Job 7:8

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 7:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.
Job 7:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no [more], etc.] Or “the eye of sight” f304; the seeing eye, the most acute and quick sighted eye; so Mr. Broughton renders it, “the quick eye” f305: this is to be understood as “after” f306 death, that then the sharpest eye should not see him, he would be out of the reach of it; which must be taken with a limitation; for men after death are seen by the eyes of the omniscient God, their souls, be they in heaven or in hell, and their bodies in the grave; and as for good men, such as Job, they are at once with him in his immediate presence, beholding and beheld by him; and they are seen by angels, whose care and charge their souls become…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The eye of him who beholds me (present, not past), that is, in the very act of beholding me, seeth me no more. Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not--He disappears, even while God is looking upon him. Job cannot survive the gaze of Jehovah (Psa 104:32; Rev 20:11). Not, "Thine eyes seek me and I am not to be found"; for God's eye penetrates even to the unseen world (Psa 139:8). UMBREIT unnaturally takes "thine" to refer to one of the three friends.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more - I shall be cut off from all my friends - one of the things which most distresses people when they come to die. Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not - see Job 7:21. Dr. Good renders this, “let thine eye be upon me, and I am nothing.” Herder, “thine eye will seek me, but I am no more.” According to this the sense is, that he was soon to be removed from the place where he had dwelt, and that should he be sought there he could not be found. He would seem to represent God as looking for him, and not finding him; see Job 7:21. The margin has,” I can live no longer.” It may be possible that this is the meaning, that God had fixed an intense…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“No more - In this mortal state: I shall never return to this life again. Am not - If thou cast one angry look upon me, I am not; thou canst look me into eternity. Job 7:9”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“7:8 You see me now, but not for long: The Greek Old Testament omitted this verse to avoid the implication that God would be unable to see Job in Sheol (see study note on 7:9).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“The eye: Job 20:9; Psa 37:36 thine eyes: Job 13:27, Job 14:3; Psa 39:11, Psa 90:8, Psa 90:9 I am not: that is, I can live no longer, Job 7:21 Job 7:9”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification