Job 33 25

Job 33:25 kjv

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:

Job 33:25 nkjv

His flesh shall be young like a child's, He shall return to the days of his youth.

Job 33:25 niv

let their flesh be renewed like a child's; let them be restored as in the days of their youth'?

Job 33:25 esv

let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor';

Job 33:25 nlt

Then his body will become as healthy as a child's,
firm and youthful again.

Job 33 verses

Job 33 25 Meaning

Job 33:25 describes a miraculous restoration of a person's physical vitality and youthful vigor after a period of severe illness or distress, presented as the outcome of God's redemptive intervention. It conveys the idea that God's grace can reverse the effects of physical decay, bringing about a renewal that is comparable to the prime of one's life. Elihu speaks of God's compassionate action toward a person who turns to Him, highlighting that God can heal and restore not only physically but also spiritually, returning them to a state of blessedness and strength previously enjoyed.

Job 33 25 Context

Job 33:25 appears in the middle of Elihu's first speech (Job 32-37), specifically addressing Job directly. Elihu emerges after Job's three friends have failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for Job's suffering, and Job himself has become self-righteous in his complaints against God. Unlike the friends who accuse Job of specific sin, Elihu posits that God uses suffering not always as punishment, but as a form of discipline and instruction designed to turn a person from pride, presumption, or dangerous paths (v. 16-18). He emphasizes God's greatness, justice, and mercy, often acting through a "messenger" or "intercessor" (v. 23). This specific verse describes the positive outcome when a person responds rightly to this divine discipline and instruction. If the afflicted person repents and calls upon God, God hears and delivers them from the pit of destruction, leading to this profound physical restoration. It highlights God's ultimate desire for His creatures' well-being and His willingness to restore after disciplinary measures have served their purpose, thereby countering Job's despair and the friends' limited theology. Historically, in the ancient Near East, health and prosperity were often seen as direct indicators of divine favor, and prolonged illness as a sign of divine displeasure or curses, making this promise of restoration particularly profound.

Job 33 25 Word analysis

• His flesh (בְּשָׂרוֹ, b'sarô): Refers to the physical body or living tissue. In the context of illness (which Job experienced), this emphasizes the actual, tangible renewal of his body, often emaciated or ravaged by disease. It signifies the whole physical being.
• will be fresher (רֻטְפַשׁ, ruṭpaš): From the root rataf, meaning "to be fresh," "moist," "verdant," or "watered." It implies suppleness, healthy complexion, and renewed vitality. It contrasts with dry, withered, or diseased flesh. This is a Hophal imperfect, indicating a passive action, "it will be made fresh" or "will be rendered moist," suggesting God as the agent of this transformation.
• than in childhood (מִנֹּ֫עַר, minno'ar): Literally "from youth." No'ar refers to the period of adolescence or young adulthood, a time associated with peak physical strength, vigor, beauty, and health, before the onset of age-related infirmities or the toll of life's struggles. The comparison elevates the quality of restoration to an ideal state of prime.
• he will return (יָשׁוּב, yāshûḇ): From the root shuv, meaning "to turn," "return," "restore." Here, it signifies a reversal or coming back to a previous state. It is an active return, but in the context of the divine initiative.
• to the days of his youth (לִימֵי עֲלוּמָיו, lîmê ‘ălûmāyw): ‘Alûmāyw is the plural of ‘ālûm, meaning "youth" or "vigour." It reinforces the concept of reaching back to a time of maximum vitality, energy, and unblemished health. It's not merely relief from illness but a complete rejuvenation.

• "His flesh will be fresher than in childhood": This phrase paints a vivid picture of a miraculous, profound physical healing. It is not just recovery to baseline health but an astonishing return to, or even exceeding, the youthful prime, implying complete eradication of the lingering effects of illness and aging.
• "he will return to the days of his youth": This reinforces the concept of complete rejuvenation. It suggests a comprehensive renewal—mentally, physically, and spiritually—to a time of strength, innocence, and potential, emphasizing a fresh start granted by divine intervention.

Job 33 25 Bonus section

This verse stands out for its strong emphasis on physical renewal. While suffering can bring spiritual insight, Elihu also stresses that God’s deliverance often includes tangible, physical benefits. It sets a precedent for understanding divine healing not just as relief from pain, but as an infusion of renewed vigor. In ancient thought, such profound physical restoration would have been considered a powerful sign of divine favor and complete exoneration, contrasting starkly with Job's earlier suffering. It hints at the abundant life God intends for His faithful, even extending to the physical realm in this present age, and ultimately pointing forward to the complete bodily restoration promised in the future resurrection.

Job 33 25 Commentary

Job 33:25 encapsulates Elihu’s core message regarding the redemptive purpose of suffering and God’s mercy. Far from being a random or purely punitive experience, suffering can be a pedagogical tool used by God to instruct, purify, and lead an individual to repentance. Elihu asserts that if the disciplined person, through the intervention of God's messenger (an angel or prophet, as per vv. 23-24), recognizes their error and humbly cries out to God, divine mercy intervenes. The remarkable physical restoration described here—"fresher than in childhood," "return to the days of his youth"—is the tangible manifestation of this mercy. It speaks of a holistic healing that goes beyond merely curing an illness, implying a renewed vitality that is often associated with the very peak of life. This signifies that God's grace is profoundly transformative, capable of reversing decay and despair, offering a profound sense of restoration and new beginning. It underscores that God's ultimate intention for humanity is restoration, not destruction, and that suffering, rightly responded to, can be a pathway to deeper relationship with and renewal from Him.