What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job questions why God would "magnify" or consider him so important, and "set his heart" on him. This isn't just about God's love, but about the immense attention and engagement God has with humanity, even to the point of intense scrutiny and trial. It highlights the profound and often perplexing reality of God's deep involvement with flawed, fragile humans.
What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Job is in the midst of intense suffering and questioning God's involvement. He's been agonizing over why God seems to be so focused on his every failing, making him feel like insignificant dust is being scrutinized. This verse expresses his bewilderment that God, the Almighty, would pay such close attention—either in blessing or in trial—to a fragile and fleeting human like himself.
Job is bewildered. He feels utterly insignificant, yet God's attention is fixed upon him. Have you ever wondered why God cares so much about tiny, flawed humans like us?
Job's question, 'What is man, that you make so much of him?' echoes a profound awe. From a purely human perspective, we are small, fleeting, and often imperfect. Yet, God's Word reveals that He deliberately magnifies us.
Divine Magnification
The phrase 'set your heart on him' is powerful. Does it mean God's deep affection, or is Job perceiving it as God's focused attention for punishment?
Job grapples with the intensity of his suffering and questions God's motives. He asks, 'that you should set your heart upon him?' In his pain, Job perceives this intense focus as potentially punitive.
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Two Sides of God's Focus
Job’s questioning arises from the agony of experiencing the discipline without fully grasping the underlying affection.
Understand the original words
enosh · Hebrew Noun
A term for humanity, often emphasizing its frailty, mortality, and weakness in contrast to the eternal, sovereign God.
leb · Hebrew Noun
To direct one's deepest affection, concern, or attention toward someone. When applied to God, it signifies His deliberate and purposeful engagement with His creation.
This psalm echoes Job's question about man's significance, but from a perspective of awe and wonder at God's creation and how He esteems humanity.
Psalm 144:3Similar to Job, the psalmist questions God's attention to man, highlighting human frailty and the brevity of life in contrast to God's greatness.
Romans 5:8This passage powerfully contrasts man's sinfulness (implied in Job's suffering) with God's immense love, demonstrated by Christ's death, which magnifies God's heart towards us.
1 Samuel 24:14David uses a similar phrase to describe the lowliness of his enemy, Saul, and questions why he would pursue him; this reflects Job's sense of insignificance in God's pursuit of him.
clarkeJob 7:17: "What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?"
What is man that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? - Two different ideas have been drawn from these words: - 1. Man is not worth thy notice; why therefore dost thou contend with him? 2. How astonishing is thy kindness that thou shouldest fix thy heart - thy strongest affections, on such a poor, base, vile, impotent creature as man, (אנוש enosh)…
jfbJob 7:17: "What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?"
- (Ps 8:4; 144:3). Job means, "What is man that thou shouldst make him [of so much importance], and that thou shouldst expend such attention [or, heart-thought] upon him" as to make him the subject of so severe trials? Job ought rather to have reasoned from God's condescending so far to notice man as to try him, that there must be a wise and loving purpose in trial. David uses the same…
Job questions why God would "magnify" or consider him so important, and "set his heart" on him. This isn't just about God's love, but about the immense attention and engagement God has with humanity, even to the point of intense scrutiny and trial. It highlights the profound and often perplexing reality of God's deep involvement with flawed, fragile humans.
Job is in the midst of intense suffering and questioning God's involvement. He's been agonizing over why God seems to be so focused on his every failing, making him feel like insignificant dust is being scrutinized. This verse expresses his bewilderment that God, the Almighty, would pay such close attention—either in blessing or in trial—to a fragile and fleeting human like himself.
Job is in the midst of intense suffering and questioning God's involvement. He's been agonizing over why God seems to be so focused on his every failing, making him feel like insignificant dust is being scrutinized. This verse expresses his bewilderment that God, the Almighty, would pay such close attention—either in blessing or in trial—to a fragile and fleeting human like himself.
"What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him," — Job questions why God would "magnify" or consider him so important, and "set his heart" on him. This isn't just about God's love, but about the immense attention and engagement God has with humanity,…
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Last reviewed October 2026