Job 18 13

Job 18:13 kjv

It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.

Job 18:13 nkjv

It devours patches of his skin; The firstborn of death devours his limbs.

Job 18:13 niv

It eats away parts of his skin; death's firstborn devours his limbs.

Job 18:13 esv

It consumes the parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.

Job 18:13 nlt

Disease eats their skin;
death devours their limbs.

Job 18 verses

Job 18 13 Meaning

Job 18:13 states that the most terrible and deadly manifestation of death consumes the physical being of the wicked, leading to their profound suffering and eventual demise. Bildad, the speaker, employs this vivid imagery to describe the excruciating fate he believes justly awaits those who are unrighteous.

Job 18 13 Context

Job 18:13 is part of Bildad the Shuhite's second speech to Job, following Eliphaz's first reply. Throughout his argument, Bildad aims to convince Job that his suffering is a direct consequence of hidden sin, adhering to the traditional Near Eastern theology of retribution, which asserts that God always punishes wickedness and rewards righteousness. Bildad details the comprehensive doom of the wicked, describing a progressive decline, where light turns to darkness, prosperity vanishes, and their descendants are cut off. This specific verse emphasizes the physical manifestation of this retribution, using highly descriptive and fearful language. It implies a slow, painful deterioration rather than an immediate end, presenting a stark warning that resonates deeply with Job's own physical affliction and sense of being consumed.

Job 18 13 Word analysis

• The firstborn of death: (Hebrew: בכור מות, bᵊḵôr māweṯ)
  • The firstborn (בכור - bᵊḵôr): Literally means "first-born," but contextually it signifies something supreme, preeminent, most potent, or most terrible of its kind. It doesn't imply a literal offspring but the chief, most severe, or deadliest manifestation. This highlights the extremity of the destruction described.
  • of death (מות - māweṯ): Refers to physical cessation of life, but here personified as an active, powerful entity or realm. The phrase combined indicates not just dying, but facing the most devastating, advanced, or horrifying aspect of mortality. It might refer to the deadliest of all diseases, a particularly gruesome form of plague, or the very onset of the destructive processes leading to doom. It evokes a primal fear.
• devours: (Hebrew: יאכל - yōʾḵēl)
  • A strong verb meaning "to eat," "to consume," "to feed on," or "to destroy." It suggests a comprehensive and active consumption. It's not a gentle process but a forceful and irreversible stripping away, implying physical wasting, destruction, and complete disintegration. This emphasizes the relentless nature of the suffering and decline.
• his limbs: (Hebrew: בדו - baddû)
  • Translates to "his members," "his body parts," "his strength," or "his substance." It refers to the physical constitution, the integrity of the body, or even one's vital energy. The idea is that this "firstborn of death" does not simply kill, but actively consumes, breaks down, and wears away the very substance of the wicked individual, leading to profound weakness, decay, and an agonizing descent into death. This highlights the torturous and protracted nature of their undoing.
• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "The firstborn of death devours": This phrase personifies the deadliest form of affliction as an active predator. It indicates a particularly severe, unavoidable, and complete destruction, initiated by a supreme agent of death. It is the beginning of the end, but a drawn-out, painful beginning.
  • "devours his limbs": Emphasizes the physical and internal destruction. It is a slow, consuming process that breaks down the body's integrity and strength, rather than a swift end. It resonates with the concept of disease causing physical deterioration, suggesting a painful decline before actual death.

Job 18 13 Bonus section

• The phrase "firstborn of death" (בכור מות) is unique in the Hebrew Bible. Its singularity contributes to its stark and fearsome impact, underscoring the severity of the fate described.
• Bildad's use of "firstborn" (בכור) resonates with its usage in passages like Exodus concerning the plague on the firstborn of Egypt, signifying ultimate destructive power and the worst of its kind, implying divine prerogative over life and death.
• The description of consumption points to ancient observations of diseases like leprosy or other wasting illnesses, which caused visible deterioration of the body, creating a vivid and frightening picture for the original audience.
• The friends' argument, epitomized by this verse, ultimately serves as a theological foil in the book of Job, allowing the divine speeches later to correct their limited understanding of God's ways and the nature of suffering.

Job 18 13 Commentary

Job 18:13 is a quintessential expression of Bildad's harsh retribution theology. He uses highly evocative and terrifying imagery, personifying the "firstborn of death" as the deadliest form of disease or destruction that preys upon the wicked. This is not mere physical death, but its most severe and agonizing precursor, relentlessly consuming their "limbs" or strength. The emphasis is on a torturous, debilitating decay rather than a quick demise. For Bildad, this comprehensive ruination is proof of God's perfect justice, a divinely orchestrated judgment directly linked to hidden iniquity. He is, in essence, describing Job's current dreadful state, implicitly arguing that Job's suffering is a direct fulfillment of this divine judgment. This verse underlines the significant theological divide between Job and his friends, as Job endures such affliction despite his perceived blamelessness.