Job 7:14 (KJV)

What does Job 7:14 mean?

Job 7:14 describes Job telling God that he is frightened by dreams and terrified by visions, feeling that even in sleep he cannot escape his suffering. Job says that God sends him disturbing dreams and visions, adding to his distress rather than giving him rest.

In this verse, Job is speaking directly to God, expressing how overwhelmed he feels. Job is in the middle of deep suffering and believes that God is allowing even his sleep to be filled with fear. The verse highlights Job’s sense of being pursued by trouble on every side, both awake and asleep, and shows how desperate he feels for relief.

The Hebrew behind Job 7:14

• "scarest" (תַּעֲרֵנִי, ta‘areni): This word often means to frighten or startle. Here, Job uses it to describe how his dreams are not just unpleasant but deeply disturbing, as if he is being startled awake by fear.
• "dreams" (חֲלוֹמוֹת, ḥalomot): This is the common Hebrew word for dreams. In this context, it refers to nightmares or troubling dreams that rob Job of peace.
• "terrifiest" (תְּבַעֲתֵנִי, teva‘ateni): This verb means to terrify or cause great dread. Job feels that his visions are not just unsettling but truly terrifying, intensifying his suffering.
• "visions" (מַרְאֶה, mar’eh): This word can mean visions or appearances, often with a supernatural or intense quality. Here, it suggests that even Job’s moments of unconsciousness are filled with overwhelming, vivid fears.

Why Job 7:14 matters

• Job 7:14 clears up the idea that Job’s suffering was only physical or external; it shows that his distress invaded even his sleep, making his suffering total.
• This verse emphasizes Job’s honesty with God, showing that he holds nothing back about his pain and confusion, which is a key theme throughout the book.
• Job 7:14 connects to the wider passage by highlighting how Job feels trapped, unable to find rest or escape, which deepens the reader’s understanding of his despair.