Tobit 10:4 - But his wife said to him, “The child has perished, seeing he waits long.” She began to bewail him, and said,

Generated Verse: Tobit 10:4

What does "Tobit 10:4" mean?


This verse from Tobit 10:4 depicts a scene filled with anxiety and sorrow. Let's break it down:

"But his wife said to him, “The child has perished, seeing he waits long.”" This is Edna, Tobit's wife, expressing her deep fear that their son, Tobias, is dead. She believes that because Tobias has been gone for a significant amount of time (longer than expected), something terrible must have happened to him. The phrase "seeing he waits long" emphasizes the length of his absence as the basis for her conclusion.

"She began to bewail him, and said," This shows Edna's grief escalating. "Bewail" means to express great sorrow or lamentation, often through weeping and wailing. She is not just worried; she is convinced of his death and is actively mourning him. The "and said" leads into a further expression of her grief, which is detailed in the subsequent verses (not included here).

In Summary:

The verse highlights Edna's increasing despair and conviction that Tobias is dead due to his extended absence. It sets the stage for a further expression of her grief and reveals the emotional turmoil the family is experiencing while awaiting Tobias's return. The phrase also carries dramatic irony, as the reader knows Tobias is actually alive and well (from the preceding chapters) and nearing his return with the angel Raphael.

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