Job 19:20

Job 19:20 is a poignant expression of King Job's extreme physical suffering and near-total loss, uttered during his intense dialogue with his friends.

Context

This verse comes amidst Job's profound lament, where he is defending his integrity against the relentless accusations of his friends, who believe his suffering is a direct result of hidden sin. Job has lost his children, his wealth, and his health, afflicted by painful sores from head to foot (Job 2:7). Here, he describes his emaciated state and the desperate nature of his survival, setting the stage for his remarkable declaration of faith in his Redeemer found shortly after in Job 19:25.

Key Themes

• Extreme Physical Decay: The phrase "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh" vividly portrays Job's severe emaciation. He is so wasted away that his bones are visible and sticking to his shrunken flesh, indicating a dire state of physical deterioration and intense pain.
• Bare Survival and Utter Loss: "And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth" is a powerful and enduring idiom. It signifies having barely survived, having lost almost everything, or escaping by the narrowest possible margin. It emphasizes that Job has been stripped of virtually all he possessed, leaving him with literally nothing but the most insignificant remnant of life.
• Despair and Helplessness: This declaration underscores Job's deep anguish and feeling of being utterly stripped bare and helpless. It's a cry from the depths of his being, conveying the severity of his plight to his unsympathetic companions.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the skin of my teeth" is a direct translation of the Hebrew בְּעוֹר שִׁנָּי (bə‘ôr shinnāy). Teeth do not have skin, making this a hyperbole for extreme deprivation. It metaphorically implies that Job has nothing left, not even the thinnest covering on his teeth. It's a powerful figure of speech indicating a state of having almost nothing, or having survived by the absolute minimum.

Practical Application

Job 19:20 resonates with anyone who has faced overwhelming suffering, loss, or a near-death experience. It reminds us:

• The Reality of Suffering: The Bible does not shy away from depicting the harsh realities of physical and emotional pain. Job's words validate the experience of profound distress.
• Resilience Amidst Despair: Despite being at the absolute brink, Job continues to speak, to question, and ultimately, to declare his faith. This verse, though bleak, is a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure, even when stripped bare.
• Understanding Idioms: This verse is the origin of the common English idiom "by the skin of one's teeth," meaning a narrow escape or bare survival. Understanding its biblical roots enriches its meaning.

Job's desperate cry here serves as a powerful backdrop to his later, profound statements of faith and hope, demonstrating that even from the lowest depths, faith can emerge.