Job 7:5

Job 7:5 vividly describes the profound physical and emotional distress of Job, as he continues his lament before God and his friends. This verse is a stark portrayal of his suffering, emphasizing the extreme deterioration of his body and his deep self-loathing.

Context

This verse is part of Job’s desperate response to his friends’ initial attempts at comfort, which quickly turned into accusations. In Job chapter 7, Job expresses his weariness with life, his fleeting hope, and his desire for death as an escape from his unbearable pain. Having been afflicted with grievous boils from the sole of his foot to his crown (Job 2:7), his physical condition has become utterly repulsive, both to himself and to those around him. This lament highlights the raw, unfiltered anguish of a righteous man grappling with inexplicable suffering, a theme explored throughout the Book of Job.

Key Themes

• Profound Physical Decay: Job describes his flesh as "clothed with worms and clods of dust," a graphic image of severe skin disease, likely involving festering sores and crusting. The mention of "worms" (Hebrew: rimmah, referring to maggots or crawling insects associated with decay) underscores the putrefaction and advanced state of his illness. "Clods of dust" (Hebrew: gishmei aphar) could refer to the dirt and ashes he sat in, or the crusting of his sores, symbolizing his abject state and connection to mortality.
• Utter Loathsomeness: His declaration, "my skin is broken, and become loathsome," reveals the deep psychological impact of his physical condition. He feels repulsive, not just to others but to himself. This sense of being abhorrent (Hebrew: ma'as, to reject or despise) contributes to his despair and isolation.
• Human Frailty and Mortality: Job’s graphic description serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of the human body and its eventual return to dust (Genesis 3:19). In his suffering, Job embodies the ultimate vulnerability of humanity before the forces of nature and, as he perceives it, the hand of God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used in this verse convey a particularly visceral image. Rimmah (רִמָּה), translated as "worms," is consistently used in the Old Testament to denote the decay of a corpse or the presence of maggots, highlighting the advanced state of Job's physical deterioration. The phrase "clods of dust" (גִּשְׁמֵי עָפָר, gishmei aphar) can literally mean "clods of earth," further emphasizing his connection to the grave and his lowly state. The word "loathsome" comes from the root ma'as (מָאַס), meaning to reject, despise, or abhor, indicating that his skin is not just broken but has become something utterly repulsive and rejected by all, including himself.

Practical Application

Job 7:5 offers a profound glimpse into the depths of human suffering, particularly chronic physical affliction and disfigurement. It teaches us:

• Empathy for the Suffering: It calls for profound empathy towards those who endure chronic illness, disfigurement, or physical pain that isolates them or causes self-loathing.
• The Reality of Lament: The Bible does not shy away from depicting raw despair and physical agony. Job’s lament gives voice to the legitimate feelings of anguish and hopelessness that can accompany severe suffering, affirming that it is permissible to express such feelings to God.
• Understanding Human Vulnerability: The verse reminds us of our own mortality and the temporary nature of our physical bodies, prompting reflection on what truly lasts beyond earthly existence.