New International Version Their flesh wastes away to nothing, and their bones, once hidden, now stick out. New Living Translation Their flesh wastes away, and their bones stick out. English Standard Version His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out. Berean Standard Bible His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. Berean Literal Bible His flesh is consumed from sight, and his bones that were not seen are laid bare. King James Bible His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. New King James Version His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen. New American Standard Bible “His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones, which were not seen, stick out. NASB 1995 “His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones which were not seen stick out. NASB 1977 “His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones which were not seen stick out. Legacy Standard Bible His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones which were not seen stick out. Amplified Bible “His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, And his bones which were not seen now stick out. Berean Annotated Bible His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. Christian Standard Bible His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his unseen bones stick out. Holman Christian Standard Bible His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his unseen bones stick out. American Standard Version His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out. Contemporary English Version and we become so skinny that our bones stick out. English Revised Version His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. GOD'S WORD® Translation Their flesh becomes so thin that it can't be seen. Their bones, not seen before, will be exposed. Good News Translation Their bodies waste away to nothing; you can see all their bones; International Standard Version His flesh wastes away; his bones, which once couldn't be seen, are visible. NET Bible His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones, which were not seen, are easily visible. New Heart English Bible His flesh is so consumed away, that it can't be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out. Webster's Bible Translation His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHis flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. World English Bible His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHis flesh is consumed from being seen, "" And his bones are high, they were not seen! Berean Literal Bible His flesh is consumed from sight, and his bones that were not seen are laid bare. Young's Literal Translation His flesh is consumed from being seen, And high are his bones, they were not seen! Smith's Literal Translation His flesh will consume away from seeing, and they saw not the nakedness of his bones. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHis flesh shall be consumed away, and his bones that were covered shall be made bare. Catholic Public Domain Version His body will waste away, and his bones, which had been covered, will be revealed. New American Bible His flesh is wasted, it cannot be seen; bones, once invisible, appear; New Revised Standard Version Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and their bones, once invisible, now stick out. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHis flesh is wasted away because of his fear, so that a greater part of his bones can he seen. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He will consume his flesh from fear, and the multitude of his bones he will not see OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones corrode to unsightliness. Brenton Septuagint Translation until his flesh shall be consumed, and he shall shew his bones bare. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Elihu Rebukes Job…20so that he detests his bread, and his soul loathes his favorite food. 21His flesh wastes away from sight, and his hidden bones protrude. 22He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.… Cross References His flesh wastes away from sight Job 16:8 You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me. Psalm 109:24 My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt. Isaiah 17:4 “In that day the splendor of Jacob will fade, and the fat of his body will waste away, and his hidden bones protrude Job 19:20 My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped by the skin of my teeth. Psalm 22:17 I can count all my bones; they stare and gloat over me. Lamentations 4:8 But now their appearance is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as a stick. Psalm 107:18 They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death. Isaiah 52:14 Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness— Psalm 102:5 Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones. Isaiah 24:16 From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me.” The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery. Psalm 38:7 For my loins are full of burning pain, and no soundness remains in my body. Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Proverbs 5:11 At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are spent, Matthew 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. Matthew 6:16 When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. Treasury of Scripture His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. His flesh Job 7:5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. Job 13:28 And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten. Job 14:20,22 Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away… his bones Psalm 22:15-17 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death… Jump to Previous Bones Consumed Flesh Hidden High Once Sight Stick View Wasted WastesJump to Next Bones Consumed Flesh Hidden High Once Sight Stick View Wasted WastesJob 33 1. Elihu offers himself instead of God to reason with Job8. He excuses God from giving man an account of his ways, by his greatness 14. God calls man to repentance by visions, by afflictions, and by his ministry 31. He incites Job to attention His flesh wastes away from sight, Job’s suffering becomes visibly severe as his body deteriorates. Such affliction brought not only pain but also public shame and isolation, since bodily ruin was often viewed as evidence of God’s judgment. His condition displays the frailty of human life under the curse of sin and death. Job 16:8 You have bound me, and it has become a witness;… and his hidden bones protrude. The loss of flesh leaves Job emaciated and exposed, revealing the depth of his weakness. What should remain covered is laid bare, portraying a man brought low by suffering and unable to restore himself. His condition underscores humanity’s need for God’s mercy and deliverance. Job 19:20 My skin and flesh cling to my bones; I have escaped… Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man of great faith and integrity, Job is the central figure in the Book of Job. He undergoes severe trials and suffering, which are the backdrop for the discussions and discourses in the book. 2. Elihu A young man who speaks to Job and his friends in chapters 32-37. Elihu offers a different perspective on Job's suffering, emphasizing God's justice and sovereignty. 3. Uz The land where Job lived, often associated with the region east of Israel. It serves as the setting for the events of the book. 4. Suffering The central theme of the Book of Job, exploring the reasons for and responses to human suffering. 5. God's Sovereignty A key theme in Elihu's speeches, highlighting God's ultimate control and purpose in all circumstances. Teaching Points The Reality of Physical SufferingSuffering can manifest physically, as seen in Job's condition. It is a reminder of the frailty of human life and the reality of living in a fallen world. Spiritual Implications of Physical Afflictions Physical suffering often has spiritual implications, prompting introspection and a deeper reliance on God. It can be a tool for spiritual growth and refinement. God's Sovereignty in Suffering Elihu emphasizes that God is sovereign over all circumstances, including suffering. Trusting in God's purpose and timing is crucial, even when we do not understand our trials. The Importance of Compassionate Counsel Elihu's approach, though well-intentioned, reminds us of the need for compassion and sensitivity when offering counsel to those who are suffering. Hope Beyond Physical Decay While our bodies may waste away, our hope is in the eternal life promised through Christ. This perspective encourages perseverance and faithfulness. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Job 33:21?2. How does Job 33:21 illustrate the consequences of ignoring God's guidance? 3. What can we learn about God's discipline from Job 33:21? 4. How does Job 33:21 connect with Proverbs 3:11-12 on God's correction? 5. How can we apply the lessons of Job 33:21 to our spiritual health? 6. In what ways does Job 33:21 encourage us to seek God's wisdom daily? 7. How does Job 33:21 reflect the human condition and suffering? 8. What is the theological significance of Job 33:21 in understanding divine intervention? 9. How does Job 33:21 relate to the concept of physical and spiritual decline? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 33? Verse 21. - His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; literally, from the sight; but the Authorized Version gives probably the correct meaning. And his bones that were not seen stick out. These are general features of a wasting illness (comp. Psalm 22:17, "I may tell all my bones"). Such illness gives the sufferer time to review thoroughly his life and cow duct, and see to it "if there be any way of wickedness in him," or any particular form of sin to which he is tempted. Job 33:21 paints a stark portrait of a man brought to the brink of death: first his flesh visibly melts away, then even his concealed bones push through the skin. Elihu uses this vivid reality to show how God sometimes employs severe physical affliction to arrest a person’s attention, humble pride, and invite heartfelt repentance. The verse is therefore both literal—describing real, agonizing sickness—and instructive, reminding believers that when the body fails, God is often at work to rescue the soul and restore true life in Him. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew His fleshבְּשָׂר֣וֹ (bə·śā·rōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man wastes away יִ֣כֶל (yi·ḵel) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent from sight, מֵרֹ֑אִי (mê·rō·’î) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7210: Looking, seeing, sight and his hidden לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no bones עַ֝צְמוֹתָ֗יו (‘aṣ·mō·w·ṯāw) Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 6106: A bone, the body, the substance, selfsame protrude. וְשֻׁפּ֥וּ (wə·šup·pū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 8205: Bareness, a smooth or bare height Additonal Resources Job 33:21 Blue Letter BibleJob 33:21 Bible Gateway Job 33:21 Bible.com Job 33:21 NIV |
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