Job 19:20

Job 19:20, in plain English

Job describes himself as physically wasted—nothing but skin and bones—and he's barely alive, having escaped death only by the thinnest margin.

Why it's here

After describing his complete isolation and rejection, Job now describes his physical state. The illness has ravaged him so severely that he's skeletal. The phrase about escaping by the skin of his teeth suggests he's hanging on to life by almost nothing—he's at death's door.

Who's speaking

Job

Where it sits in the story

This is Job's description of himself at rock bottom. He's alienated from God, abandoned by everyone, and physically destroyed. He's still alive, but barely—and he's trying to understand why.

The scholarly reading

Job describes his physical condition as having wasted away to the point where he has barely survived—clinging to life by the barest margin.

Language and setting

The phrase עוֹרִי וּבְשָׂרִי דָּבְקוּ (ori u-b'sari davku, 'my skin and flesh cling') uses the verb דָּבַק (davak), which denotes adhesion or clinging—normally used for covenant faithfulness (Genesis 2:24) but here applied to bodily deterioration. The expression מִשְּׁנֵי שִׁנַּי (mishnei shinai, 'by the skin of my teeth') has proven etymologically complex. The term שׁן (shen) can denote tooth or an edge or gum; what matters is that Job describes a survival that is the barest conceivable remainder—almost not survival at all. Aramaic and Syriac versions understood this as 'by my lips' or 'by my mouth,' suggesting speech is nearly his only remaining function.

Voice

Job, describing his physical deterioration and near-death state.

Significance

Verse 20 serves as the nadir of Job's physical and existential condition. He has been stripped of social identity (verses 13-19), his hope uprooted (verse 10), his honor removed (verse 9), and now his body itself is failing. Yet crucially, this verse is not the conclusion of chapter 19. What follows in verses 23-27 is Job's sudden transformation—from this point of absolute destitution emerges his most audacious theological affirmation, the vision of resurrection and vindication.

18Even little boys scorn me; when I appear, they deride me.

19All my best friends despise me, and those I love have turned against me.

20My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.

21Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of God has struck me.

22Why do you persecute me as God does? Will you never get enough of my flesh?

Read all of Job 19 — From the lowest depths, Job makes the highest claim in the book: I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.