Job 19:20

KJV

My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

KJV (with Strong's)

My bone {H6106} cleaveth {H1692} to my skin {H5785} and to my flesh {H1320}, and I am escaped {H4422} with the skin {H5785} of my teeth {H8127}.

Complete Jewish Bible

My bones stick to my skin and flesh; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

Berean Standard Bible

My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

American Standard Version

My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 19:20 is a profound and visceral expression of Job's extreme physical deterioration and his miraculous, near-impossible survival amidst overwhelming suffering. It vividly portrays his emaciated state, where his bones protrude and cling to his shrunken flesh, alongside the iconic declaration that he has "escaped with the skin of his teeth," signifying a bare, desperate survival after losing virtually everything. This verse underscores the depth of his anguish and destitution, setting a stark backdrop for his subsequent defiant declaration of faith in a living Redeemer.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 19:20 is situated within Job's third cycle of speeches, specifically his impassioned response to the accusations and misinterpretations of his friends. Having endured the loss of his children, wealth, and health, Job finds himself alienated and misunderstood, even by those closest to him. In the preceding verses, Job laments God's perceived hostility and the complete abandonment by his family and servants, feeling like an alien in his own home ([Job 19:13-19](/job/19-13 "Job 19:13-19 - Job's Isolation and Alienation")). This verse serves as a climactic depiction of his physical and social desolation, a cry from the depths of his being, immediately preceding his monumental declaration of faith in his Redeemer found in [Job 19:25-27](/job/19-25 "Job 19:25-27 - Job's Declaration of a Redeemer")). The raw honesty of his suffering here amplifies the power and significance of his enduring hope.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, likely during a patriarchal period, predating the Mosaic Law. The cultural backdrop is one where suffering, particularly severe affliction, was often interpreted as a direct consequence of sin—a prevalent "retribution theology" held by Job's friends. Job's experience fundamentally challenges this simplistic view, presenting the problem of innocent suffering. His physical state, described in this verse, would have been seen not only as a personal tragedy but also as a public sign of divine displeasure, further isolating him within his community. The vivid imagery of emaciation reflects the harsh realities of disease and lack of medical understanding in the ancient world, where such conditions often led to swift death.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Book of Job. It exemplifies the theme of **Extreme Suffering and Despair**, showcasing the profound physical and emotional toll of Job's trials. It highlights the **Fragility of Human Existence** and the vulnerability of even the most righteous individuals to overwhelming hardship. Furthermore, it underscores the theme of **Bare Survival and Resilience**, as Job, despite being reduced to the absolute minimum, continues to exist and articulate his plight. Crucially, this verse sets the stage for the theme of **Hope Amidst Despair**, as Job's utter destitution provides the stark contrast against which his remarkable declaration of faith in a future vindication and a living Redeemer in [Job 19:25](/job/19-25 "Job 19:25 - Job's Declaration of a Redeemer") shines forth with even greater brilliance. It also implicitly touches upon the **Mystery of Suffering** and the inadequacy of human explanations for divine actions.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Cleaveth (Hebrew, _dāḇaq_):** This verb means "to cling," "to stick," "to be joined," or "to be fused." In this context, it vividly portrays Job's extreme emaciation, where his shrunken flesh and skin are so wasted that they literally adhere to his bones, making his skeletal structure painfully prominent. It conveys a sense of desperate attachment, as if his very being is clinging to the last vestiges of life.
* **Escaped (Hebrew, _nimlaṭ_):** This word signifies "to slip away," "to be delivered," "to be rescued," or "to get away safely." It emphasizes the narrowness of Job's survival, implying that he has barely avoided death. It suggests a near-fatal experience, a miraculous and improbable deliverance from complete annihilation, leaving him with only the barest thread of existence.
* **Skin of my teeth (Hebrew, _bə‘ôr shinnāy_):** This is a powerful and enduring idiom. Teeth do not literally have "skin"; thus, the phrase functions as a hyperbole, an extreme exaggeration to convey utter destitution and minimal survival. It metaphorically implies that Job has lost everything, even the most insignificant and non-existent covering, leaving him with literally nothing but the most negligible remnant of life. It speaks to a state of having been stripped bare to the absolute extreme.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh":** This clause provides a harrowing physical description of Job's condition. It paints a picture of extreme emaciation, where his body has wasted away to such an extent that his bones are visible and seemingly sticking to his shrunken skin and muscle. This imagery conveys not only severe physical decay but also immense pain, discomfort, and the visible signs of a body on the brink of collapse. It highlights the profound suffering that has consumed his physical being.
* **"and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth":** This iconic idiomatic expression powerfully concludes the verse, summarizing Job's state of bare survival. It signifies that he has survived by the narrowest possible margin, having lost virtually everything. The phrase emphasizes his utter destitution—he has nothing left, not even the thinnest, most insubstantial covering. It is a declaration of near-total annihilation, yet paradoxically, a statement that he is still alive, albeit in the most desperate and stripped-bare condition imaginable.

