Job 16:14 (KJV)

What does Job 16:14 mean?

Job 16:14 describes how Job feels relentlessly attacked and overwhelmed by suffering, as if God is breaking him down repeatedly and charging at him with the force of a powerful warrior. The verse uses vivid language to express Job’s sense of being battered without relief.

In this verse, Job is speaking to his friends while pouring out his pain and frustration. He uses the image of repeated breaches—like a wall being smashed again and again—and compares his suffering to being assaulted by a giant. This highlights how Job feels both vulnerable and powerless in the face of his ongoing trials.

The Hebrew behind Job 16:14

• "breaketh" (פָּרַץ, pārats) means to break through or burst open, often used for a wall being breached. Job’s use of this word emphasizes the sense of being forcefully and repeatedly broken down.
• "breach" (פֶּרֶץ, perets) refers to a gap or break, especially in a wall or defense. The repetition ("breach upon breach") paints a picture of relentless, accumulating damage.
• "giant" (גִּבּוֹר, gibbor) means a mighty man or warrior, not a mythical giant. Job is comparing his suffering to being attacked by a strong, unstoppable fighter, not a literal giant.

Why Job 16:14 matters

• Job’s language clarifies that he sees his suffering as not just a single event, but a series of overwhelming blows, making his sense of despair more understandable.
• The imagery of a breached wall and a charging warrior shows how exposed and defenseless Job feels, deepening the emotional impact of his complaint.
• This verse connects to the wider passage by showing how Job interprets his suffering as coming directly from God, not just from random misfortune or human enemies.