Job 13:28
Job 13:28 in Multiple Translations
So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.
Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.
Though a man comes to nothing like a bit of dead wood, or like a robe which has become food for the worm.
I'm falling apart like something rotten, like moth-eaten clothes.
Such one consumeth like a rotten thing, and as a garment that is motheaten.
And he, as a rotten thing, weareth away, As a garment hath a moth consumed him.
though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth-eaten.
Who am to be consumed as rottenness, and as a garment that is moth-eaten.
As a result, my body is decaying like [SIM] rotten wood, like a piece of cloth that is eaten by larvae of moths.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 13:28
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 13:28 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ֭/הוּא
כְּ/רָקָ֣ב
יִבְלֶ֑ה
כְּ֝/בֶ֗גֶד
אֲכָ֣ל/וֹ
עָֽשׁ
וְ֭/הוּא
hûwʼ
H1931
he/she/it
Conj | Pron
כְּ/רָקָ֣ב
râqâb
H7538
rottenness
Prep | N-ms
יִבְלֶ֑ה
bâlâh
H1086
to become old
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
כְּ֝/בֶ֗גֶד
beged
H899
treachery
Prep | N-ms
אֲכָ֣ל/וֹ
ʼâkal
H398
to eat
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff
עָֽשׁ
ʻâsh
H6211
moth
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 13:28
וְ֭/הוּא
hûwʼ
H1931
"he/she/it"
Conj | Pron
This word is a pronoun meaning 'he', 'she', or 'it', used to refer to a person or thing. It is used in the Bible to emphasize a subject or make it clear who is being talked about.
Definition: pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article)
Usage: Occurs in 1693 OT verses. KJV: he, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who. See also: Genesis 2:11; Genesis 32:19; Exodus 21:3.
כְּ/רָקָ֣ב
râqâb
H7538
"rottenness"
Prep | N-ms
This noun means rottenness or decay, often used figuratively to describe moral or spiritual corruption, like in Job 13:28 where a person's body is compared to rotting clothes.
Definition: rottenness, decay (always fig)
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: rottenness (thing). See also: Job 13:28; Proverbs 14:30; Proverbs 12:4.
יִבְלֶ֑ה
bâlâh
H1086
"to become old"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To wear out or become old, like something that's been used up or decayed over time, as seen in the book of Isaiah. This concept is also related to consuming or spending something completely. It implies a sense of depletion or exhaustion.
Definition: 1) to wear out, become old 1a) (Qal) to wear out 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to wear out 1b2) to wear out by use, use up completely 1b3) to enjoy, use to the full Aramaic equivalent: be.la (בְּלָא "to wear out" H1080)
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: consume, enjoy long, become (make, wax) old, spend, waste. See also: Genesis 18:12; Job 21:13; Psalms 32:3.
כְּ֝/בֶ֗גֶד
beged
H899
"treachery"
Prep | N-ms
In the Bible, this word refers to clothing or a covering, like a garment or robe. It appears in books like Genesis and Exodus, describing what people wore. The word is often translated as 'apparel' or 'raiment'.
Definition: treachery, deceit
Usage: Occurs in 190 OT verses. KJV: apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, [idiom] very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe. See also: Genesis 24:53; Judges 17:10; Psalms 22:19.
אֲכָ֣ל/וֹ
ʼâkal
H398
"to eat"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms | Suff
This word means to eat or devour, and it's used in many stories, including when Jesus fed the 5000 with fish and bread in the book of Matthew. It's about taking in nourishment and being satisfied.
Definition: 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Usage: Occurs in 703 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite. See also: Genesis 2:16; Leviticus 6:9; Numbers 24:8.
עָֽשׁ
ʻâsh
H6211
"moth"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word refers to a moth or grass, symbolizing something that is fragile or easily destroyed. It is first used in Job 4:19 to describe the fragility of human life. The word is also related to vegetation and herbage.
Definition: moth
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: moth. See also H5906 (עַיִשׁ). See also: Job 4:19; Daniel 4:12; Psalms 39:12.
Study Notes — Job 13:28
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 13:28 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 13:28
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 13:28
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 13:28
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 13:28
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 13:28
- Cambridge Bible on Job 13:28
- Barnes' Notes on Job 13:28
- Whedon's Commentary on Job 13:28
- Sermons on Job 13:28
Context — Job Prepares His Case
26For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
27You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
28So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 39:11 | You discipline and correct a man for his iniquity, consuming like a moth what he holds dear; surely each man is but a vapor. Selah |
| 2 | Job 4:19 | how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who can be crushed like a moth! |
| 3 | Job 30:17–19 | Night pierces my bones, and my gnawing pains never rest. With great force He grasps my garment; He seizes me by the collar of my tunic. He throws me into the mud, and I have become like dust and ashes. |
| 4 | Job 30:29–30 | I have become a brother of jackals, a companion of ostriches. My skin grows black and peels, and my bones burn with fever. |
| 5 | Hosea 5:12 | So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like decay to the house of Judah. |
| 6 | Numbers 12:12 | Please do not let her be like a stillborn infant whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” |
Job 13:28 Summary
This verse is saying that our bodies are like old clothes that get worn out and rotten, and that we will all eventually die and return to dust, as it says in Genesis 3:19. This is a reminder that our time on earth is limited, and that we should focus on the things that will last, like our relationship with God (Matthew 6:19-21). It's a call to prioritize what's truly important and to trust in God's power and sovereignty, even when we feel weak and fragile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for man to waste away like something rotten?
