Job 33:20 (KJV)

What does Job 33:20 mean?

Job 33:20 describes a person who has become so troubled or afflicted that even basic food is repulsive to him, and he no longer desires even the finest meals. The verse uses the image of losing all appetite for bread and delicacies to show deep distress or suffering.

In this part of the book of Job, Elihu is speaking to Job and explaining how suffering can humble a person and turn their heart away from pride. Elihu describes how intense pain or illness can make someone lose interest in eating, even things they once enjoyed, as a way of showing how suffering affects both body and spirit.

The Hebrew behind Job 33:20

• "life" (חַיִּים, chayyim): This word often refers to one's physical life or vitality. Here, it highlights how suffering can drain a person's very will to live, not just their appetite.
• "abhorreth" (זָעַב, za'av): This verb means to loathe or reject with disgust. The use of such a strong word emphasizes the depth of the person's misery.
• "dainty" (מַטְעַמָּה, mat'amah): This word refers to something tasty or desirable, a delicacy. The verse points out that even the most appealing foods become unappealing in deep distress.

Why Job 33:20 matters

• Job 33:20 makes clear that suffering can affect both the body and the soul, showing how physical pain and emotional turmoil are closely connected in human experience.
• The verse helps explain why Job, in his suffering, speaks and acts so differently than he did before his troubles began; it is not just spiritual but also deeply physical.
• This verse sets up Elihu’s larger point that suffering can serve a purpose, humbling a person and turning them toward God, which is a key theme in Elihu’s speeches.