Job 7:19 highlights the depth of despair and the longing for a momentary reprieve that can accompany intense suffering.
Job, a man from the land of Uz (likely located east of ancient Palestine around 2000-1800 BC), expresses his deep distress in these words: “Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?” (Job 7:19). Here, he pleads for a moment of respite from God’s relentless scrutiny, describing the feeling that he cannot even catch his breath. This expression of sorrow reflects Job’s sense of being overwhelmed by suffering and divine attention. Job’s lament shows he is acutely aware of God’s power and ever-watchful presence, yet he wishes for space to process his grief without constant affliction.
When Job says, “Will You never turn Your gaze away from me” (Job 7:19), it highlights how he feels there is no escape from divine observation. This sentiment resonates with the truth that God is all-seeing (Psalm 139:7-10), and yet, in Job’s affliction, he perceives it as a burden rather than a comfort. His plea underscores the tension between acknowledging God’s sovereignty and longing for a break from the intensity of pain and testing. This struggle can also foreshadow the cries of Jesus on the cross, where He likewise experienced profound distress, though perfectly fulfilling the Father’s will (Matthew 27:46).
Job’s description of not being left alone “until I swallow my spittle” (Job 7:19) adds a vivid image of desperation, illustrating how he feels hounded by unrelenting trials. This phrase captures the immediacy and rawness of his appeal: even the simple act of swallowing his saliva seems impossible without God’s notice. Some find comfort in this passage by recognizing that just as Job wrestled with his faith during trials, believers today can bring their most anguished cries to the Lord, who hears and sees every detail (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Job 7:19 meaning
Job, a man from the land of Uz (likely located east of ancient Palestine around 2000-1800 BC), expresses his deep distress in these words: “Will You never turn Your gaze away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow my spittle?” (Job 7:19). Here, he pleads for a moment of respite from God’s relentless scrutiny, describing the feeling that he cannot even catch his breath. This expression of sorrow reflects Job’s sense of being overwhelmed by suffering and divine attention. Job’s lament shows he is acutely aware of God’s power and ever-watchful presence, yet he wishes for space to process his grief without constant affliction.
When Job says, “Will You never turn Your gaze away from me” (Job 7:19), it highlights how he feels there is no escape from divine observation. This sentiment resonates with the truth that God is all-seeing (Psalm 139:7-10), and yet, in Job’s affliction, he perceives it as a burden rather than a comfort. His plea underscores the tension between acknowledging God’s sovereignty and longing for a break from the intensity of pain and testing. This struggle can also foreshadow the cries of Jesus on the cross, where He likewise experienced profound distress, though perfectly fulfilling the Father’s will (Matthew 27:46).
Job’s description of not being left alone “until I swallow my spittle” (Job 7:19) adds a vivid image of desperation, illustrating how he feels hounded by unrelenting trials. This phrase captures the immediacy and rawness of his appeal: even the simple act of swallowing his saliva seems impossible without God’s notice. Some find comfort in this passage by recognizing that just as Job wrestled with his faith during trials, believers today can bring their most anguished cries to the Lord, who hears and sees every detail (Hebrews 4:15-16).