Job 17:14
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and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In this chapter, I. Job reflects upon the harsh censures which his friends had passed upon him, and looking upon himself as a dying man (Job 17:1), he appeals to God, and begs of him speedily to appear for him, and right him, because they had wronged him, and he knew not how to right himself (Job 17:2-7). But he hopes that, though it should be a surprise, it will be no stumbling-block, to good people, to see him thus abused (Job 17:8, Job 17:9). II. He reflects upon the vain hopes they had fed him with, that he should yet see good days, showing that his days were just at an end, and with his body all his hopes would be buried in the dust (Job 17:10-16). His friends becoming strange to him, which greatly grieved him, he makes death and the grave familiar to him, which yielded him some comfort.
Open source ↗17:14 my father . . . mother . . . sister: This bitter parody of a family reunion in a graveyard shows how Job envisioned his impending death.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is like a broken tree.
that he should live on forever and not see decay.
But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.
So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.
My skin grows black and peels, and my bones burn with fever.
Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.