What does Job 30:14 mean?
"They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me." - Job 30:14

The Bible verse Job 30:14 in the King James Version (KJV) states, "They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me." This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Job, which tells the story of a righteous man who faces immense suffering and loss. The verse comes from a section in which Job laments the cruel treatment he has endured and describes the overwhelming force of his suffering.
To fully understand the meaning and significance of this verse, it is important to examine the context in which it appears. The book of Job is a complex and profound exploration of the nature of suffering and the human experience. Job is portrayed as a pious and blameless man who experiences a series of devastating trials, including the loss of his wealth, health, and family. Despite his righteousness, he is plunged into despair and is tormented by his friends who are convinced that his suffering is a result of his own sinfulness.
In Job 30, the speaker, Job, reflects on the depths of his suffering and the ways in which he has been humiliated and degraded. In verse 14, Job vividly describes the onslaught of his afflictions, likening them to a forceful and overwhelming flood. The imagery of "a wide breaking in of waters" conveys the sudden and destructive nature of the troubles that have befallen him. The phrase "in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me" further emphasizes the relentless and oppressive nature of his suffering. Job feels as though he has been entirely overcome and engulfed by the overwhelming waves of his afflictions.
The use of water imagery in this verse is significant and rich in symbolism. In the Bible, water often represents chaos, disorder, and uncontrollable forces. It can symbolize both life and death, and is often associated with cleansing, renewal, and rebirth. In this verse, the imagery of water conveys the destructive power of the trials that Job faces, as well as the sense of being overwhelmed and engulfed by his suffering.
The theme of suffering and affliction is central to the book of Job, and this verse encapsulates the intense despair and anguish that Job experiences. Through his powerful and evocative language, Job conveys the sense of being utterly helpless and at the mercy of forces beyond his control. The verse serves as a poignant expression of the depth of human suffering and the overwhelming nature of adversity.
In addition to its immediate context within the book of Job, this verse also has broader implications within the larger biblical narrative. The book of Job raises profound questions about the nature of suffering, the character of God, and the purpose of human life. As one of the oldest books in the Bible, it grapples with timeless and universal themes that continue to resonate with readers today.
Overall, Job 30:14 in the King James Version offers a deeply moving and evocative depiction of the overwhelming nature of suffering and the sense of being engulfed by forces beyond one's control. It is a powerful expression of the human experience of pain and despair, and it invites readers to contemplate the profound mysteries of existence and the enduring questions of faith, suffering, and divine providence.
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Job 30:14 Artwork
Job 30:14 - "They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me."
"They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me." - Job 30:14
Job 30:30 - "My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat."
Job 30:28
Job 30:28
Job 30:28
Job 30:28
Job 30:28
Job 34:30 - "That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared."
Job 30:6 - "To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks."
John 14:30
Job 38:30 - "The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen."
Job 30:29 - "I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls."
Job 30:9 - "And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword."
Job 30:27 - "My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me."
Job 30:4 - "Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat."
Job 30:7 - "Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together."
"My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat." - Job 30:30
Job 22:30 - "He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands."
Job 6:30 - "Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?"
Job 30:25 - "Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?"
Job 33:30 - "To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living."
Job 30:13 - "They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper."
Job 36:30 - "Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea."
Job 21:30 - "That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath."
Job 30:3 - "For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste."
Job 37:14 - "Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God."
Job 14:2
Job 30:31 - "My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep."
Job 30:17 - "My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest."