so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu isn't just describing physical sickness; he's pointing out how extreme suffering strips away even the basic desires we take for granted, like the joy of eating. This loss isn't just discomfort, but a deliberate move by God to sever Job's attachment to earthly comforts and open him to spiritual realities.
so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Elihu is explaining how God uses severe suffering, even physical illness, as a way to discipline people and bring them back to Him. He's describing how intense pain can make someone lose their appetite for all food, even the most desirable kinds, showing how deeply afflicted they are. This loss of enjoyment for basic earthly pleasures is presented not just as a symptom of sickness, but as a sign that God is trying to get their attention and humble them.
Ever felt so sick you couldn't even stand the smell of food? It's more than just a minor inconvenience; it's a profound statement about how our bodies and spirits are connected.
Elihu is describing a common, visceral reaction to severe illness or pain. When Job is suffering deeply, his physical body rebels against the very things that sustain it.
The Body's Protest
When your body is screaming 'no' to food, is it just a random disease, or could God be speaking through that discomfort?
Elihu presents this loss of appetite not as a random curse, but as a part of God's disciplinary process. For Elihu, these physical symptoms are signals from God.
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The Purpose in Pain
Understand the original words
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
The mental or physical drive for sustenance; in a broader sense, it represents the soul's desire, craving, or longing for that which is perceived as essential or pleasurable.
This passage directly parallels Job's experience, describing how sickness can cause people to 'abhor all kinds of food,' showing this physical loathing as a common symptom that underscores spiritual distress.
Ecclesiastes 12:5This verse uses the loss of appetite and the difficulty of eating as a metaphor for the physical decline and frailty of old age, highlighting how the body's basic needs can become a source of dread when failing.
Romans 8:6This verse contrasts the 'mind of the flesh,' which leads to death, with the 'mind of the Spirit,' which leads to life and peace. Job's loss of appetite can be seen as a physical manifestation of being cut off from the life-giving sustenance of the Spirit.
Philippians 3:19Paul warns against those whose 'minds are set on earthly things,' even though their physical appetites might differ. This connects to Job's physical suffering, suggesting that a disordered appetite can symbolize a disordered focus away from spiritual nourishment.
barnesJob 33:20: "So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat."
So that his life abhorreth bread - It is a common effect of sickness to take away the appetite. Elihu here regards it as a part of the wholesome discipline of the sufferer. He has no relish for the comforts of life. And his soul dainty meat - Margin, "meat of desire." The Hebrew is, "food of desire." The word rendered "meat" (מאכל ma'ăkâl) does not denote animal food only, but any kind of food. So the Old English word m…
cambridgeJob 33:20: "So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat."
20 . his life ] Or, desire (appetite, ch. Job 38:39 ). The words mean lit. his desire maketh him abhor .
Elihu isn't just describing physical sickness; he's pointing out how extreme suffering strips away even the basic desires we take for granted, like the joy of eating. This loss isn't just discomfort, but a deliberate move by God to sever Job's attachment to earthly comforts and open him to spiritual realities.
Elihu is explaining how God uses severe suffering, even physical illness, as a way to discipline people and bring them back to Him. He's describing how intense pain can make someone lose their appetite for all food, even the most desirable kinds, showing how deeply afflicted they are. This loss of enjoyment for basic earthly pleasures is presented not just as a symptom of sickness, but as a sign that God is trying to get their attention and humble them.
Elihu is explaining how God uses severe suffering, even physical illness, as a way to discipline people and bring them back to Him. He's describing how intense pain can make someone lose their appetite for all food, even the most desirable kinds, showing how deeply afflicted they are. This loss of enjoyment for basic earthly pleasures is presented not just as a symptom of sickness, but as a sign that God is trying to get their attention and humble them.
"so that his life loathes bread, and his appetite the choicest food." — Elihu isn't just describing physical sickness; he's pointing out how extreme suffering strips away even the basic desires we take for granted, like the joy of eating. This loss isn't just discomfort,…
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Last reviewed October 2026