Job 16:16

my face is reddened ¹  because of weeping, ²  and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness, ³ 

Job 17:7; Ps 6:6,7; Ps 31:9; Ps 32:3; Ps 69:3; Ps 102:3-5,9; Ps 116:3; Isa 52:14; La 1:16; Jon 2:1-10; Mr 14:34

¹ tn An intensive form, a Qetaltal form of the root חָמַר (khamar, “red”) is used here. This word has as probable derivatives חֹמֶר (khomer, “[red] clay”) and חֲמוֹר (khamor, “[red] ass”) and the like. Because of the weeping, his whole complexion has been reddened (the LXX reads “my belly”).

² sn A. B. Davidson (Job, 122) notes that spontaneous and repeated weeping is one of the symptoms of elephantiasis.

³ sn See Job 3:5. Just as joy brings light and life to the eyes, sorrow and suffering bring darkness. The “eyelids” here would be synecdoche, reflecting the whole facial expression as sad and sullen.