Job 19:11 — Word Study
WLCוַיַּ֣חַר עָלַ֣י אַפּ֑וֹ וַיַּחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי ל֣וֹ כְצָרָֽיו׃
BSAHis angerʼaph [furious wrath, burning indignation] burnschârâh▸ [is kindled, is ignited] against meʻal and He counts mechâshab▸ [reckons, considers] among His enemiestsar [as one of, like, adversaries, those who oppose Him]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיַּ֣חַר | and he has kindled | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| עָלַ֣י | towards me | Preposition, suffix |
| אַפּ֑וֹ | anger his | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וַיַּחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי | and he has considered me | Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| ל֣וֹ | himself | Preposition, suffix |
| כְצָרָֽיו׃ | like foes his | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | His anger burns against me, and He counts me among His enemies. |
| KJV | He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. |
| ASV | He hath also kindled his wrath against me, And he counteth me unto him as one of his adversaries. |
| YLT | And He kindleth against me His anger, And reckoneth me to Him as His adversaries. |
| WEB | He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries. |
| BBE | His wrath is burning against me, and I am to him as one of his haters. |
Where they part company is in the interpretation of וַיַּ֣חַר — see How Translations Differ.
The verse is structured around a main clause with two subordinate phrases, emphasizing Job's feelings of persecution.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbחָרָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 19:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Job's Lamentgenerated
Job 19:11 occurs in a passage where Job is expressing his profound sense of betrayal and suffering. He feels that God is angry with him and that he has been set apart as an enemy. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Job laments his situation, feeling attacked and abandoned by both God and his friends, as seen in the surrounding verses, particularly Job 19:10 and Job 19:12.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deuteronomy 32:22 | For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mountains. |
| 2 | Psalm 89:46 | How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath keep burning like fire? |
| 3 | Psalm 90:7 | For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath. |
| 4 | Job 13:24 | Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy? |
| 5 | Job 16:9 | His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וַיַּ֣חַר, vai.Ya.chargenerated
The verb חָרָה (charah) is in the Hiphil stem, indicating that it is God who has kindled the anger, as opposed to merely experiencing it. This form implies a causative action, suggesting that God's anger is actively directed towards Job.
The intensity of the emotion is captured in the amplification, where חָרָה is described as 'furious wrath' and 'burning indignation.' This reflects Job's perception of his dire circumstances and the severity of God's displeasure.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase His anger burns.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main finite verb in the verse is וַיַּ֣חַר, and he has kindled, which governs the structure of the sentence. Following this verb are two phrases: a prepositional phrase indicating the direction of the anger, עָלַ֣י (towards me), and a second clause that describes God's action of considering Job among His enemies.
The order of the words emphasizes Job's feeling of being under attack, with the verb placed first to highlight the intensity of God's anger.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיַּ֣חַר as δεινῶς (G1171), meaning 'terribly' or 'severely.' This choice reflects a broader interpretation of Job's experience, suggesting not just anger but a profound sense of distress.
The translation aligns with the emotional weight of Job's lament, indicating that the translators recognized the severity of Job's situation.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 19:11 shows Job feeling that God is angry with him and considers him an enemy. He expresses his deep sorrow and isolation, feeling attacked and abandoned by God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is expressing his belief that God is furious with him, which adds to his sense of despair and isolation.
Job feels that his suffering and the lack of divine support indicate that he is viewed as an adversary by God.
This verse encapsulates Job's feelings of abandonment and persecution, highlighting his emotional turmoil during his trials.
Job's lament teaches us about the human experience of suffering and the feeling of distance from God during difficult times.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I respond when I feel that God is angry with me?
- In what ways can I find comfort in my suffering, similar to Job's experience?
- What does it mean to be counted among God's enemies, and how can I ensure I am not in that position?
- How can I support others who are going through their own trials and feel abandoned?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early commentary from Gregory the Dialogist reflects on Job's expression of God's anger and the implications for understanding divine justice.
He hath also kindled His wrath against me, and He counteth me unto Him as one of His enemies. For we have, been taught by the excellent Preacher attesting it, that 'God is faithful,Early Church Fathers on Job 19 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 19:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe hath also kindled his wrath against me,.... In this and some following verses the metaphor is taken from a state of warfare, in which enemies are engaged in an hostile way, Job 19:12; in which way
Read John Gill on Job 19 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. Enemies - (Job 13:24, "Wherefore holdest thou me for thine enemy?" Lamentations 2:5).
