Job 10:11
Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
The Book of Job is difficult to date precisely, with scholarly proposals ranging from the patriarchal period (2000-1800 BCE) to the post-exilic period (5th century BCE). The setting is the land of Uz, likely in Edom or northern Arabia, and the characters are non-Israelite. This universal setting makes Job's wisdom applicable across cultures and times, addressing the perennial question of innocent suffering.
Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature includes texts addressing similar themes—the Babylonian "Ludlul Bel Nemeqi" ("I Will Praise the Lord of Wisdom") and the "Babylonian Theodicy" both explore righteous suffering. However, Job surpasses these in theological depth, refusing simplistic answers while affirming God's sovereign wisdom and ultimate vindication of the righteous.
Job's description of human formation reflects ancient understanding of anatomy while conveying timeless truth about human origins. Ancient peoples observed pregnancy and birth, noting the development of skin, flesh, bones, and sinews in the womb. Job's language transforms this observation into theological confession: human life originates from and belongs to God. This confession remains relevant in contemporary debates about human personhood, medical ethics, and the meaning of embodied existence.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding your body as God's intricate handiwork affect your attitude toward physical health, aging, disability, or body image?
- What comfort does God's detailed creative work provide when facing illness, physical suffering, or mortality?
- How should the truth that God "clothed" and "fenced" you with your physical form shape Christian perspectives on bioethics, healthcare, and end-of-life decisions?
- In what ways does Job's acknowledgment of God as Creator, even amid suffering, model faith that confesses truth regardless of circumstances?
- How does belief in God as intentional Creator of human bodies inform Christian teaching on the resurrection and the eternal significance of embodied existence?
Analysis & Commentary
Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews. In this verse, Job acknowledges God as his Creator, describing the intricate formation of his physical body. The Hebrew verb "clothed" (labash, לָבַשׁ) typically refers to putting on garments, but here metaphorically describes God covering Job's body with skin and flesh. "Fenced" (sokek, סֹכֵךְ) means woven together or intertwined, depicting the complex structure of bones and sinews (tendons, ligaments) forming the skeletal and muscular systems.
This poetic description reflects ancient understanding of human anatomy while expressing theological truth: humanity is God's deliberate creation, not the product of chance. Job's language anticipates modern appreciation for the body's complexity. The "knit together" imagery appears also in Psalm 139:13-15, where David marvels at God's creative work in the womb. Both passages affirm human dignity rooted in being purposefully designed by a personal Creator.
Contextually, Job speaks these words while lamenting his suffering and questioning why God, who so carefully crafted him, now seems intent on destroying him. Yet even in anguish, Job acknowledges God's sovereignty over his existence. This tension—confessing God's creative power while experiencing unexplained suffering—represents the book's central theological struggle. For Christians, this verse contributes to the biblical foundation for the sanctity of human life and bodily resurrection, as the God who intricately formed our bodies will also raise and glorify them (1 Corinthians 15:35-49).