God sometimes allows severe trials to bring us back to dependence on Him.
Elihu is speaking in this chapter, describing how God uses suffering to humble and redirect a person’s heart. As he illustrates how physical pain and weariness can strip away our appetite, he says, “So that his life loathes bread, And his soul favorite food.” (v.20). This picture conveys a profound sense of revulsion and despair, with the most basic necessities of life becoming distasteful. Elihu’s message is that God may allow suffering as a means of preventing someone from pursuing a destructive path, effectively using physical affliction to draw attention back to the spiritual reality that true life and sustenance come from the Lord John 6:35).
The phrase “his life loathes bread” (v.20) shows the depth of misery one can experience. Even the nourishment needed for survival, something normally dependable and comforting, now seems abhorrent. In Elihu’s view, God has many ways to reach us, and sometimes He permits these difficult circumstances to accomplish a deeper spiritual purpose. Scripture reassures believers that the Lord can bring good from hardship (Romans 8:28), providing the comfort that suffering, while painful, is not arbitrary or purposeless.
When Elihu says, “And his soul favorite food” (v.20), it conveys the inner revulsion that goes beyond bodily discomfort. It speaks to an anguish that penetrates deeply into the soul, causing dissatisfaction with even the most luxurious offerings. This indicates a complete breakdown of one’s former delight, possibly urging the sufferer to recognize the fleeting nature of worldly pleasures and turn toward a closer communion with God, who alone provides true fulfillment.
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Job 33:20 meaning
Elihu is speaking in this chapter, describing how God uses suffering to humble and redirect a person’s heart. As he illustrates how physical pain and weariness can strip away our appetite, he says, “So that his life loathes bread, And his soul favorite food.” (v.20). This picture conveys a profound sense of revulsion and despair, with the most basic necessities of life becoming distasteful. Elihu’s message is that God may allow suffering as a means of preventing someone from pursuing a destructive path, effectively using physical affliction to draw attention back to the spiritual reality that true life and sustenance come from the Lord John 6:35).
The phrase “his life loathes bread” (v.20) shows the depth of misery one can experience. Even the nourishment needed for survival, something normally dependable and comforting, now seems abhorrent. In Elihu’s view, God has many ways to reach us, and sometimes He permits these difficult circumstances to accomplish a deeper spiritual purpose. Scripture reassures believers that the Lord can bring good from hardship (Romans 8:28), providing the comfort that suffering, while painful, is not arbitrary or purposeless.
When Elihu says, “And his soul favorite food” (v.20), it conveys the inner revulsion that goes beyond bodily discomfort. It speaks to an anguish that penetrates deeply into the soul, causing dissatisfaction with even the most luxurious offerings. This indicates a complete breakdown of one’s former delight, possibly urging the sufferer to recognize the fleeting nature of worldly pleasures and turn toward a closer communion with God, who alone provides true fulfillment.