Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

His life abhorreth bread - These expressions strongly and naturally point out that general nausea, or loathing which sick persons feel in almost every species of disorder.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

So that his life abhorreth bread - It is a common effect of sickness to take away the appetite. Elihu here regards it as a part of the wholesome discipline of the sufferer. He has no relish for the comforts of life.

And his soul dainty meat - Margin, “meat of desire.” The Hebrew is, “food of desire.” The word rendered “meat” (מאכל ma'ăkâl ) does not denote animal food only, but any kind of food. So the Old English word meat was used. The idea is, that the sick man loathes the most delicate food. It is a part of his discipline that the pleasure which he had in the days of his health is now taken away.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

So that his life abhorreth bread,.... Through the force of pain he loses his appetite for food, and even a nausea of it takes place; he loathes it as the most abominable and filthy thing that can be thought of; even bread, so necessary to the support of human life, so strengthening to the heart of man, and what he every day stands in need of, and should pray for, and in health is never weary of; it may be put for all common and useful food:

and his soul dainty meat; the most rich and delicious; such as the tables of the great and rich are furnished with: "food of desire"^F16מאכל תאוה "cibum desiderii", Vatablus, Drusius, Michaelis; "cibum appetentiae", Mercerus. ; or desirable food, as it may be rendered; see Daniel 10:3; such as in the time of health the appetite craves and desires, and is fed on with delight and pleasure, but now had in the utmost aversion. Pains and diseases of body often produce such a nausea in men, Psalm 107:17, and was Job's case, Job 3:24.

Geneva Study Bible

(k) That is, his painful and miserable life.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

life — that is, the appetite, which ordinarily sustains “life” (Job 38:39; Psalm 107:18; Ecclesiastes 12:5). The taking away of desire for food by sickness symbolizes the removal by affliction of lust, for things which foster the spiritual fever of pride.

soul — desire.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

Job 33:20 So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

Ver. 20. So that his life abhorreth bread] Which is the staff of man’s life, and by the Latins called panis, of the Greek παν, as if it were all in all. This the sick man velut sordidum abominatur, abhorreth as some filthy thing, so the original word here signifieth; he nauseateth and cannot away with it, though made of the kidneys of wheat, as Moses phraseth it; he brooks it no better than if it were made of sawdust, or mixed with gravel, or made with man’s dung, as that in Ezekiel.

And his soul dainty meat] Heb. Meats of desire. Those dainties which he once sought so passionately, and fed upon so eagerly, he finds no more relish in than in the white of an egg or a dry chip; yea, they are no less horrid to him than rank poison. See a like description of a sick person, Psalms 107:18, which seemeth to be taken from hence.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

His life, i.e. his soul, as the next clause explains it; or his appetite, which is a sign and an act of life.

Bread, i.e. common and necessary food.

Dainty meat; such as others do, and he formerly did, much desire and prize.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

20.His life abhorreth bread — A marked feature of the elephantiasis, to which Elihu alludes — the life, hhayyah, and the soul, nephesh, loathe that which is palatable in a condition of health. Elihu, in this discussion of the sick man, has sufficiently touched salient features of Job’s disease to unmistakably indicate whom he meant. (See note Job 2:7.)

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

Life - i:e., the appetite, which ordinarily sustains, "life" (Job 38:39, margin; see Psalms 107:18, "Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat, and they drew near unto the gates of death;" Ecclesiastes 12:5, "Desire shall fail"). The taking away of desire for food by sickness symbolizes the removal by affliction of lust for things which foster the spiritual fever of pride.

Soul - desire.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

his life

Psalms 107:17,18

dainty meat

Heb. meat of desire.

Genesis 3:6; Jeremiah 3:19; Amos 5:11; *marg: