איוב, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ט״ז

Job reveals the profound mental collapse he is experiencing, expressing that his suffering goes far beyond physical pain. He feels that God's direct intervention has shattered his inner resilience, leaving him completely helpless and filled with dread. God has weakened his resolve, stripping away his courage and replacing it with a deep fear that compounds his physical agony [ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. The poetic repetition of his terror reinforces the sheer depth of the panic God has placed upon him [מצודת דוד].

Commentators explore the root cause of this sudden loss of courage and overwhelming panic, offering two main perspectives. One approach links Job's broken spirit to the relentless, ongoing nature of his suffering. Had God simply ended his life before these tragedies began, Job would have accepted his fate with love, as he served God purely, without any expectation of reward. Instead, God kept him alive to endure agony that feels worse than death. It is this continuous, dark reality that ultimately broke his spirit, wearing down his ability to withstand the trial and driving him into severe anxiety [רמב״ן, מלבי״ם].

Another perspective views his current panic as a tragic result of his past comforts, reflecting a sharp contrast in the different attributes God has used to govern his life. During earlier times, God interacted with Job through an attribute of pure kindness and abundance. This extended period of ease and pleasure softened his heart, making him highly sensitive and accustomed to a life of peace. Now that God's treatment has shifted to a display of strict, overwhelming power, Job is unable to bear the sudden strike. The very softness he developed during his years of prosperity now prevents him from gathering the strength needed to face adversity, leaving him entirely terrified in the wake of disaster [אלשיך].