Here, Job laments that his suffering has no boundary—not even sleep can shelter him from dread.
Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions (v.14). These are Job’s anguished words as he describes how even in his attempts to find rest from his suffering, he experiences disturbing nightmares and visions. Job is widely believed to have lived during the time of the patriarchs, perhaps around 2000-1800 BC, although the exact date remains uncertain. He is portrayed in Scripture as a man of deep faith whose life was severely tested by catastrophic losses and physical suffering. Here, the emphasis rests on the idea that the quiet and relief he seeks in sleep are instead overtaken by images that amplify his sense of urgency and distress.
When Job says, Then You frighten me with dreams, he is directing his lament at God, placing responsibility for these frightening nighttime encounters upon Him. Scripturally, dreams often appear as a form of divine communication, sometimes bringing comfort and direction, sometimes directing people away from wrongdoing (as hinted at in Job 33:14-15). Yet in this verse, dreams become a source of dread, as though each attempt to rest is interrupted by more torment rather than solace. Many passages illustrate God’s use of dreams or visions—some for instruction, others for warning or judgment—demonstrating the diverse ways the Lord intersects with the subconscious world (see concepts in Joel 2:28 about God pouring out His Spirit leading to dreams,, and Deuteronomy 13:1 regarding dreamers,). However, for Job, these visions feel more like divine assaults than helpful revelations, compounding his struggles as he wrestles with why a righteous God would allow him no refuge.
And terrify me by visions intensifies this complaint, highlighting that even in his inner, hidden life, he cannot escape misery. Job’s honesty as he grapples with suffering—wondering why God pursues him not only in waking hours but in sleep—is part of what makes his story so compelling. Though he believes God sovereignly oversees both his blessings and adversities, he struggles with his new reality, expressing raw human fear that his hardships now extend to every corner of his existence, including nighttime rest.
Job’s complaint is a reminder that in seasons of great trial, even the avenues we trust for respite or escape can become battlegrounds of the soul.
Job 7:14 meaning
Then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions (v.14). These are Job’s anguished words as he describes how even in his attempts to find rest from his suffering, he experiences disturbing nightmares and visions. Job is widely believed to have lived during the time of the patriarchs, perhaps around 2000-1800 BC, although the exact date remains uncertain. He is portrayed in Scripture as a man of deep faith whose life was severely tested by catastrophic losses and physical suffering. Here, the emphasis rests on the idea that the quiet and relief he seeks in sleep are instead overtaken by images that amplify his sense of urgency and distress.
When Job says, Then You frighten me with dreams, he is directing his lament at God, placing responsibility for these frightening nighttime encounters upon Him. Scripturally, dreams often appear as a form of divine communication, sometimes bringing comfort and direction, sometimes directing people away from wrongdoing (as hinted at in Job 33:14-15). Yet in this verse, dreams become a source of dread, as though each attempt to rest is interrupted by more torment rather than solace. Many passages illustrate God’s use of dreams or visions—some for instruction, others for warning or judgment—demonstrating the diverse ways the Lord intersects with the subconscious world (see concepts in Joel 2:28 about God pouring out His Spirit leading to dreams,, and Deuteronomy 13:1 regarding dreamers,). However, for Job, these visions feel more like divine assaults than helpful revelations, compounding his struggles as he wrestles with why a righteous God would allow him no refuge.
And terrify me by visions intensifies this complaint, highlighting that even in his inner, hidden life, he cannot escape misery. Job’s honesty as he grapples with suffering—wondering why God pursues him not only in waking hours but in sleep—is part of what makes his story so compelling. Though he believes God sovereignly oversees both his blessings and adversities, he struggles with his new reality, expressing raw human fear that his hardships now extend to every corner of his existence, including nighttime rest.
Job’s complaint is a reminder that in seasons of great trial, even the avenues we trust for respite or escape can become battlegrounds of the soul.