Albert Barnes Commentary Job 6:11

"What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?" — Job 6:11 (ASV)

What is my strength, that I should hope? - Job had until now borne his trials without fear that he would lose his constancy of hope, or his confidence in God. He here seems to fear that his constancy might fail, and he therefore wishes to die before he might be left to dishonor God. He asks, therefore, what strength he had that he should hope to be able to sustain his trials much longer.

And what is my end, that I should prolong my life? - Various interpretations have been given of this passage. Some suppose it means, “What is the limit of my strength? How long will it last?” Others, “What end is there to be to my miseries?” Others, “How distant is my end? How long have I to live?” Noyes renders it, “And what is my end that I should be patient?” Rosenmuller supposes that the word “end” here means the “end of his strength,” or that he did not have such fortitude as to be certain that he could long bear his trials without complaining or murmuring.

The phrase rendered “prolong my life” probably means, rather, “to lengthen the patience,” or to hold out under accumulated sorrows. The word rendered life נפשׁ nephesh often means soul, spirit, or mind, as well as life.

The meaning is that he could not hope, from any strength he possessed, to bear these trials without complaining until the natural end of his life. Consequently, he wished God to grant his request and destroy him.

Feeling that his patience was sinking under his calamities, he says that it would be better for him to die than to be left to dishonor his Maker.

This is precisely the state of feeling which many a sufferer has: his trials are so great that nature will sink under them, and death would be a relief. That is the time to look to God for support and consolation.