Job 2:8

Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped the boils on his skin, and he sat in ashes as people did when they were mourning for those who had died.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

In Context

7So Satan left, and he caused Job to be afflicted with very painful boils, from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.

9His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to ◄be loyal to/faithfully trust in► God? You should curse God, and then you will die.”

Read all of Job 2

Cross References

Esther 4:1When Mordecai found out about those letters, he was so anguished that he tore his clothes and put on rough sackcloth and threw ashes over himself. Then he went into the city, crying very loudly.

Job 19:14All my relatives and good friends have left me.

Psalms 38:5Because I have done foolish things, I have sores that have become worse, and they stink.

Isaiah 61:3To all those in Jerusalem who mourn, he will give flower necklaces to wear; instead of ashes that they put on their heads to show that they are sad; he will cause them to rejoice [MTY] instead of being sad; he will enable them to be [MET] happy instead of being discouraged. They will be called “people who continually do what is right, people who are like tall/strong oak trees that Yahweh has planted” to show others that he is very great.

Ezekiel 27:30They cry aloud because of what has happened to your wealth, and they weep bitterly. They throw dirt on their heads and roll around in ashes.

Matthew 11:21“You people who live in Chorazin city [MTY] and you people who live in Bethsaida city [MTY] will suffer terribly in hell! I did great miracles in your cities, but you did not turn from your sinful behavior. If the miracles that I performed in your cities had been done in the ancient cities of Tyre and Sidon, the wicked people who lived there long ago would have sat in ashes, wearing coarse cloth to show that they were sorry for their sins.

Matthew Henry on Job 2:8-11

Job Smitten with Disease; The Affliction of Job. ( b. c. 1520.) 7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord , and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Job 2:8