Job 7:12

Job Continues: Life Seems Futile · Job 7:1–21
Read Job 7

Translations

Modern
Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?
Traditional
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
Literal
Am I a sea or the sea monster, that You would set a guard over me?
Latin
Numquid mare ego sum, aut cetus, quia circumdedisti me carcere?

Original

Hebrew
English
Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?

Notes

The sea (Hebrew yam) and the monster (Hebrew tannin) symbolize chaos opposing God's order of creation. In Canaanite mythology, "Yam" was the original sea god, and "Tannin" was a sea monster or a god of the myth of chaos (Jeremiah 51:34; Psalm 74:13–14). This chaos also appears in Job as "Leviathan" or "Rahab" (Job 3:8; Isaiah 27:1; Job 9:13; 26:12; Isaiah 51:9). The Lord has total control (sovereignty) over the sea and everything it represents (Job 26:12; 38:8–11; Psalm 89:9–10; Jeremiah 5:22).

Job cried out to God, saying life was too short (7:6–10). This complaint contrasts with his earlier wish for God to end his life (6:9).

Job responds by criticizing his counselors and questioning God (chapters 6 and 7). He explains his intense words by indicating his deep "grief" or "anguish" (6:2–3; 7:11). Job states that Eliphaz has not provided comfort or sympathy as a friend. Instead, Eliphaz chose to argue about out of date religious or theological ideas.

Events

Glossary

Book of Job Dragon Whale

Topics

Dragon: Interpreted As Whale, In Whale: Called a |Sea Monster| in the RV