• will be on me, (בִּ֑י, bi) The preposition "on/in/at me" (from בְּ, b') coupled with the suffix "me" implies God's continued attentiveness or focus upon Job. Even after Job's physical disappearance from human view, God's eyes will still search for or focus upon where Job was. This creates a powerful contrast between human transience and divine omnipresence.
• but I will not be. (וְאֵינֶֽנִּי, v'eineni) v': Hebrew conjunction "and," or "but" (adversative in this context). eineni: From אַיִן ('ayin), meaning "no," "not," "nothing," combined with the first-person singular suffix "-ni," meaning "I am not," "I will not exist," or "I will be no more." This is a stark declaration of non-existence or absolute absence from the living realm. It powerfully conveys Job's belief that his death will lead to an irreversible disappearance, a state of total void for earthly experience.

• "The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more": This phrase speaks to Job's profound sense of personal impending oblivion from human society and memory. He recognizes that his suffering body will be laid low, and those who currently know him will seek him out in vain. This mirrors the lament in Ps 39:13 and resonates with Eccl 9:5-6 concerning the forgetfulness that accompanies death. It captures the very human fear of ceasing to exist in the world of the living and of being forgotten.
• "Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be": This forms a powerful antiphon, creating a paradox. On one hand, it acknowledges God's omnipresence and perfect knowledge—God will always be able to "see" Job in some ultimate sense. On the other hand, it expresses Job's deep despair that even with God's perfect vision, he (Job) will simply be gone from the tangible, earthly realm. Job isn't suggesting God cannot see him in the afterlife, but that God will search for his presence on earth and find him vanished. It speaks to Job's raw honesty in grappling with God's seemingly aloof knowledge versus his immediate human suffering and anticipated non-existence in this world. This contrast highlights the chasm between Job's human experience of cessation and God's eternal perspective, which Job cannot fully comprehend or take comfort in at this moment.

Job 7 8 Bonus section

• This verse contributes significantly to the theme of life's brevity and suffering in the Book of Job, contrasting sharply with the notion of ultimate reward for the righteous within their lifetime, which his friends advocate.
• Job's understanding of an afterlife here reflects the common Old Testament concept of Sheol, a shadowy existence or state of inactivity for all the dead, distinct from later biblical revelations of resurrection and conscious fellowship with God after death. Job's words underscore a feeling of utter cessation, rather than a hopeful transition.
• The raw honesty of Job's complaint, even hinting at God's apparent indifference or a divine 'search' that yields nothing, resonates with human experience of loss and grief. It shows that even the most righteous can grapple with the seeming void of divine silence.

Job 7 8 Commentary

Job 7:8 is a powerful expression of Job's deep despair and his resignation to the finality of death in his earthly existence. He laments that human sight—the observation of those who know him—will cease to perceive him, signaling his impending departure and eventual disappearance from memory on earth. This reflects a common ancient Near Eastern understanding of death as a permanent departure from the land of the living, often accompanied by forgetfulness among people. The stark second clause, "Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be," serves as a poignant, almost accusatory statement to God. Job acknowledges God's omniscience – that God's eyes indeed penetrate all existence and all places. Yet, from Job's agonized human perspective, even this divine knowledge offers no comfort because he will have ceased to exist in any meaningful, tangible way in this life. He implies that God will search for him, perhaps out of some form of continued divine engagement, but will find only absence where Job once was. This verse perfectly encapsulates the deep theological tension of the Book of Job: Job's limited, earthly perspective on suffering and death versus God's unfathomable, sovereign, and ultimately redemptive plan. It portrays Job's sense of utter isolation and abandonment, feeling pursued by God's judgment while simultaneously anticipating oblivion.