Job 19:2 — Word Study
WLCעַד־ אָ֭נָה תּוֹגְי֣וּן נַפְשִׁ֑י וּֽתְדַכְּאוּנַ֥נִי בְמִלִּֽים׃
BSAHow longʻad [till when, until what point] will you tormentyâgâh▸ [vex, afflict] menephesh and crush medâkâʼ▸ [break, bruise] with [your] wordsmillâh [speech, utterances, words that have power]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עַד־ | until | Preposition |
| אָ֭נָה | when? | Particle |
| תּוֹגְי֣וּן | will you torment ! | Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine plural, suffix |
| נַפְשִׁ֑י | self my | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וּֽתְדַכְּאוּנַ֥נִי | and will you crush? me | Conjunction, verb piel second person masculine plural, suffix |
| בְמִלִּֽים׃ | with words | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | “How long will you torment me and crush me with your words? |
| KJV | How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? |
| ASV | How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words? |
| YLT | Till when do ye afflict my soul, And bruise me with words? |
| WEB | “How long will you torment me, and crush me with words? |
| BBE | How long will you make my life bitter, crushing me with words? |
The translations agree on the key terms used in this verse.
The sentence has a main clause with a direct question, followed by phrases that elaborate on the nature of the torment Job is experiencing.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
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 19:2
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 Response to His Friendsgenerated
Job 19:2 captures Job's anguish as he pleads for relief from the torment inflicted by the words of his friends. He expresses his frustration over their accusations and the emotional pain they cause him, emphasizing the depth of his suffering. This moment is part of a larger dialogue in which Job defends his integrity amidst intense scrutiny and judgment from those around him.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 8:2 | “How long will you go on saying such things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind. |
| 2 | Job 18:2 | “How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk. |
| 3 | Psalm 13:1 | How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? |
| 4 | Revelation 6:10 | And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?” |
| 5 | Job 27:2 | “As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice— the Almighty, who has embittered my soul— |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — תּוֹגְי֣ון, tog.Yungenerated
The verb תּוֹגְי֣ון (tog.Yun) is a Hiphil imperfect form, indicating an ongoing action of causing grief or affliction. It is derived from a root that conveys the sense of suffering or vexation, and here it specifically refers to the torment Job feels due to the words directed at him.
This word highlights the emotional and psychological impact of verbal attacks, illustrating how deeply words can affect a person's well-being. Job's use of this term underscores the seriousness of his plight and the weight of the accusations he faces.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תּוֹגְי֣ון governs the main clause, with a prepositional phrase introducing the object of torment, נַ֥נִי (me), followed by a conjunction and another verb phrase indicating the action of crushing. The structure emphasizes Job's direct appeal to his friends regarding their hurtful words.
The arrangement of the sentence reflects Job's emotional state, with the verb of torment placed prominently, highlighting his plea for understanding and relief from their verbal assaults.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates the verb תּוֹגְי֣ון as ποιήσετε, meaning 'you will do' or 'you will make.' This choice suggests a broader interpretation of the act of torment, emphasizing the active role of Job's friends in causing his suffering through their words.
This rendering may imply a more intentional and deliberate infliction of pain, highlighting the relational dynamics between Job and his friends.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 19:2 shows Job asking how long he will be tormented and crushed by the words of his friends. He feels deeply hurt by their accusations, expressing his pain and pleading for relief from their verbal attacks.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is expressing the emotional pain and distress caused by the accusations and criticisms of his friends.
Job's question reflects his desperation and desire for an end to his suffering, indicating that he feels overwhelmed by the ongoing torment.
Words can inflict deep emotional wounds, and Job's lament highlights the power of speech to cause pain and distress.
This verse encapsulates Job's struggle with the judgment of his friends and his plea for understanding, reflecting the broader themes of suffering and the search for justice in the book.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I be more mindful of the words I use and their impact on others?
- In what situations have I felt tormented by the words of others, and how did I respond?
- What can I learn from Job's response to his friends about handling criticism?
- How does this verse challenge me to consider the power of speech in my own life?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church father Gregory the Dialogist interprets Job's lament as a reflection of the emotional turmoil caused by the words of others, emphasizing the significance of speech in human relationships.
How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION The sayings of the holy man, as we have already often said, are to be understood sometimes in his own person, sometimes in the voice of the Head,Early Church Fathers on Job 19 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 19:2 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHow long will ye vex my soul,.... Which of all vexation is the worst; not only his bones were vexed, but his soul also, as David's was, Psalms 6:2.
Read John Gill on Job 19 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHow long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words? How long ... - retorting Bildad's words (Job 18:2). Admitting the punishment to be deserved, is it kind thus ever to be harping on this to the sufferer?
