He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

JOB 16:9KJV
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Job 16:9 (KJV)

What does Job 16:9 mean?

Job 16:9 describes Job’s sense of being violently attacked by someone filled with anger and hatred toward him, picturing this enemy as tearing at him, grinding teeth in rage, and glaring with sharpened eyes. Job uses vivid language to express how deeply he feels targeted and mistreated by this hostile force.

In this verse, Job is speaking to his friends, but he is describing what he feels God is doing to him in his suffering. The language is intense and personal, showing Job’s raw emotions as he tries to make sense of his pain. The verse uses strong images of physical aggression to communicate how overwhelmed and threatened Job feels by what he sees as God’s anger.

The Hebrew behind Job 16:9

  • "teareth" (דָּרַךְ, darak): This word often means to tear apart or maul, like a wild animal attacking prey. Job’s use of this word paints his suffering as brutal and violent, not just emotional but almost physical.
  • "wrath" (אַף, aph): This word literally means "nose" or "nostrils," but in Hebrew it is a common way to describe fierce anger, as flaring nostrils show rage. Job feels the anger directed at him is intense and personal.
  • "gnasheth" (חָרַק, charaq): This word means to grind or gnash teeth, a gesture of extreme anger or hostility. Job is describing his enemy as so furious that he grinds his teeth in rage.
  • "sharpeneth" (לָטַשׁ, latash): This word means to sharpen or make keen, here used for eyes. The image is of someone narrowing or focusing their eyes in a threatening, hostile way, emphasizing how Job feels watched and targeted.

Why Job 16:9 matters

  • This verse clears up that Job is not just describing physical pain, but a deep sense of being personally attacked and hated, which adds emotional and spiritual weight to his suffering.
  • The vivid language shows how Job feels about his relationship with God at this moment—he feels God is not distant, but actively hostile, which is a key theme in Job’s speeches.
  • Understanding these images helps readers see the depth of Job’s distress and the honesty with which he voices his feelings, setting up the tension and questions that run through the whole book.

Where else these words appear

“gnasheth” Hebrew H2786 · used in 5 verses

  • Psalms 35:16 With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
  • Psalms 37:12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
  • Psalms 112:10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

“sharpeneth” Hebrew H3913 · used in 5 verses

  • Genesis 4:22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.
  • 1 Samuel 13:20 But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.
  • Psalms 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

“hateth” Hebrew H7852 · used in 6 verses

  • Genesis 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.
  • Genesis 49:23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
  • Job 30:21 Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.

“teareth” Hebrew H2963 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 37:33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
  • Psalms 17:12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
  • Ezekiel 22:25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.