Job 33:21 (KJV)

What does Job 33:21 mean?

Job 33:21 describes a person whose body has wasted away so severely from suffering that their flesh is gone and their bones, once hidden, now stick out visibly. The verse paints a vivid picture of extreme physical decline, showing just how deeply the person has been afflicted.

In this part of the book of Job, Elihu is speaking to Job and describing the effects of intense suffering on a human body. Elihu is explaining how severe pain and illness can strip a person down to skin and bones, emphasizing the seriousness of Job’s condition and the frailty of human life in the face of suffering.

The Hebrew behind Job 33:21

• The word for "flesh" is בָּשָׂר (basar), often referring to the soft tissue of the body. Here, it highlights how much of the person's body has wasted away.
• The word for "consumed away" is כָּלָה (kalah), which means to be used up or finished. This word shows the total exhaustion or disappearance of the flesh due to suffering.
• The word for "bones" is עֶצֶם (etsem), which refers to the bones themselves. The verse draws attention to how the bones, usually unseen, are now prominent.
• The word for "stick out" is שָׁפָה (shaphah), which can mean to be bare or exposed. This word underlines the shocking visibility of the bones after the flesh is gone.

Why Job 33:21 matters

• This verse helps the reader understand the real, physical toll that suffering has taken on Job, moving beyond emotional or spiritual pain to the visible effects on his body.
• Elihu’s description emphasizes the seriousness of Job’s situation and sets up his argument about human weakness and the need for God’s intervention.
• The vivid imagery connects to the wider theme in Job of human vulnerability and the limits of human strength when faced with overwhelming hardship.