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 19 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe hath stirred up his wrath against me of his own accord, without any provocation of mine, human infirmity excepted. He counteth me unto him as one of his enemies, i.e. he useth me as sharply as if I were an inveterate enemy of God and of all goodness, though he knoweth I am and have ever been a hearty lover and servant of him.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 19 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 19:11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as [one of] his enemies.Ver. 11. He hath also kindled his wrath against me] Now if his wrath was kindled, yea, but a little, woe be to all those against whom it is bent. He will surely heap mischiefs upon them, he will spend his arrows upon them, Deuteronomy 32:22-23 Psalms 2:12. Job felt them striking in the sides of his soul, even the envenomed arrows of the Almighty; and yet this was only a refiner’ s fire, Malachi 3:2, or, if a consuming fire, as Hebrews 12:29, yet it was to waste his corruptions only, to sever the sin which he hated from the Son whom he loved; to try and exercise his patience, &c., all…
Read John Trapp on Job 19 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(11) He hath also kindled . . .—Comp. Job 16:9; Job 16:12, &c.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 19 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 11. And he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.] From the seventh to the thirteenth verse there seems to be an allusion to a hostile invasion, battles, sieges, c. 1. A neighbouring chief, without provocation, invades his neighbour's territories, and none of his friends will come to his help. "I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard," Job 19:7. 2. The foe has seized on all the passes, and he is hemmed up. "He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass," Job 19:8. 3. He has surprised and carried by assault the regal city, seized and possessed the treasures. "He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head," Job 19:9. 4. All his armies are routed in the field, and…
Read AdamClarke on Job 19 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges7–12. God’s hostility to him and destructive persecution of him. In Job 19:6 the transition is already made to the account of God’s hostility. The picture is sufficiently graphic. First there was the general feeling of being entangled, as a creature snared.
Read Cambridge on Job 19 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe hath also kindled his wrath - He is angry. Wrath in the Scriptures is usually represented as burning or inflamed - because like fire it destroys everything before it.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 19 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
His anger burns against me, and He counts me among His enemies.
He has also kindled his wrath against me. He counts me among his adversaries.
His anger burns against me, and He counts me among His enemies.
Thus his anger burns against me, and he considers me among his enemies.
Tyndale line
He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.
He hath also kindled his wrath against me, And he counteth me unto him as one of his adversaries.
He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his adversaries.
He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me to him as one of his enemies.
And he hath kindled his wrath against me, and counteth mee as one of his enemies.
Strictly literal
And he hath kindled his anger against me, and hath counted me unto him as one of his enemies.
And He kindleth against me His anger, And reckoneth me to Him as His adversaries.
And He kindles His anger against me, || And reckons me to Him as His adversaries.
He hath also kindled against me his wrath, and he counteth me with himself as one of his adversaries.
He has also kindled his wrath against me; he regards me as one of his adversaries.
From the Latin
His wrath is kindled against me, and he hath counted me as his enemy.
Simplified
His anger burns against me; he treats me as one of his enemies.
His wrath is burning against me, and I am to him as one of his haters.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with five of the six words matched. This indicates a consistent understanding of Job's expression of suffering and God's perceived anger.
וַיַּ֣חַר עָלַ֣י אַפּ֑וֹ וַיַּחְשְׁבֵ֖נִי ל֣וֹ כְצָרָֽיו׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 19:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
חָרָה (charah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to burn or be kindled, particularly in the context of anger or zeal. It encompasses various forms, including to glow, grow warm, or become incensed. The entries indicate its use in different stems, such as Qal (to burn), Niphal (to be angry), and Hiphil (to kindle). The lexicons do not present significant disagreement.
חָרָה vb. burn, be kindled, of anger
Qal
of man
of God
Niph. be angry with
Hiph. burned with zeal (?) in repairing; and kindled his anger against me
Hithp. heat oneself in vexation.—The foll. forms are somewhat dub.: how canst thou hotly contend (in a race) with the horses?; because thou strivest eagerly (to excel) in cedar
base
H2734 חָרָה burn, be kindled, of anger
2734 charah khaw-raw'
a primitive root (compare 2787); to glow or grow warm;
figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal,
jealousy:--be angry, burn, be displeased, X earnestly, fret
self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, X very, be
wroth. See 8474.
see HEBREW for 02787
see HEBREW for 08474
חָרָה (cha.rah) — to be incensed.
1) to be hot, furious, burn, becomeangry, be kindled
1a) (Qal) to burn, kindle (anger)
1b) (Niphal) to be angry with, be incensed
1c) (Hiphil) to burn, kindle
1d) (Hithpael) to heat oneself in vexation
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vhw3ms
The Hebrew word עַל (*al*) is a preposition meaning 'upon' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including 'on account of,' 'beside,' 'above,' and 'against.' It can indicate physical placement, emotional burdens, or duties imposed on a person. The entries also note its use in idiomatic expressions and with verbs of motion. There is a mention of its function as a conjunction in certain contexts.
