My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.
My breath is repulsive to my wife, even though I beg her for the sake of our own children.
Job is describing how his physical suffering has made him so repugnant that even his own wife can't stand to be near him, despite his pleading.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Job, which is set in the ancient Near East during the patriarchal era, Job is a righteous man who faces catastrophic losses including his wealth, children, and health as part of a divine test. This verse occurs during Job's lament to his friends, where he describes his physical deterioration and emotional isolation, noting that even his wife finds him repulsive despite his pleas for their shared family. The cultural emphasis on family loyalty in that society heightens the tragedy of Job's personal rejection.
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