His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
His arrows surround me on every side; he pierces through my kidneys without mercy and spills my bitter bile on the ground.
Job is describing how God's attacks feel like being surrounded by archers who wound him deeply and mercilessly.
📚 Historical Context
The Book of Job is set in ancient times, likely during the patriarchal era, and follows the story of a blameless man named Job who endures severe suffering as a test of his faith, despite his righteousness. In Job 16:13, Job is speaking in the midst of his laments to his friends, using poetic warfare imagery like archers surrounding him and his body being torn apart to vividly describe his intense physical and emotional pain, which he attributes to God's actions. This reflects the cultural practice in ancient Near Eastern literature of employing dramatic metaphors to express human anguish and question divine justice.
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