Job 17:14

I have said to corruption, Thou [art] my father: to the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister.

I have said {H7121} to corruption {H7845}, Thou art my father {H1}: to the worm {H7415}, Thou art my mother {H517}, and my sister {H269}.

if I say to the pit, 'You are my father,'and to worms, 'You are my mother and sister,'

and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’

If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; To the worm, Thou artmy mother, and my sister;

Context

Job 17:14 is uttered by Job in the midst of his profound suffering and despair. Having lost his wealth, his children, and his health, and facing relentless accusations from his friends, Job feels utterly forsaken by God and man. This verse comes after he has expressed a complete loss of hope in his earthly life, viewing the grave as his inevitable and perhaps only remaining dwelling. He is wrestling with the harsh realities of his physical decay and the perceived silence of God, leading him to a point of ultimate resignation. His words here are a stark declaration of his acceptance of death and decomposition as his closest companions, reflecting the depth of his anguish and his anticipation of the end. For more on Job's early laments, see Job 3:11.

Key Themes

  • Profound Despair and Resignation: Job's statement is a powerful expression of his surrender to his fate. He sees no escape from his suffering except through death itself, embracing decay as his only kin.
  • The Inevitability of Mortality: The verse starkly confronts the universal human experience of physical decay and the ultimate end of life in the grave. It highlights the perishable nature of the human body.
  • Loss of Earthly Hope: By declaring corruption and the worm as his family, Job signifies the complete collapse of all his earthly hopes and aspirations. His future, as he sees it, is solely with the dust.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translates the Hebrew word for "corruption" as shachat (שַׁחַת), which carries a range of meanings including 'pit,' 'destruction,' 'ruin,' and 'decay.' In this context, it strongly refers to the grave and the process of decomposition. The word for "worm" is rimmah (רִמָּה), specifically referring to maggots or grubs that consume decaying flesh. The powerful imagery lies in Job's personification: he addresses these symbols of decay as if they were his closest family members – "father," "mother," and "sister." This linguistic choice emphasizes not just the inevitability of death, but an intimate, almost welcoming, relationship with it, born out of extreme suffering.

Application and Significance

Job's desperate cry in this verse resonates with anyone who has faced overwhelming suffering, deep loss, or profound despair. It acknowledges the human tendency to feel utterly alone and to find solace, however grim, in the finality of death. While Job’s perspective here is one of hopelessness, this verse serves as a powerful reminder of the human condition apart from divine intervention. For believers, it highlights the stark contrast between Job's despair and the hope of resurrection found in Christ. Unlike Job, who saw only the grave as his future, Christians look forward to a time when death is swallowed up in victory, and the perishable body will be transformed into an imperishable one. It encourages empathy for those in deep suffering and points to the ultimate triumph over the grave promised through the new covenant, where there will be no more death or sorrow.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 16:10

    For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

  • Job 24:20

    The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

  • Acts 2:27

    Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

  • Acts 2:31

    He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

  • Job 30:30

    My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.

  • Isaiah 14:11

    Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, [and] the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:42

    So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

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