Job 17:14
I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.
Original Language Analysis
לַשַּׁ֣חַת
to corruption
H7845
לַשַּׁ֣חַת
to corruption
Strong's:
H7845
Word #:
1 of 7
a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively, destruction
קָ֭רָאתִי
I have said
H7121
קָ֭רָאתִי
I have said
Strong's:
H7121
Word #:
2 of 7
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
אָ֣בִי
Thou art my father
H1
אָ֣בִי
Thou art my father
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
3 of 7
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
אִמִּ֥י
Thou art my mother
H517
אִמִּ֥י
Thou art my mother
Strong's:
H517
Word #:
5 of 7
a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively [like father])
Historical Context
Ancient burial practices involved decomposition awareness. Job's imagery would resonate as accepting death's physical reality while also serving as metaphor for complete abandonment—his only 'family' is the grave.
Questions for Reflection
- How do we maintain faith when death and decay seem our only companions?
- What does it mean that faith continues speaking even when addressing corruption?
Analysis & Commentary
'I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.' Job's dark poetry addresses 'corruption' (לַשַּׁחַת, lashachat—the pit, decay) as father and 'worm' (לָרִמָּה, larimmah) as mother and sister. This inverts family intimacy—instead of human relationships, Job claims kinship with decay. It's both gallows humor and genuine despair. Death and decay are his only remaining 'family.' Yet even here, speaking to corruption and worms, Job maintains speech. Faith survives even when reduced to conversing with death. This anticipates Christ who descended to corruption's domain yet emerged victorious. Job's dark poetry expresses faith's refusal to stay silent even in death's shadow.