Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
Parallel translations
- WEB Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
- KJV Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
- NKJV Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze?
- NASB “Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze?
- NLT Do I have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job asks whether his strength is the strength of stones or his flesh made of bronze. He confesses he is only frail human flesh, not invincible.
Overview
Job protests that he is not made of stone or metal but of vulnerable flesh, unable to bear endless suffering. He underscores the limits of human endurance. This frank acknowledgment of mortality magnifies the comfort of the incarnation, for Christ took the same frail flesh, was tempted and weakened as we are, and so can truly sympathize with our breaking point.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 6:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.