The big picture
Job 7 opens in verse 1 with “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will…”, and closes in verse 21 with “And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now…” Repeated or prominent terms include days, shouldest, appointed, dust, hireling. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Job · King James Version · 21Job 7:1-7
1–7: Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also…
Job 7:1–7 opens with “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an…” and reaches “O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 7 develops its own movement around days, shouldest, appointed, dust, hireling, with particular weight carried by days, appointed, hireling.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Job 7:1-7
King James Version1Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
2As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
3So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
5My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
Job 7:8-14
8–14: The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are…
Job 7:8–14 opens with “The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.” and reaches “Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 7 develops its own movement around days, shouldest, appointed, dust, hireling, with particular weight carried by anguish, bitterness, cloud.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Job 7:8-14
King James Version8The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
9As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.
10He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
13When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
Job 7:15-21
15–21: So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
Job 7:15–21 opens with “So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.” and reaches “And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 7 develops its own movement around days, shouldest, appointed, dust, hireling, with particular weight carried by shouldest, morning, alway.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 5 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Job 7:15-21
King James Version15So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
16I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
21And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Job 7:1 begins with “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?”
Where the chapter turns
Job 7:11 forms a natural hinge: “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.”
The final note
Job 7:21 leaves the reader with “And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words days, shouldest, appointed, dust, hireling, life help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What links this event with creation?
Waters overwhelm the inhabited world, reversing the separations that made life possible.
What details show continuity rather than total abandonment?
The named household and preserved kinds of living creatures survive within the ark.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.