This phrase suggests that our bodies are fragile and prone to decay, much like something that is rotten and decaying, as seen in the example of a moth-eaten garment, illustrating the fleeting nature of human life, as also described in Psalms 39:11 and Isaiah 50:9.
Is this verse talking about the effects of sin on our bodies?
While sin can certainly have negative effects on our bodies, this verse is more focused on the natural process of aging and decay that affects all people, regardless of their moral standing, as also discussed in Genesis 3:19 and Romans 8:20-21.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the book of Job?
This verse is part of Job's lamentation and response to God's accusations, highlighting the contrast between God's power and man's weakness, as seen in Job 13:27 and Job 14:1-2, emphasizing the theme of human frailty in the face of God's sovereignty.
What can we learn from this verse about our priorities in life?
This verse reminds us that our physical bodies are temporary and will eventually decay, encouraging us to focus on spiritual things that will last, as taught in Matthew 6:19-21 and 1 Corinthians 9:25, and to prioritize our relationship with God above earthly concerns.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways in which I have seen or experienced the effects of decay and rot in my own life or in the world around me?
- How does the reality of human frailty and mortality affect my perspective on life and my priorities?
- In what ways can I use the fleeting nature of human life to motivate myself to focus on eternal things and to live a life that honors God?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty and power, even in the face of human weakness and decay?
Gill's Exposition on Job 13:28
And he as a rotten thing consumeth,.... This by some Jewish writers (z) is referred to and connected with the driven leaf and dry stubble Job compares himself to, Job 13:25; and so the sense is, that
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 13:28
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten. Job speaks of himself in the third person, thus forming the transition to the general lot of man (Job 14:1; Psalms 39:11; Hosea 5:12).
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 13:28
He; either, 1. Man, or Job, supposed to be God’ s adversary in this contest. So he speaks of himself in the third person, as is usual in this and other sacred books. So the sense is, he, i.e. this poor frail creature, this carcass or body of mine, which possibly he pointed at with his finger, consumeth or pineth away, &c. So he mentions here the effect of God’ s severe proceedings against him, to wit, his consumption and utter destruction, which was making haste towards him. Or, 2. God, of whom he hitherto spoke in the second person, and now in the third person; such changes of persons being very frequent in poetical writings, such as this is. So he continueth the former discourse; and as before he mentioned God’ s severe inquiry into his ways, and sentence against him, so here he describes the consequence and dreadful execution of it upon him; he, i.e. God, consumeth (for the verb is active) me as rottenness consumeth that in which it is, or as a rotten thing is consumed, and as a moth which eateth a garment.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 13:28
Job 13:28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.Ver. 28. And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth] Heb. Waxeth old. He, that is, this poor man, this silly wretch, as David speaketh of himself, Psalms 34:6. Or this body of mine, as Job 19:26; Job pointing to it, as it is like he did there; and Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:53-54. "As a rotten thing" (Heb. as rottenness), "consumeth." When a thing once rotteth, as an apple, flesh, &c., it soon perisheth. Such is man, under pressing afflictions especially. And as a garment that is moth eaten] The beauty whereof is defaced, and the usefulness departed.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 13:28
Verse 28. And he, as a rotten thing] I am like a vessel made of skin; rotten, because of old age, or like a garment corroded by the moth. So the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic understood it. The word he may refer to himself.
Cambridge Bible on Job 13:28
28. And he as a rotten thing] Or, one who as a rotten thing. Job no more speaks of himself in the first person, but in the third, because he thinks of himself as one of the human race in general, which is feeble and short-lived.
Barnes' Notes on Job 13:28
And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth - Noyes renders this, “And I, like an abandoned thing, shall waste away.” Dr.
Whedon's Commentary on Job 13:28
28. Rotten thing — Rottenness. Such as caries, or decay, in wood. The most destructive agencies work in silence.
Sermons on Job 13:28
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Call Not Thou Common by A.B. Simpson | Greek Word Studies, in a sermon about the destructive nature of moths as illustrated in the Bible, emphasizes how moth larvae feed on and destroy fabric, particularly wool, symboli |
|
What Kind of Being Is Man - Part 1 by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the nature of God and highlights several characteristics of God mentioned in the scripture. He emphasizes that God is right, truth, light, li |