Job describes how his suffering has alienated him from his nearest companions, showing his deep sense of rejection and hopelessness.
Job laments the alienation he feels from those closest to him when he says, “My breath is offensive to my wife, And I am loathsome to my own brothers” (v.17). In these words, he expresses how even the most intimate relationships in his life have become strained. Of all people, one might expect his wife—who bore witness to his prosperity and should have carried him in his low points—to remain steadfast, yet Job perceives that his very presence has become repulsive. The emotional weight he carries magnifies his sorrow, as he believes he has lost the reassurance of his familial ties and the respect of those who once stood by him.
Historically, Job is portrayed as a patriarch living in the land of Uz (Job 1:1). This region is often thought to be situated in or near Edom—a rugged area east of the Jordan River in what is now southern Jordan. Many scholars place the events of Job during the time of the patriarchs (around 2000-1800 BC), which positions Job alongside cultural figures such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By highlighting his desperation in this verse, Job provides a vivid contrast with the divine restoration that will come later, pointing toward a greater redeeming hope that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who also suffered rejection, even by His own people (John 1:11).
Furthermore, this verse underscores the depth of human suffering and isolation. In connecting to Jesus, believers can see how Christ Himself tasted rejection (John 7:5) and endured abandonment from those closest to Him in His earthly life. Job’s words in “My breath is offensive to my wife, And I am loathsome to my own brothers” (v.17) remind us that even faithful servants of God can experience profound loss and despair, yet they are not beyond God’s redemptive power. His pain also foreshadows the greater redemption story, illustrating a glimmer of hope amid the darkness.
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Job 19:17 meaning
Job laments the alienation he feels from those closest to him when he says, “My breath is offensive to my wife, And I am loathsome to my own brothers” (v.17). In these words, he expresses how even the most intimate relationships in his life have become strained. Of all people, one might expect his wife—who bore witness to his prosperity and should have carried him in his low points—to remain steadfast, yet Job perceives that his very presence has become repulsive. The emotional weight he carries magnifies his sorrow, as he believes he has lost the reassurance of his familial ties and the respect of those who once stood by him.
Historically, Job is portrayed as a patriarch living in the land of Uz (Job 1:1). This region is often thought to be situated in or near Edom—a rugged area east of the Jordan River in what is now southern Jordan. Many scholars place the events of Job during the time of the patriarchs (around 2000-1800 BC), which positions Job alongside cultural figures such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. By highlighting his desperation in this verse, Job provides a vivid contrast with the divine restoration that will come later, pointing toward a greater redeeming hope that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who also suffered rejection, even by His own people (John 1:11).
Furthermore, this verse underscores the depth of human suffering and isolation. In connecting to Jesus, believers can see how Christ Himself tasted rejection (John 7:5) and endured abandonment from those closest to Him in His earthly life. Job’s words in “My breath is offensive to my wife, And I am loathsome to my own brothers” (v.17) remind us that even faithful servants of God can experience profound loss and despair, yet they are not beyond God’s redemptive power. His pain also foreshadows the greater redemption story, illustrating a glimmer of hope amid the darkness.