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 19 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWith mere empty words, void of sense or argument; with your impertinent and unedifying discourses, and bitter reproaches, as it followeth.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 19 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 19:2 How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?Ver. 2. How long will ye vex my soul?] viz. With your furious and reproachful charges and criminations? Have I not misery enough already, but you must lay more load of scorn and contempt upon me; and so go on to trouble me by adding to my saddest sorrows, such as pierce to the very soul? Call you this comforting an afflicted friend? Hoccine est maestum consolari? How long will ye break me in pieces with words?] Words also have their weight, and if hard and harsh, Leniter volant, non leniter violant. Like mauls, they break the heart in pieces; like a rack, they torment it, Psalms 42:10. As with a murdering weapon in my…
Read John Trapp on Job 19 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English ReadersXIX.(2) How long?—Job begins as Bildad himself had begun in both cases. His last speech had been so offensive and unfeeling that Job may well ask “How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?” Moreover, Bildad had infused a kind of personal malice into his charges, which Job felt most keenly, so that he is constrained to ask, “If indeed I have erred, doth not my error remain with myself? I alone suffer for it, and ye do not even sympathise or suffer with me.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 19 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 2. How long will ye vex my soul] Every thing that was irritating, vexatious, and opprobrious, his friends had recourse to, in order to support their own system, and overwhelm him. Not one of them seems to have been touched with a feeling of tenderness towards him, nor does a kind expression drop at any time from their lips! They were called friends; but this term, in reference to them, must be taken in the sense of cold-blooded acquaintances. However, there are many in the world that go under the sacred name of friends, who, in times of difficulty, act a similar part. Job's friends have been, by the general consent of posterity, consigned to endless infamy. May all those who follow…
Read AdamClarke on Job 19 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and CollegesJob, forsaken of God and men, and without hope in this life, rises to the assurance that God will yet appear to vindicate him, and that his eyes shall see him on his side in joy 2–5. Job expresses his impatience of his friends’ words; and repudiates the inferences of his guilt which they draw from his calamities, declaring that his calamities are due to the unjust dealing of God.
Read Cambridge on Job 19 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHow long will ye vex my soul? - Perhaps designing to reply to the taunting speech of Bildad; Job 18:2.
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
“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?
“How long will you torment me, and crush me with words?
“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?
“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?
Tyndale line
How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words?
How long will ye vex my soul and break me in pieces with words?
How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
Howe long will yee vexe my soule, and torment me with wordes?
Strictly literal
How long will ye vex my soul, and crush me with words?
Till when do ye afflict my soul, And bruise me with words?
“Until when do you afflict my soul, || And bruise me with words?
How long will ye grieve my soul, and crush me with words?
“How long will you make me suffer and break me into pieces with words?
From the Latin
How long do you afflict my soul, and break me in pieces with words?
Simplified
“How long will you go on tormenting me? How long will you go on crushing me with words?
How long will you make my life bitter, crushing me with words?
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 agree closely, with all six words matched in the Hebrew and Greek texts. This consistency indicates a strong preservation of the original meaning across these traditions.
עַד־ אָ֭נָה תּוֹגְי֣וּן נַפְשִׁ֑י וּֽתְדַכְּאוּנַ֥נִי בְמִלִּֽים׃
6 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 19:2
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.
עַד (ad) primarily functions as a preposition, adverb, or conjunction meaning 'until,' 'up to,' or 'as far as.' It can denote spatial, temporal, or degree-related contexts, such as 'even to' or 'while.' The entries indicate its use in poetry and in various combinations, but there is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי prep. as far as, even to, up to, until, while
prep.
of space
Of time
Of degree
conj.
until
While
Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus
of space
Of time
Of degree
base
H5704 עַד, in poetry עֲדֵי as far as, even to, up to, until, while . prep. . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
. conj. . until
. While
. Of degree, to the point that, so that even (rare)
. עַד לְ, a strengthened form for עַד. Thus . of space
. Of time
. Of degree
5704 `ad ad
properly, the same as 5703 (used as a preposition, adverb or
conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long,
or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during,
while, until) or degree (equally with):--against, and, as,
at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as),
(hither-)to, + how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that,
till, toward, until, when, while, (+ as) yet.
see HEBREW for 05703
עַד (ad) — till.
prep
1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as
1a) of space
1a1) as far as, up to, even to
1b) in combination
1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from)
1c) of time
1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end
1d) of degree
1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like
conj
2) until, while, to the point that, so that even
Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
Prep — PrepositionHR
אָן (an) is an adverb meaning 'where?' or 'whither?'. It can also refer to time, asking 'when?' or 'how long?'. The word is derived from a root meaning to indicate place or time, and it is used in contexts that inquire about location or duration.
אָן adv. where? or whither?
base
H575 אָן where? or whither?
575 'an awn
or manah {aw-naw'}; contracted from 370; where?; hence,
whither?, when?; also hither and thither:--+ any (no)
whither, now, where, whither(-soever).
see HEBREW for 0370
אָן (an) — where?.
