Bible Strands
Job 13:14
Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Job addresses his friends and God after commanding them to remain silent so he may speak his complaint. He stands at the moment of declaring his willingness to face whatever consequences follow his direct appeal.
The words — The text uses בְּשִׁנָּי (bəšinnāy), literally "in my teeth," and בְּכַפִּי (bəkap̄î), literally "in my palm," to describe handling one's own safety. These phrases function as idioms for taking direct, unmitigated personal risk.
The thread — This motif of voluntarily assuming mortal danger appears when a speaker crosses into enemy territory (Judges 12:3), maintains obedience despite constant peril (Psalms 119:109), and acts courageously against a Philistine threat (1 Samuel 19:5).
Why it lands — The text states that the speaker consciously chooses to expose himself to destruction rather than retreat into safety. It requires a reader to acknowledge that faithful speech and hope demand acceptance of potential ruin.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
Cross-references
- 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?”
- Psalms 119:109 I constantly take my life in my hands, yet I do not forget Your law.
- 1 Samuel 19:5 He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”
- 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.
- Job 18:4 You who tear yourself in anger—should the earth be forsaken on your account, or the rocks be moved from their place?
- Ecclesiastes 4:5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh.
- Isaiah 9:20 They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.
- Isaiah 49:26 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will be drunk on their own blood, as with wine. Then all mankind will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”