איוב, פרק י״ג, פסוק כ״ז

Job expresses a profound sense of imprisonment and relentless surveillance, feeling as though God treats him like a dangerous captive under heavy guard. The primary approach among commentators is that Job envisions his feet locked in a wooden prison device, much like shackles, completely preventing any free movement. Alternatively, some interpret this confinement not as wooden stocks, but as wet plaster. In this view, God places Job's feet into the soft material so that every single step he takes leaves a permanent imprint, ensuring his movements are always seen and remembered [רמב״ן, אבן עזרא].

Beyond the physical restraint, Job cries out against the continuous monitoring of his paths. This creates a painful paradox. Because his feet are already securely locked with no possibility of escape, the additional layer of surveillance feels like an unnecessary cruelty that completely ignores his helplessness [מצודת דוד]. Furthermore, God seems to judge and punish him as though he is moving and acting out of free will, even though his actions are entirely forced and restricted [מלבי״ם]. On an allegorical level, the tortured physical body serves as a prison for the soul. The physical devastation is so severe that God must miraculously stand guard to prevent the soul from simply escaping out into the world through the body's various openings [אלשיך].

The suffering is magnified by the exact nature of these restraints, particularly how they affect the bones of his feet. The restriction is seen by some as a literal carving, where the holes of the wooden stocks were cut narrowly and precisely to the exact measure of Job's foot bones. This creates a tight, crushing pressure on his flesh, layering physical agony over his emotional distress [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רלב״ג]. Conversely, this exactness can be understood as a form of relentless tracking or boundary-setting rather than a physical carving. In this sense, God personally follows and investigates every single step Job takes [רש״י]. He examines the very root and source from which Job's movements stem [מלבי״ם]. Ultimately, God establishes rigid boundaries for his feet, treating his every step with severe suspicion, as if his path is always destined for evil [רמב״ן, אבן עזרא, שטיינזלץ].