Job 7 5

Job 7:5 kjv

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

Job 7:5 nkjv

My flesh is caked with worms and dust, My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.

Job 7:5 niv

My body is clothed with worms and scabs, my skin is broken and festering.

Job 7:5 esv

My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh.

Job 7:5 nlt

My body is covered with maggots and scabs.
My skin breaks open, oozing with pus.

Job 7 verses

Job 7 5 Meaning

Job 7:5 graphically portrays the extreme physical torment of Job, describing his body as consumed by grotesque disease. His flesh is depicted as if "clothed" with maggots and crumbling earth, while his skin is broken open and festering with loathsome sores. This vivid imagery communicates the depths of his decay, agony, and perceived abandonment, illustrating his feeling of being a walking corpse already overtaken by the signs of the grave.

Job 7 5 Context

Job 7:5 is part of Job’s desperate lament in response to Bildad’s harsh condemnation and the continued accusations from his friends that his suffering is due to sin. In this chapter, Job articulates the utter weariness and meaninglessness he feels in his present agony. He describes his existence as a futile drudgery, full of pain and without respite. This verse is a visceral cry, emphasizing the complete physical deterioration he is experiencing (as described in Job 2:7-8), further illustrating his descent into despair and the feeling that death is preferable to his current living death. The ancient Israelite perspective on disease often linked it to divine judgment for sin, a belief vigorously defended by Job's friends. Job's unmerited suffering, described in such repulsive terms, serves as a powerful polemic against this simplistic retributive theology, presenting a crisis of faith and understanding where conventional wisdom fails to explain reality.

Job 7 5 Word analysis

• My flesh (בְּשָׂרִי, bᵉśārî): The term for one's physical body, encompassing all aspects of his bodily being. Here, it signifies the entirety of Job's physical self undergoing decay. It emphasizes the deeply personal and internal nature of his suffering, as if his very substance is betraying him.
• is clothed with (לָבַשׁ, lāḇaši): Literally "to wear" or "to put on." This powerful metaphor presents Job's disease as an integral garment, suffocating him. It suggests a constant, inescapable state; the disease is not merely external but an oppressive part of his identity.
• worms (רִמָּה, rimmâ): Maggots, larvae. In the ancient world, worms were synonymous with decomposition, the grave, and ultimate corruption. Job here vividly portrays his living body as already belonging to the realm of death, implying active decay while he is still alive. This image connects his physical state directly to the curse of sin and the grave.
• and clods of dust (וְגִישֵׁי עָפָר, wᵉḡîšê ‘āp̄ār): "Clods of earth" or "dirt clots." This imagery powerfully links Job's body to the very earth from which humanity was formed (Gen 2:7, Gen 3:19). His flesh is not merely dirty but composed of the coarse, decaying material of the grave. It underscores his return to dust and the state of corruption associated with death.
• my skin (עוֹרִי, ‘ôrî): Specifically, the outermost layer of his body. While "flesh" referred to the inner substance, "skin" denotes the visible surface, implying the external manifestation of his horror.
• is broken (נָפָץ, nāp̄aṣ): "Shattered," "broken to pieces," "burst." This indicates not merely small sores but a pervasive destruction of his skin. His skin is not intact but burst open, likely referring to the severe boils or sores that characterize his illness, actively festering and breaking down.
• and festering (וַיִּקָּשֵׁר, wa yyᵊqāšêr): (KJV "loathsome") This term carries the nuance of being "encrusted" or "cracked with scabs." It depicts the dried, oozing, and hardened layers formed over the wounds, highlighting the repulsive and persistent nature of his disease. This isn't just a wound but a chronic, repulsive condition that actively consumes him.
• "My flesh... clothed with worms and clods of dust": This phrase paints a macabre picture of Job's body already undergoing decomposition. The disease acts as a "garment" of decay, illustrating the depth of his suffering where the line between living and dead has blurred for him.
• "My skin is broken and festering": This complements the previous description, providing a visual and tactile sense of the external symptoms. It conveys the raw, painful, and repulsive reality of his open, untreated wounds. This not only causes physical pain but immense social stigma, making him outcast and unclean.

Job 7 5 Bonus section

The extreme graphic nature of Job’s description (like having worms for clothes or skin festering with clods of dust) likely served a dual purpose in ancient Near Eastern literature. First, it vividly portrayed the utter devastation and misery of Job, appealing to the empathy (or judgment, from his friends’ perspective) of the listener. Second, it contributed to the profound existential crisis presented in the book. Job’s physical state not only meant agony but also severe ritual impurity, social isolation, and divine abandonment according to prevalent beliefs. Thus, his physical reality trapped him in a cycle of suffering that reinforced the very theological ideas he struggled against. This verse forces a re-evaluation of assumptions about justice, purity, and the nature of human suffering.

Job 7 5 Commentary

Job 7:5 is a profound articulation of Job's physical devastation, delivered in the language of a lament. It is a desperate cry revealing a body utterly consumed by disease, portraying him as a walking embodiment of corruption and the grave. This vivid description serves to heighten the contrast between Job's outward decay and his unwavering internal conviction of his righteousness, thus challenging the conventional theological understanding that links such suffering directly to sin. His physical degradation amplifies his anguish, making life unbearable and drawing him ever closer to a longed-for death, emphasizing his utter hopelessness in his present existence. The repulsive imagery would have profoundly shocked the original audience, who typically viewed bodily decay as the final consequence of sin and death, underscoring the severity of Job's unmerited plight.