My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

JOB 10:1KJV
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Job 10:1 (KJV)

What does Job 10:1 mean?

Job 10:1 expresses Job’s deep exhaustion with living and his decision to give voice to his distress. In the KJV, Job says he will leave his complaint upon himself and speak from the bitterness of his soul.

After questioning how he can approach God in Job 9:32–35, Job begins to speak openly. The phrase “leave my complaint upon myself” presents his complaint as something he is carrying rather than holding back.

The Hebrew behind Job 10:1

  • “soul” — נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh): This word can refer to a person’s life or self. Here, “my soul” gives a personal sense to Job’s weariness and bitterness.
  • “complaint” — שִׂיחַ (siaḥ): This word can refer to a troubled expression of thought or a complaint. It points to Job’s words as an expression of distress.

Why Job 10:1 matters

  • Job’s complaint is directed toward God. In verse 2, he turns to God and asks why God contends with him.
  • Job’s words come from anguish, not detached discussion. His description of “bitterness” gives the reader a sense of the pain behind the questions that follow.

Where else these words appear

“complaint” Hebrew H7879 · used in 14 verses

  • 1 Samuel 1:16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
  • Job 9:27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
  • Psalms 64:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

“bitterness” Hebrew H4751 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 27:34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
  • 2 Samuel 2:26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
  • Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!