Job 33:21

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 33:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.
Job 33:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 33

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
21His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, etc.] All being gone, none left to be seen, nothing but skin and bones; and this partly through the vehemence of strong pain, and partly through the nausea of food; not being able to take anything for nourishment and the support of the fluids, and so quite emaciated: and his bones [that] were not seen stick out: which before were covered with flesh and fat, so that they could not be seen; but now the flesh and fat being wasted, they seem as if they rose up in an eminence, and stood out to be beheld; this was also Job’s case, being reduced to a mere skeleton, (<181920>Job 19:20). Elihu, in this description of an afflicted man, seems to have…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“His flesh once prominent "can no more be seen." His bones once not seen now appear prominent. stick out--literally, "are bare." The Margin, Hebrew (Keri) reading. The text (Chetib) reads it a noun "(are become) bareness." The Keri was no doubt an explanatory reading of transcribers.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen - He wastes away. His flesh, once vigorous, beautiful, and fair, now disappears. This is not a mere description of the nature of his sickness, but it is a description of the disciplinary arrangements of God. It is an important part of his affliction, as a part of the discipline, that his flesh vanishes, and that his appearance is so changed that he becomes repulsive to the view. And his bones that were not seen, stick out - His bones were before invisible. They were carefully concealed by the rounded muscle, and by the fat which filled up the interstices, so that they were not offensive to the view. But now the protuberances of his bones can…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“His flesh: Job 7:5, Job 13:28, Job 14:20, Job 14:22, Job 19:20; Psa 32:3, Psa 32:4, Psa 39:11, Psa 102:3-5; Pro 5:11 his bones: Psa 22:15-17 Job 33:22”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification