Job 7:17-18
What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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{ "references": [ { "reference": "Psalm 8:4", "connection": "This psalm echoes Job's wonder at God's attention to humanity, but from a place of praise, highlighting the vast difference between God's greatness and man's smallness." }, { "reference": "Psalm 144:3", "connection": "Similar to Job, the psalmist questions God's mindfulness of humankind, emphasizing man's fleeting existence and insignificance in comparison to the Creator." }, { "reference": "Isaiah 40:28", "connection": "This passage provides a powerful contrast to Job's lament, revealing God's infinite strength and wisdom, which undergirds His deep concern for humanity, rather than implying His neglect." }, { "reference": "Luke 12:6-7", "connection": "Jesus uses a similar rhetorical question to emphasize God's meticulous care for even the smallest of His creation, showing that man's value to God far exceeds his perceived worth." } ] }
Job is in the depths of his suffering, questioning God's intense focus on him. He feels God is scrutinizing his every move and bringing down severe trials, asking why the Almighty would bother with such an insignificant, frail human being. This comes after he's already lamented his existence and wished for death to end his agony.
Job grapples with the sheer scale of God's attention. He wonders why a being of infinite power would focus so intensely on humanity.
Job asks, "What is man, that you should magnify him?" The word 'magnify' here doesn't just mean 'to make large,' but rather 'to consider of great importance' or 'to bestow significant attention upon.'
Two Sides of the Coin
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The core of Job's question is this tension: Is God's attention a sign of His greatness being bestowed upon us, or a sign of His judgment being magnified against us?
Job feels God has 'set His heart' on him, but he interprets this with dread. What does it truly mean for God to set His heart on us?
Job's second question, "...and that you should set your heart on him?" carries a heavy weight in his context. The phrase 'set your heart on' can express deep affection and desire, but for Job, it feels like God has fixed His attention on him with the intent to punish.
A Love That Afflicts?
It's a profound, and for Job, terrifying thought: that God's deep engagement with him, His 'heart-thought,' is currently manifesting as severe trial.
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.
paqad · Hebrew Verb
In a theological context, God's intervention in human affairs, whether in judgment or in grace, appearing to inspect or intervene in an individual's life.
bachan · Hebrew Verb
A trial or examination used to prove, refine, or reveal the true character, integrity, or faith of a person.
This psalm echoes Job's wonder at God's attention to humanity, though it shifts from Job's agony to David's awe-filled praise for God's loving care over us.
Psalm 144:3Similar to Job, the psalmist questions man's significance in light of God's greatness, highlighting our fleeting existence compared to the eternal Creator.
Matthew 10:29-31Jesus assures us that not even a sparrow falls without our Father's notice, directly addressing the question of divine attention to seemingly small things, including us.
Luke 12:6-7This passage reinforces the idea that God knows and cares for us intimately, even down to the number of hairs on our head, mirroring the sentiment of God setting His heart on humanity.
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…
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Psalm 8:4", "connection": "This psalm echoes Job's wonder at God's attention to humanity, but from a place of praise, highlighting the vast difference between God's greatness and man's smallness." }, { "reference": "Psalm 144:3", "connection": "Similar to Job, the psalmist questions God's mindfulness of humankind, emphasizing man's fleeting existence and insignificance in comparison to the Creator." }, { "reference": "Isaiah 40:28", "connection": "This passage provides a powerful contrast to Job's lament, revealing God's infinite strength and wisdom, which undergirds His deep concern for humanity, rather than implying His neglect." }, { "reference": "Luke 12:6-7", "connection": "Jesus uses a similar rhetorical question to emphasize God's meticulous care for even the smallest of His creation, showing that man's value to God far exceeds his perceived worth." } ] }
Job is in the depths of his suffering, questioning God's intense focus on him. He feels God is scrutinizing his every move and bringing down severe trials, asking why the Almighty would bother with such an insignificant, frail human being. This comes after he's already lamented his existence and wished for death to end his agony.
Job is in the depths of his suffering, questioning God's intense focus on him. He feels God is scrutinizing his every move and bringing down severe trials, asking why the Almighty would bother with such an insignificant, frail human being. This comes after he's already lamented his existence and wished for death to end his agony.
"What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment?" — { "references": [ { "reference": "Psalm 8:4", "connection": "This psalm echoes Job's wonder at God's attention to humanity, but from a place of praise, highlighting the vast differe…
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