Job 2:8
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּֽקַּֽח
And he took
H3947
וַיִּֽקַּֽח
And he took
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
1 of 9
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
וְה֖וּא
H1931
וְה֖וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
6 of 9
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
יֹשֵׁ֥ב
himself withal and he sat down
H3427
יֹשֵׁ֥ב
himself withal and he sat down
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
7 of 9
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
Cross References
Job 42:6Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.Jonah 3:6For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.Ezekiel 27:30And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:Matthew 11:21Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.Isaiah 61:3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.Psalms 38:5My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.Psalms 38:7For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.Jeremiah 6:26O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.2 Samuel 13:19And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
Historical Context
Sitting in ashes was a standard Ancient Near Eastern practice expressing deep mourning or repentance. The use of a potsherd to scrape the skin provided some relief from itching while also serving as a visible sign of affliction.
Questions for Reflection
- When suffering strips away your dignity, how do you maintain faith?
- What does Job's posture of abasement teach us about the path to eventual vindication?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Job scraping himself with a potsherd (broken pottery) while sitting among ashes depicts complete abasement. The ash heap was both the city dump and a place of mourning/repentance. The imagery suggests Job is treating himself as refuse, yet this self-abasement paradoxically positions him for God's eventual vindication (compare James 4:10). His action demonstrates that faith perseveres even when suffering strips away all dignity and comfort.