#### Literary Devices
Job 19:20 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the depth of Job's suffering. The most prominent is **Hyperbole**, particularly in the phrase "the skin of my teeth." This exaggeration, as teeth do not possess skin, vividly emphasizes the absolute minimal extent of Job's survival and the complete loss he has endured. It is a powerful way to communicate that he has been stripped of everything conceivable. The verse also utilizes potent **Imagery**, creating a visceral and disturbing picture of a body ravaged by illness—bones protruding and clinging to shrunken flesh. This visual imagery evokes a strong sense of pathos and allows the reader to grasp the severity of Job's physical decay. Furthermore, the phrase "skin of my teeth" functions as an **Idiom** or **Metaphor**, conveying a complex idea (bare survival, utter loss) through a concise and memorable expression that has transcended its original context to become a common figure of speech. The overall tone of the verse is one of profound **Pathos**, eliciting deep sympathy and pity for Job's desperate plight.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 19:20 serves as a stark theological statement on the reality and mystery of human suffering. It challenges simplistic theological frameworks that equate suffering directly with sin, as Job, a righteous man, is reduced to an absolute minimum of existence. Theologically, it poses profound questions about divine justice, the nature of God's interaction with humanity, and the limits of human understanding in the face of inexplicable pain. It underscores the biblical affirmation that life, even in its most fragile and agonizing state, is a gift from God, and that human endurance can persist even when all seems lost. This verse, therefore, is not merely a lament but a testament to the raw, unvarnished truth of human experience under trial, setting the stage for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of God's sovereignty and faithfulness.

* [Psalm 22:15](/psalms/22-15 "Psalm 22:15 - My strength is dried up like a potsherd")
* [Lamentations 4:8](/lamentations/4-8 "Lamentations 4:8 - Their visage is blacker than a coal")
* [2 Corinthians 4:8-9](/2_corinthians/4-8 "2 Corinthians 4:8-9 - Perplexed, but not in despair")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 19:20 offers a profound point of connection for anyone who has experienced overwhelming loss, physical affliction, or a brush with death. It reminds us that the Bible does not shy away from depicting the raw, agonizing realities of human suffering, validating our own cries of pain and despair. In a world that often pressures us to maintain a facade of strength, Job's honest lament gives us permission to acknowledge our brokenness and vulnerability. His "skin of my teeth" survival, though bleak, is also a testament to resilience—the capacity of the human spirit to endure even when stripped bare. For believers, it challenges us to consider how we minister to those in extreme distress: do we offer simplistic theological answers, or do we provide compassionate presence and patient listening, acknowledging the mystery of their pain without judgment, just as Job desperately longed for from his friends? This verse ultimately serves as a powerful backdrop, reminding us that even from the lowest depths, profound declarations of faith and hope can emerge, transforming our understanding of endurance and divine faithfulness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's raw depiction of suffering challenge our assumptions about faith, prosperity, and the reasons for affliction?**
* **In what "skin of your teeth" moments have you experienced God's sustaining grace, even when everything else seemed lost?**
* **How can we offer genuine compassion to those experiencing profound physical or emotional distress, avoiding the pitfalls of Job's friends' judgmental responses?**

### FAQ
**What does "the skin of my teeth" mean, and where did the idiom come from?**

Answer: The idiom "the skin of my teeth" means to escape by the narrowest possible margin, having lost almost everything, or to barely survive a difficult situation. It originates directly from [Job 19:20](/job/19-20 "Job 19:20 - Job's Extreme Suffering") in the King James Version of the Bible. The phrase is a hyperbole; teeth do not literally have skin. It's an extreme exaggeration used by Job to convey his utter destitution and the fact that he has been stripped of everything, yet miraculously, he is still alive, albeit barely so.

**How does this verse relate to Job's overall message and the book's purpose?**

Answer: [Job 19:20](/job/19-20 "Job 19:20 - Job's Extreme Suffering") is crucial because it vividly underscores the extreme depth of Job's suffering and physical decay. This profound state of destitution makes his subsequent, defiant declaration of faith in a living Redeemer in [Job 19:25](/job/19-25 "Job 19:25 - Job's Declaration of a Redeemer") all the more powerful and remarkable. The verse highlights the book's central theme of the mystery of innocent suffering, challenging the simplistic retribution theology espoused by Job's friends. It demonstrates the resilience of faith and the human spirit even when stripped bare of all comforts and understanding, setting the stage for God's ultimate revelation and Job's vindication.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job's suffering was unique to his experience, it profoundly foreshadows the ultimate, innocent suffering of Jesus Christ. Job, though righteous, was a sinner; Christ was perfectly sinless, yet he willingly endured a suffering far beyond Job's, being stripped of everything—his reputation, his clothes, his very life, and even, for a moment, the felt presence of God ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). Just as Job was reduced to "the skin of his teeth," Jesus, on the cross, experienced the ultimate physical and spiritual desolation, his bones visible through his tortured flesh ([Psalm 22:17](/psalms/22-17 "Psalm 22:17 - I can count all my bones")). Yet, unlike Job's suffering, Christ's was redemptive. He truly "escaped" death not by barely surviving it, but by conquering it through his resurrection, providing the ultimate answer to suffering and death for all humanity. The "Redeemer" Job longed for in [Job 19:25](/job/19-25 "Job 19:25 - Job's Declaration of a Redeemer") is fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is our living Redeemer, our advocate, and the one who promises ultimate vindication and resurrection to all who believe in Him ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). In Christ, our "skin of the teeth" moments are met with the promise of eternal life and a glorious future, where every tear will be wiped away ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No more death, sorrow, or crying")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 102:5

By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.

Lamentations 4:8

Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

Job 33:19

¶ He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong [pain]:

Job 33:22

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

Psalms 38:3

[There is] no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither [is there any] rest in my bones because of my sin.

Psalms 22:14

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

Psalms 22:17

I may tell all my bones: they look [and] stare upon me.