1) where?, whither? (of place)
2) when?, until when?, how long? (of time)
HTi — ParticleHTi
יָגָה (yagah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to suffer or grieve. It encompasses various forms, including causing grief (Hiphil), grieving (Niphal), and to grieve (Piel). The entries consistently emphasize the themes of affliction and sorrow, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[יָגָה] vb. suffer
Niph. grieved
Pi. grieve
Hiph. cause grief or sorrow
base
H3013 יָגָה suffer . grieved
. grieve
. cause grief or sorrow
3013 yagah yaw-gaw'
a primitive root; to grieve:--afflict, cause grief, grieve,
sorrowful, vex.
יָגָה (ya.gah) — to suffer.
1) to afflict, grieve, suffer, cause grief
1a) (Niphal) grieved, grieving (participle)
1b) (Piel) to grieve
1c) (Hiphil) to cause grief, cause sorrow
V-Hiphil-Imperf-2mp | Suff — Verb hiphil imperfect second person masculine plural · suffixHVhi2mp/Sn
Torment
Gr. basanos (Matt. 4:24), the “touch-stone” of justice; hence inquisition by torture, and then any disease which racks and tortures the limbs.
The Hebrew word נֶ֫פֶשׁ (*nephesh*) broadly means 'soul' or 'living being,' encompassing concepts like life, self, person, desire, and emotion. It is derived from the root meaning 'to breathe' and signifies both physical and mental aspects of existence. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, including as the seat of appetites and emotions, though its application to will and character is uncertain.
נֶ֫פֶשׁ 756 n.f. soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
= that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
The נפשׁ becomes a living being
The נפשׁ is specif.
The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
נ׳ in D
base
H5315 נֶ֫פֶשׁ soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion . = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being
. The נפשׁ becomes a living being
. The נפשׁ is specif.
. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself
. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 t.)
. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions
. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts
. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.
. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.
. נ׳ in D
5315 nephesh neh'-fesh
from 5314; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of
(abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal,
accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental):--any,
appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, X dead(-ly), desire,
X (dis-)contented, X fish, ghost, + greedy, he, heart(-y),
(hath, X jeopardy of) life (X in jeopardy), lust, man, me,
mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-,
thy-)self, them (your)-selves, + slay, soul, + tablet, they,
thing, (X she) will, X would have it.
see HEBREW for 05314
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
1g1) uncertain
1h) activity of the will
1h1) uncertain
1i) activity of the character
1i1) uncertain
נֶ֫פֶשׁ (ne.phesh) — soul: life.
1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
1b) living being
1c) living being (with life in the blood)
1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
1e) seat of the appetites
1f) seat of emotions and passions
1g) activity of mind
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp1bs
דָּכָא (daka') is a Hebrew verb meaning to crush or be crushed. It encompasses various forms, indicating actions like bruising, breaking, and being contrite. The entries highlight its use in different grammatical aspects, such as the Niphal (to be crushed) and Piel (to crush). The word conveys both literal and figurative senses of destruction and humility.
[דָּכָא] vb. crush, poet.
not in Qal;Niph. crushed, fig. = contrite ones
Pi. crush
Pu. crushed, broken in pieces, shattered
Hithp. crushed
base
H1792 דָּכָא crush poet. . crushed, fig. = contrite ones
. crush
. crushed, broken in pieces, shattered
. crushed
1792 daka' daw-kaw'
a primitive root (compare 1794); to crumble; transitively, to
bruise (literally or figuratively):--beat to pieces, break (in
pieces), bruise, contrite, crush, destroy, humble, oppress,
smite.
see HEBREW for 01794
דָּכָא (da.kah) — to crush.
1) to crush, be crushed, be contrite, be broken
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to be crushed
1a2) to be contrite (fig.)
1b) (Piel) to crush
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to be crushed, be shattered
1c2) to be made contrite
1d) (Hithpael) to allow oneself to be crushed
Conj | V-Piel-Imperf-2mp | Suff — Conjunction · verb piel second person masculine plural · suffixHC/Vpu2mp/Sp1bs
מִלָּה (millah) means 'word' or 'speech' and can refer to a discourse or topic. It is derived from a root that suggests collective speech or utterance. The term encompasses various forms of communication, including answers and by-words. The Aramaic equivalent is also מִלָּה.
מִלָּה n.f. word, speech, utterance
base
H4405 מִלָּה
4405 millah mil-law'
from 4448 (plural masculine as if from milleh {mil-leh'}; a
word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic:--+
answer, by-word, matter, any thing (what) to say, to
speak(-ing), speak, talking, word.
see HEBREW for 04448
מִלָּה (mil.lah) — speech.
word, speech, utterance
Aramaic equivalent: mil.lah (מִלָּה "word" H4406)
Prep | N-fp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
