Job 10 9

Job 10:9 kjv

Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?

Job 10:9 nkjv

Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again?

Job 10:9 niv

Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again?

Job 10:9 esv

Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?

Job 10:9 nlt

Remember that you made me from dust ?
will you turn me back to dust so soon?

Job 10 verses

Job 10 9 Meaning

Job, in his deep lament and anguish, addresses God, imploring Him to recall His creative act. He reminds the Almighty that He fashioned him with intricate care from the common and fragile substance of clay. Following this appeal to God's character as Creator, Job poses a profound and agonizing rhetorical question, asking if God, who painstakingly created him from humble beginnings, will now return him to that very dust, thus signifying destruction and death. It reflects his bewilderment and plea for divine consideration given the effort God put into his initial formation.

Job 10 9 Context

Job 10 is a poignant prayer of lament from Job directly addressing God after the initial dialogues with his friends. Job has spoken extensively about God's unchallengeable power and wisdom in the preceding chapters, acknowledging that God is sovereign and mightier than any adversary. Yet, he now shifts to directly questioning God's actions toward him, feeling unjustly persecuted despite his piety. He pleads for clarity and justice, asking God to reveal the reason for his immense suffering. Within this deep personal plea, Job oscillates between acknowledging God's greatness and lamenting his perceived harsh treatment. Verse 9 specifically highlights Job's sense of confusion and sorrow, appealing to God's inherent nature as a benevolent Creator versus His current devastating actions towards His own creation, Job.

Job 10 9 Word analysis

• Remember: Hebrew: זְכָר-נָא (zekhor-na). "Zekhor" is an imperative form of the verb "to remember," here used as a humble and earnest plea, not a command. It is a petition for God to bring to mind a crucial fact or covenant relationship. In a biblical context, "remembering" is not just a mental act, but often implies acting upon what is remembered (e.g., God "remembering" His covenant with Noah and not destroying all flesh again). Job is urging God to act consistently with His role as Creator.
• I pray: Hebrew: נָא (na). This particle typically softens a command or request, turning it into a polite entreaty. It emphasizes the earnestness and humility of Job's appeal to God, despite his profound complaint.
• that You have made me: Implies God's personal and purposeful involvement in Job's existence. It emphasizes divine agency and the intricate process of human creation, highlighting God's power and design. This phrase draws a contrast with Job's present state of dis-ease and destruction.
• like clay: Hebrew: כַּחֹמֶר (kakhomer). "Ka" means "like" or "as," and "homer" refers to potter's clay, raw material that is pliable, common, and fragile before being fired. This metaphor highlights humanity's humble origins, dependence on the divine "Potter," and inherent weakness and transience. It recalls the creation narrative where God formed man from the dust (earth) (Gen 2:7).
• And will You turn me: Hebrew: וַתְּשִׁיבֵנִי (vat-təšîḇênî). "Vat" is "and" or "but," and "təšîḇênî" is "will You cause me to return" or "will You restore me." This is a rhetorical question, expressing Job's bewilderment and distress. It contrasts God's prior action of creation with a seemingly contradictory action of destruction.
• into dust again?: Hebrew: לְעָפָר (lə'āp̄ār). "Le" means "to" or "into," and "aphar" is "dust," specifically dry earth or ashes, associated with human mortality and disintegration. This refers to the ultimate end of all flesh as declared in Gen 3:19. The word "again" underscores the cyclical nature of human existence, from dust to dust, yet Job questions this cycle for himself in light of his suffering, challenging the perceived purpose or mercy of such an outcome.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
• "Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay;": This opening phrase establishes a fundamental theological premise – God as the Creator and humanity as His handiwork. Job appeals to God's character and historical actions. The "clay" metaphor emphasizes human vulnerability and the dependence of the created upon the Creator. Job implies that a creator should care for what he has created, making God's current treatment seem inconsistent.
• "And will You turn me into dust again?": This is a sharp, almost incredulous rhetorical question. It highlights Job's perception of the stark contrast between God's careful creation and His current devastating action. Job is asking if all the intricate work of creation will simply be undone, leading to his dissolution back into primordial dust. This expresses not just his physical suffering but also a deep existential crisis and a plea for coherence in divine action. It questions the ultimate purpose if creation's meticulous detail is simply abandoned to return to nothingness.

Job 10 9 Bonus section

Job's reference to "clay" here also subtly implies a certain familiarity or intimacy with the divine potter. It is not just "dust," a passive element, but "clay" which is pliable and responsive to the artisan's touch. This makes Job's subsequent question, "And will You turn me into dust again?" even more poignant; it is a regression from a state of being intricately shaped and designed (clay) back to a raw, formless state (dust). The verse also reflects a deep understanding of God's complete sovereignty over life and death. Job knows that his life, from its very beginning, depends entirely on God. This dependence, paradoxically, forms the basis of his plea for divine mercy and clarity amidst his bewildering pain.

Job 10 9 Commentary

Job 10:9 encapsulates Job's profound lament and theological wrestling, directly appealing to God as his Creator. The verse highlights the core biblical teaching of human origin from humble materials like dust or clay, emphasizing our physical fragility and dependence on God. Job appeals to God's consistency: how can a God who carefully fashioned him now destroy him? This isn't a theological lesson from Job, but a raw, emotional question stemming from his uncomprehending suffering. It exposes the paradox Job perceives in God’s character – the meticulous architect seemingly turning destroyer. The "remember" is a plea for God to recall not only His act of creation but also the covenantal implications and inherent value of His handiwork. Job is arguing from God's own nature as Creator, believing that this divine attribute should lead to preservation rather than annihilation.