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
עַל, עָ֑ל
subst. height
As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed
—
of clothing, etc., which any one wears
With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
H5921a עַל, עָ֑ל . As prep. upon, and hence on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against . Upon, of the substratum upon which an object in any way rests, or on which an action is performed . — . of clothing, etc., which any one wears
. With verbs of covering or protecting, even though the cover or veil be not over or above the thing covered, but around or before it
. Of what rests heavily upon a person, or is a burden to him
. Of a duty, payment, care, etc., imposed upon a person, or devolving on him
. על is used idiom. to give pathos to the expression of an emotion, by emphasizing the person who is its subject, and who, as it were, feels it acting upon him
. חָיָה עַל to live upon (as upon a foundation or support)
5921 `al al
properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the
singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a
particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always
in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great
variety of applications (as follow):--above, according
to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because
of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both
and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in
(that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than,
through(-out), to, touching, X with.
see HEBREW for 05920
עַל (al) — upon.
prep
1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against
1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards
1b) above, beyond, over (of excess)
1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence)
1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition)
1e) over (of suspension or extension)
1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity)
1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion)
1h) to (as a dative)
[כִּי] עַל [כֵּן] ([ki] al [ken]) — as.
conj
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bs
The Hebrew word אַף (aph) primarily means nostril or nose, but it also refers to the face and is often associated with anger. It can denote a person's countenance or expressions of ire. The entries highlight its connection to rapid breathing in passionate states, indicating its use in contexts of anger or wrath.
אַף 277 n.m. nostril, nose, face, anger
nostril, as organ of breathing
Dn. face
mostly anger
base
H639 אַף nostril, nose, face, anger
639 'aph af
from 599; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and
occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in
passion) ire:--anger(-gry), + before, countenance, face, +
forebearing, forehead, + (long-)suffering, nose, nostril,
snout, X worthy, wrath.
see HEBREW for 0599
אַף (aph) — face: anger.
: anger
1) nostril, nose, face
2) anger
אַף (aph) — face: nose.
: nose
1) nostril, nose, face
2) anger
אַף (aph) — face.
: face
1) nostril, nose, face
2) anger
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word חָשַׁב (chashab) is a primitive root meaning to think, account, or devise. It encompasses a range of actions including planning, valuing, and inventing, both for humans and in relation to God. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hithpael, each reflecting different nuances of thought and consideration.
חָשַׁב vb. think, account
Qal
of man:
think, account
devise, plan, mean
charge, impute
esteem, value, regard
invent ingenious and artistic things
of God:
think
devise, plan, mean
inpute, reckon
esteem, value, regard
invent ingenious and artistic things
Niph.
be accounted, thought, esteemed
be computed, reckoned
be imputed to any one
Pi.
think upon, consider, be mindful of
think to do, devise, plan
count, reckon, the years since a sale of land
Hithp. among the nations it shall not reckon itself
base
H2803 חָשַׁב think, account .. of man: . think, account
. devise, plan, mean
. charge, impute
. esteem, value, regard
. invent ingenious and artistic things
. of God: . think
. devise, plan, mean
. inpute, reckon
. esteem, value, regard
. invent ingenious and artistic things
. . be accounted, thought, esteemed
. be computed, reckoned
. be imputed to any one
. . think upon, consider, be mindful of
. think to do, devise, plan
. count, reckon, the years since a sale of land
. among the nations it shall not reckon itself
2803 chashab khaw-shab'
a primitive root; properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e.
(literally) to weave or (gen.) to fabricate; figuratively, to
plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from
the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute:--(make)
account (of), conceive, consider, count, cunning (man, work,
workman), devise, esteem, find out, forecast, hold, imagine,
impute, invent, be like, mean, purpose, reckon(-ing be made),
regard, think.
חָשַׁב (cha.shav) — to devise: design.
: design/skillful
1) to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to think, account
1a2) to plan, devise, mean
1a3) to charge, impute, reckon
1a4) to esteem, value, regard
1a5) to invent
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed
1b2) to be computed, be reckoned
1b3) to be imputed
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to think upon, consider, be mindful of
1c2) to think to do, devise, plan
1c3) to count, reckon
1d) (Hithpael) to be considered
חָשַׁב (cha.shav) — to devise: count.
: count/regard_as
1) to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to think, account
1a2) to plan, devise, mean
1a3) to charge, impute, reckon
1a4) to esteem, value, regard
1a5) to invent
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed
1b2) to be computed, be reckoned
1b3) to be imputed
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vqw3ms/Sp1bs
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word צַר (tsar) is built from the root meaning 'narrow' or 'tight.' It encompasses a range of meanings including 'distress,' 'adversary,' and 'hard pebble' or 'flint.' The term can refer to physical tightness or metaphorical trouble, as well as an enemy or foe. It appears in contexts of anguish and tribulation, with a specific verse reference in Isaiah 5:28.
צַר adj. narrow, tight
base
צַר n.[m.] straits, distress
base
צַר 68 n.m. adversary, foe
base
צַר n.[m.] hard pebble, flint;—Is 5:28
ref
H6862a צַר narrow, tight H6862b צַר straits, distress H6862c צַר adversary, foe H6862d צַר hard pebble, flint
6862 tsar tsar
or tsar {tsawr}; from 6887; narrow; (as a noun) a tight place
(usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble (as in
6864); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding):--adversary,
afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe,
narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.
see HEBREW for 06887
see HEBREW for 06864
צַר (tsar) — narrow.
narrow, tight
צַר (tsar) — distress.
straits, distress
צַר (tsar) — enemy.
adversary, foe, enemy, oppressor
צַר (tsar) — hard.
hard pebble, flint
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms