Job 13:14
New International Version
Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands?

New Living Translation
Why should I put myself in mortal danger and take my life in my own hands?

English Standard Version
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?

Berean Standard Bible
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

King James Bible
Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

New King James Version
Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?

New American Standard Bible
“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?

NASB 1995
“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And put my life in my hands?

NASB 1977
“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?

Legacy Standard Bible
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And put my life in my hands?

Amplified Bible
“Why should I take my flesh in my teeth And put my life in my hands [incurring the wrath of God]?

Christian Standard Bible
I will put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

American Standard Version
Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?

Contemporary English Version
I will be responsible for what happens to me.

English Revised Version
Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I am biting off more than I can chew and taking my life in my own hands.

Good News Translation
I am ready to risk my life.

International Standard Version
Why shouldn't I bite my flesh or take my life in my hands?

Majority Standard Bible
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?

NET Bible
Why do I put myself in peril, and take my life in my hands?

New Heart English Bible
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

Webster's Bible Translation
Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

World English Bible
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Why do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?

Young's Literal Translation
Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth? And my soul put in my hand?

Smith's Literal Translation
For what shall I lift up my flesh in my teeth, and shall I put my soul in my hand?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Why do I tear my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Why do I wound my flesh with my teeth, and carry my soul in my hands?

New American Bible
I will carry my flesh between my teeth, and take my life in my hand.

New Revised Standard Version
I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Why am I so afflicted, and why is my life exposed to danger?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Why do I take up my flesh into my teeth, and my soul is put into my hands?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore? I will take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
while I may take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Reproves His Friends
13Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may. 14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands? 15Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.…

Cross References
Psalm 119:109
I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.

1 Samuel 28:21
When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me.

Judges 12:3
When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”

1 Kings 19:4
while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Esther 4:16
“Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

2 Kings 7:4
If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”

Jeremiah 45:5
But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”

Isaiah 38:17
Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

Psalm 49:18
Though in his lifetime he blesses his soul—and men praise you when you prosper—

Psalm 56:13
For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Mark 8:35
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.

Luke 9:24
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

John 12:25
Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Acts 20:24
But I consider my life of no value to me, if only I may finish my course and complete the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus—the ministry of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.


Treasury of Scripture

Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?

I take

Job 18:4
He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

Ecclesiastes 4:5
The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.

Isaiah 9:20
And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

and put

Judges 12:3
And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

1 Samuel 19:5
For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

1 Samuel 28:21
And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

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Job 13
1. Job reproves his friends for partiality
14. He professes his confidence in God;
19. and entreats to know his own sins, and God's purpose in afflicting him














Why do I put myself at risk
This phrase reflects Job's introspection and the existential questioning of his actions and decisions. The Hebrew root for "risk" here is "שׂוּם" (sum), which means to place or set. Job is contemplating the deliberate act of placing himself in a position of danger or vulnerability. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of fate and divine will, where individuals often found themselves questioning their place in the cosmic order. Job's rhetorical question underscores his awareness of the precariousness of his situation, both physically and spiritually, as he challenges the divine justice he perceives as absent in his suffering.

and take my life in my own hands?
The phrase "take my life in my own hands" is a vivid expression of self-endangerment and autonomy. The Hebrew word for "life" is "נֶפֶשׁ" (nephesh), which can also mean soul or self, indicating the depth of Job's turmoil. The imagery of holding one's life in one's hands suggests a profound sense of personal responsibility and the potential for self-destruction. In the historical context of the Ancient Near East, life was seen as a gift from God, and to take it into one's own hands was to assume a role reserved for the divine. This phrase highlights Job's desperation and his willingness to confront God directly, even at the risk of his own life, to seek justice and understanding. It is a testament to his unwavering faith and determination to find meaning amidst his suffering, reflecting the broader biblical theme of wrestling with God in times of trial.

(14) Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth.--This is probably the meaning of this verse, which, however, should not be read interrogatively: "At all risks, come what come may, I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand."

Verses 14-28. - The appeal is now to God; but Job prefaces it by excusing his boldness (vers. 14-19). Verse 14. - Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth! An obscure phrase, to be explained by the parallel in the second member of the verse. The general meaning is, "Why do I jeopardize everything - my body, taking it as it were between my teeth; and my soul, taking it as it were in my hand?" Neither idea will bear minute analysis; but the latter, at any rate, was known to the Greeks (Athen., 'Deipnosoph.,' p. 569), and is common in English. And put my life in my hand (comp. Judges 12:3; 1 Samuel 19:5; 1 Samuel 28:21; Psalm 119:109).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Why
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

do I put myself
בְשָׂרִ֣י (ḇə·śā·rî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

at risk
אֶשָּׂ֣א (’eś·śā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

and take
אָשִׂ֥ים (’ā·śîm)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

my life
וְ֝נַפְשִׁ֗י (wə·nap̄·šî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

in my own hands?
בְּכַפִּֽי׃ (bə·ḵap·pî)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3709: Hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot), a pan


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OT Poetry: Job 13:14 Why should I take my flesh (Jb)
Job 13:13
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