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

JOB 18:13KJV
Know the Bible

Job 18:13 (KJV)

What does Job 18:13 mean?

Job 18:13 describes a person suffering so severely that even the strength and health of his skin are consumed, and it pictures "the firstborn of death" as a force that devours his strength. The verse uses vivid language to show that death is not just an end, but an active, destructive power overwhelming the person.

In this part of the book of Job, Bildad is speaking to Job, warning him about the fate of the wicked. Bildad uses strong imagery to say that disaster and death will eat away at a person's very body and vitality. The phrase "firstborn of death" suggests the most powerful or chief agent of death, emphasizing how total and unstoppable this destruction is.

The Hebrew behind Job 18:13

  • "Devour" (אָכַל, 'akal) means to eat or consume. Here, it paints a picture of something relentlessly eating away at the person's body, not just harming but completely consuming.
  • "Strength" (בַּד, bad) can refer to the limbs or members of the body, not just abstract strength. This suggests that the destruction is physical and visible, not just a loss of energy.
  • "Skin" (עוֹר, 'or) is the outer covering of the body, so the verse is describing suffering that is visible and severe, affecting even the surface of the person.
  • "Firstborn" (בְּכוֹר, bekhor) often means the most important or chief. "Firstborn of death" (בְּכוֹר מָוֶת, bekhor mavet) is a poetic way to describe the most powerful or deadly force associated with death.

Why Job 18:13 matters

  • The verse clears up that Bildad is not just talking about spiritual suffering, but a real, physical wasting away that others can see.
  • The phrase "firstborn of death" highlights how death is personified as an active, almost living force, not just a passive event.
  • This verse connects to Bildad's larger speech, where he warns Job that the fate of the wicked is total ruin, using graphic and memorable language to make his point.

Where else these words appear

“strength” Hebrew H905 · used in 50 verses

  • Genesis 26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
  • Exodus 37:4 And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.
  • Numbers 4:14 And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.

“skin” Hebrew H5785 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
  • Leviticus 13:12 And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;
  • Leviticus 13:59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

“firstborn” Hebrew H1060 · used in 96 verses

  • Genesis 10:15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,
  • Numbers 3:40 And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:25 And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah.