Job 16:8
New International Version
You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.

New Living Translation
As if to prove I have sinned, you’ve reduced me to skin and bones. My gaunt flesh testifies against me.

English Standard Version
And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.

Berean Standard Bible
You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.

King James Bible
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

New King James Version
You have shriveled me up, And it is a witness against me; My leanness rises up against me And bears witness to my face.

New American Standard Bible
“And you have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my infirmity rises up against me, It testifies to my face.

NASB 1995
“You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.

NASB 1977
“And Thou hast shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.

Legacy Standard Bible
You have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It answers to my face.

Amplified Bible
“You have taken a firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, It has become a witness [against me]; And my leanness [and infirmity] rises up [as evidence] against me, It testifies to my face [about my guilt].

Christian Standard Bible
You have shriveled me up —it has become a witness; my frailty rises up against me and testifies to my face.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You have shriveled me up—it has become a witness; My frailty rises up against me and testifies to my face.

American Standard Version
And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.

Contemporary English Version
my shriveled up skin proves that I am his prisoner.

English Revised Version
And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me: and my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth to my face.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You have shriveled me up, which itself is a witness [against me]. My frail body rises up and testifies against me.

Good News Translation
You have seized me; you are my enemy. I am skin and bones, and people take that as proof of my guilt.

International Standard Version
You've arrested me, making me testify against myself! My leanness rises up to attack me, accusing me to my face.

Majority Standard Bible
You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.

NET Bible
You have seized me, and it has become a witness; my leanness has risen up against me and testifies against me.

New Heart English Bible
You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

Webster's Bible Translation
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

World English Bible
You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And You loathe me, "" For it has been a witness, "" And my failure rises up against me, "" It testifies in my face.

Young's Literal Translation
And Thou dost loathe me, For a witness it hath been, And rise up against me doth my failure, In my face it testifieth.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou wilt lay fast hold on me to be for a testimony, and my leanness will rise up in me; it will answer against my face.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a liar rises up against my face, contradicting me.

New American Bible
You have shriveled me up; it is a witness, my gauntness rises up to testify against me;

New Revised Standard Version
And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; my leanness has risen up against me, and it testifies to my face.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thou didst appoint me and I became a witness, but my lies have testified against me; and I spoke in his presence.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he appointed me and I have become a witness and my lie stood against me, and I have spoken before him
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Thou hast shrivelled me up, which is a witness against me; And my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth to my face.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Decries his Comforters
7Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family. 8You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me. 9His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.…

Cross References
Psalm 109:24-25
My knees are weak from fasting, and my body grows lean and gaunt. / I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.

Lamentations 3:4
He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones.

Isaiah 50:6
I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.

Psalm 22:14-17
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me. / My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You lay me in the dust of death. / For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet. ...

Isaiah 53:3-5
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. / Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Psalm 102:3-5
For my days vanish like smoke, and my bones burn like glowing embers. / My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread. / Through my loud groaning my skin hangs on my bones.

Lamentations 3:43-45
You have covered Yourself in anger and pursued us; You have killed without pity. / You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through. / You have made us scum and refuse among the nations.

Psalm 31:9-10
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well. / For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.

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—

Matthew 27:28-30
They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. / And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” / Then they spit on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly.

Mark 15:19-20
They kept striking His head with a staff and spitting on Him. And they knelt down and bowed before Him. / After they had mocked Him, they removed the purple robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.

Luke 22:63-65
The men who were holding Jesus began to mock Him and beat Him. / They blindfolded Him and kept demanding, “Prophesy! Who hit You?” / And they said many other blasphemous things against Him.

John 19:1-3
Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged. / The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and dressed Him in a purple robe. / And they went up to Him again and again, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapping Him in the face.

2 Corinthians 11:23-27
Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death. / Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. / Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea. ...

1 Peter 2:23-24
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. / He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”


Treasury of Scripture

And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.

And thou hast, etc.

is a witness

Job 10:17
Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.

Ruth 1:21
I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

Ephesians 5:27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

my leanness

Psalm 106:15
And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Isaiah 10:16
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.

Isaiah 24:16
From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

Jump to Previous
Beareth Bound Face Fast Filled Flesh Hold Leanness Makes Rise Risen Rises Riseth Rising Shriveled Shrivelled Testifies Testifieth Wasting Witness
Jump to Next
Beareth Bound Face Fast Filled Flesh Hold Leanness Makes Rise Risen Rises Riseth Rising Shriveled Shrivelled Testifies Testifieth Wasting Witness
Job 16
1. Job reproves his friends for unmercifulness
17. He maintains his innocence














You have bound me
In this phrase, Job is addressing God directly, expressing a deep sense of being restrained or confined by his circumstances. The Hebrew root for "bound" is "אָסַר" (asar), which can mean to bind, imprison, or tie up. This imagery suggests a feeling of being trapped by his suffering, unable to escape the afflictions that have come upon him. Historically, binding was a common practice for prisoners or those under judgment, which aligns with Job's perception of his situation as one of divine judgment or testing. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as a metaphor for the trials that believers may face, feeling bound by circumstances yet called to trust in God's ultimate purpose and deliverance.

and it has become a witness
The term "witness" in Hebrew is "עֵד" (ed), which refers to someone who testifies or provides evidence. Job feels that his suffering itself has become a testimony against him, as if his physical and emotional state is evidence of some wrongdoing. In the ancient Near Eastern context, suffering was often seen as a sign of divine displeasure or judgment. However, the Book of Job challenges this simplistic view, inviting readers to consider the complexity of suffering and the mystery of God's ways. For believers, this can be a reminder that our trials, while difficult, can serve as a testimony of faith and perseverance, ultimately pointing to God's faithfulness.

my frailty rises up
The word "frailty" here is translated from the Hebrew "קָמָה" (qamah), which can mean weakness or decay. Job's physical and emotional weakness is portrayed as something that actively rises up, almost personified, to confront him. This reflects the overwhelming nature of his suffering, which seems to have a life of its own. In the broader biblical narrative, human frailty is a recurring theme, reminding us of our dependence on God. Despite our weaknesses, Scripture assures us that God's strength is made perfect in our frailty (2 Corinthians 12:9), offering hope and encouragement to those who feel overwhelmed by their circumstances.

and testifies against me
The act of testifying, "עָנָה" (anah) in Hebrew, implies giving a response or bearing witness. Job feels that his own condition is speaking against him, as if his suffering is a voice that accuses him of guilt or failure. This reflects the inner turmoil and self-doubt that can accompany prolonged suffering. In the context of Job's story, this phrase highlights the tension between his integrity and the accusations of his friends, who insist that his suffering must be due to sin. For believers, this serves as a reminder to seek God's truth and perspective, rather than being swayed by external judgments or internal accusations. It encourages us to hold fast to our faith, trusting that God sees beyond our circumstances and knows the true condition of our hearts.

(8) Witness against me.--As in Job 10:17. The wrinkles in his body, caused by the disease, were a witness against him; and certainly, in the eyes of his friends, they furnished unquestionable proof of his guilt.

Verse 8. - And thou hast filled me with wrinkles. So St. Jerome, Professor Lee, Dr. Stanley Leathes, and others; but the generality of modern commentators prefer the rendering, "Thou hast bound me fast," i.e. deprived me of all power of resisting or moving (comp. Psalm 88:8, "I am so fast in prison that I cannot get forth"). Which is a witness against me; i.e. a witness of thy displeasure, and so (as men suppose) of my guilt. And my leanness rising up in me heareth witness to my face; rather, my leanness rising up against me. This emaciation is taken as another witness of his extreme sinfulness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You have shriveled me up
וַֽ֭תִּקְמְטֵנִי (wat·tiq·mə·ṭê·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7059: To pluck, destroy

[as]
הָיָ֑ה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a witness [against me];
לְעֵ֣ד (lə·‘êḏ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

my frailty
כַ֝חֲשִׁ֗י (ḵa·ḥă·šî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3585: A failure of flesh, emaciation, hypocrisy

rises up
וַיָּ֥קָם (way·yā·qām)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

and testifies
יַעֲנֶֽה׃ (ya·‘ă·neh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

against me.
בְּפָנַ֥י (bə·p̄ā·nay)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face


Links
Job 16:8 NIV
Job 16:8 NLT
Job 16:8 ESV
Job 16:8 NASB
Job 16:8 KJV

Job 16:8 BibleApps.com
Job 16:8 Biblia Paralela
Job 16:8 Chinese Bible
Job 16:8 French Bible
Job 16:8 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 16:8 You have shriveled me up (Jb)
Job 16:7
Top of Page
Top of Page