Job 23 · Verse 2

Job 23:2

Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
Job 23:2, King James Version

Job 23:2 in other translations

BSB“Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
WEB“Even today my complaint is rebellious. His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
ASVEven to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning.
YLTAlso--to-day is my complaint bitter, My hand hath been heavy because of my sighing.
DARBYEven to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
BBEEven today my outcry is bitter; his hand is hard on my sorrow.
WebsterEven to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

What does Job 23:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
THIRD SERIES.

Job 23:1-17. Job's Answer.

2. to-day--implying, perhaps, that the debate was carried on through more days than one (see Introduction). bitter--(Job 7:11; 10:1). my stroke--the hand of God on me (Margin, Job 19:21; Psa 32:4). heavier than--is so heavy that I cannot relieve myself adequately by groaning.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter - Job goes on to maintain his own innocence, and shows that he has derived neither conviction nor consolation from the discourses of his friends. He grants that his complaint is bitter; but states that, loud as it may be, the affliction which he endures is heavier than his complaints are loud. Mr. Good translates: "And still is my complaint rebellion?" Do ye construe my lamentations over my unparalleled sufferings as rebellion against God? This, in fact, they had done from the beginning: and the original will justify the version of Mr. Good; for מרי meri, which we translate bitter, may be derived from מרה marah, "he rebelled."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 23:1-7

Job appeals from his friends to the just judgement of God. He wants to have his cause tried quickly. Blessed be God, we may know where to find him. He is in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself; and upon a mercy-seat, waiting to be gracious. Thither the sinner may go; and there the believer may order his cause before Him, with arguments taken from his promises, his covenant, and his glory. A patient waiting…

Read the full comment on Job 23:1-7 →

Job 23:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

גַּם\־gam-alsoH1571
הַ֭יּוֹםHai.yomthis dayH3117
מְרִ֣יme.Ri[the] rebellion ofH4805
שִׂחִ֑יsi.Chicomplaint myH7879
יָ֝דִ֗יya.Dihand myH3027
כָּבְדָ֥הka.ve.Dahit is heavyH3513
עַל\־'al-onH5921
אַנְחָתִֽי\׃'an.cha.Tigroaning myH585

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 23:2

  • Job 10:1

    My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

  • Job 7:11

    Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

  • Psalms 32:4

    For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.

  • Job 6:2-3

    Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

  • Psalms 77:2-9

    In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. …

  • Lamentations 3:19-20

    Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

  • Job 11:6

    And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
my complaint.
6:2; 10:1; La 3:19,20; Ps 77:2-9
stroke. Heb. hand. heavier.
11:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 23:1

    Then Job answered and said,

  • Job 23:2

    Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.

  • Job 23:3

    Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

Read all of Job 23

Job 23:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hoy también hablaré con amargura; que es más grave mi llaga que mi gemido.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Encore aujourd’hui ma plainte est amère, la main qui s’appesantit sur moi est plus pesante que mon gémissement!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Auch heute ist meine Klage trotzig; seine Hand lastet schwer auf meinem Seufzen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nunc quoque in amaritudine est sermo meus, et manus plagæ meæ aggravata est super gemitum meum.