Job 7:5 (KJV)

What does Job 7:5 mean?

Job 7:5 describes Job’s physical suffering in vivid terms: his body is covered with worms and clumps of dirt, and his skin is cracked and revolting. The verse paints a picture of extreme misery, showing how Job’s illness has made his appearance and condition unbearable even to himself.

In this verse, Job is speaking directly about his own experience, expressing his pain and distress to God and to his friends who are listening. Job’s words emphasize not just emotional or spiritual suffering, but the harsh reality of his physical decay. This detail helps the reader understand the depth of Job’s affliction and the seriousness of his complaint.

The Hebrew behind Job 7:5

• flesh (בָּשָׂר, basar): This word refers to Job’s physical body, highlighting that his suffering is not just internal or emotional but affects his actual flesh.
• clothed (לָבַשׁ, lavash): The Hebrew word often means to be wrapped or covered, suggesting Job feels completely enveloped by his disease, as if it is something he wears.
• worms (רִמָּה, rimmah): This word specifically means maggots or worms, which would be found in decaying flesh, underscoring the severity of Job’s condition.
• clods (גּוּשׁ, gush): This word means lumps or clods, often of earth or dirt, indicating that Job’s sores are so severe that dirt clings to them, or that his skin is encrusted with dried scabs and dust.
• dust (עָפָר, afar): The word for dust connects Job’s suffering to the earth, possibly hinting at mortality and decay.
• skin (עוֹר, or): This word points to the outer layer of Job’s body, which is described as broken and repulsive, making his suffering visible.
• broken (רָגַע, raga): This verb means to split open or crack, describing the state of Job’s skin.
• loathsome (מָאַס, ma'as): This word means to be despised or rejected, showing that Job’s appearance is now offensive, even to himself.

Why Job 7:5 matters

• Job 7:5 clears up any idea that Job’s suffering was only emotional or spiritual; it was also intensely physical and visible.
• The verse emphasizes the depth of Job’s misery, making his later cries for understanding and relief more poignant and relatable.
• By describing his condition so graphically, Job sets the stage for his ongoing dialogue about suffering, justice, and the human experience of pain in the chapters that follow.