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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 2:8 And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/2-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/18_Job_02_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 2:8 - Job Loses His Health" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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and he sat down among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And <i>Job</i> took a piece of pottery to scrape himself while he was sitting in the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And Job took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself, and he sat [down] among the ashes (rubbish heaps).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself while he sat among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself while he sat among the ashes. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself therewith; and he sat among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Then Job sat on the ash-heap to show his sorrow. And while he was scraping his sores with a broken piece of pottery, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Job took a piece of broken pottery to scratch himself as he sat in the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Job went and sat by the garbage dump and took a piece of broken pottery to scrape his sores. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Job took a broken piece of pottery to scrape himself while sitting among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />And Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself as he sat among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Job took a shard of broken pottery to scrape himself with while he was sitting among the ashes. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And he took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with while he sat among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself with it; and he sat down among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And he takes to him a potsherd to scrape himself with it, and he is sitting in the midst of the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And he taketh to him a potsherd to scrape himself with it, and he is sitting in the midst of the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will take to him a pot sherd to scrape himself with it, and he will sit in the midst of the ashes.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he took a potsherd and scraped the corrupt matter, sitting on a dunghill. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />So he took a shard of earthenware and scraped the discharge, while sitting on a heap of refuse.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He took a potsherd to scrape himself, as he sat among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he took a potsherd to scrape himself with it; and he sat down upon ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he took for himself a clay vessel to scrape himself and he was sitting down on the ashes<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself therewith; and he sat among the ashes.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he took a potsherd to scrape away the discharge, and sat upon a dung-heap outside the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/2-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=301" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/2.htm">Job Loses His Health</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and infected Job with terrible boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: way·yiq·qaḥ- (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">And Job took</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> <a href="/hebrew/2789.htm" title="2789: ḥe·reś (N-ms) -- Earthenware, earthen vessel, sherd, potsherd. A collateral form mediating between cherec and cheresh; a piece of pottery.">a piece of broken pottery</a> <a href="/hebrew/1623.htm" title="1623: lə·hiṯ·gā·rêḏ (Prep-l:: V-Hitpael-Inf) -- To scrape, scratch. A primitive root; to abrade.">to scrape</a> <a href="/hebrew/bōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">himself</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: wə·hū (Conj-w:: Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">as he</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: yō·šêḇ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">sat</a> <a href="/hebrew/8432.htm" title="8432: bə·ṯō·wḵ- (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- Midst. From an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. the centre.">among</a> <a href="/hebrew/665.htm" title="665: hā·’ê·p̄er (Art:: N-ms) -- Ashes. From an unused root meaning to bestrew; ashes.">the ashes.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>Then Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die!”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Isaiah 53:3</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/lamentations/3-28.htm">Lamentations 3:28-29</a></span><br />Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it upon him. / Let him bury his face in the dust—perhaps there is still hope.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/1-8.htm">Micah 1:8-9</a></span><br />Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich. / For her wound is incurable; it has reached even Judah; it has approached the gate of my people, as far as Jerusalem itself.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-6.htm">Isaiah 1:6</a></span><br />From the sole of your foot to the top of your head, there is no soundness—only wounds and welts and festering sores neither cleansed nor bandaged nor soothed with oil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/6-26.htm">Jeremiah 6:26</a></span><br />O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/27-30.htm">Ezekiel 27:30-31</a></span><br />They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes. / They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/38-5.htm">Psalm 38:5-7</a></span><br />My wounds are foul and festering because of my sinful folly. / I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning. / For my loins are full of burning pain, and no soundness remains in my body.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/102-3.htm">Psalm 102:3-5</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/3-24.htm">Isaiah 3:24</a></span><br />Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a belt, a rope; instead of styled hair, baldness; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/25-34.htm">Jeremiah 25:34</a></span><br />Wail, you shepherds, and cry out; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For the days of your slaughter have come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-38.htm">Matthew 26:38</a></span><br />Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/16-20.htm">Luke 16:20-21</a></span><br />And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores / and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/1-40.htm">Mark 1:40-42</a></span><br />Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” / And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/8-2.htm">Matthew 8:2-3</a></span><br />Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/5-12.htm">Luke 5:12-13</a></span><br />While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” / Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself with; and he sat down among the ashes.</p><p class="hdg">took him.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/19-14.htm">Job 19:14-17</a></b></br> My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/38-5.htm">Psalm 38:5,7</a></b></br> My wounds stink <i>and</i> are corrupt because of my foolishness… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/16-20.htm">Luke 16:20,21</a></b></br> And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, … </p><p class="hdg">he sat.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/42-6.htm">Job 42:6</a></b></br> Wherefore I abhor <i>myself</i>, and repent in dust and ashes.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/13-19.htm">2 Samuel 13:19</a></b></br> And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that <i>was</i> on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/61-3.htm">Isaiah 61:3</a></b></br> To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/esther/4-3.htm">Ashes</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/11-14.htm">Bit</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-3.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/esther/4-3.htm">Dust</a> <a href="/job/1-17.htm">Edge</a> <a href="/job/2-7.htm">Job</a> <a href="/job/2-1.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/nehemiah/3-30.htm">Piece</a> <a href="/2_kings/4-41.htm">Pot</a> <a href="/jeremiah/19-2.htm">Potsherd</a> <a href="/2_samuel/17-28.htm">Pottery</a> <a href="/ruth/3-3.htm">Rubbing</a> <a href="/esther/5-1.htm">Sat</a> <a href="/leviticus/14-41.htm">Scrape</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Scraped</a> <a href="/esther/5-13.htm">Seated</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/10-4.htm">Sharp</a> <a href="/esther/6-10.htm">Sitting</a> <a href="/esther/6-9.htm">Therewith</a> <a href="/esther/6-9.htm">Withal</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/13-12.htm">Ashes</a> <a href="/job/13-28.htm">Bit</a> <a href="/job/4-10.htm">Broken</a> <a href="/job/2-12.htm">Dust</a> <a href="/psalms/63-10.htm">Edge</a> <a href="/job/2-10.htm">Job</a> <a href="/job/15-19.htm">Midst</a> <a href="/job/33-6.htm">Piece</a> <a href="/job/41-20.htm">Pot</a> <a href="/psalms/22-15.htm">Potsherd</a> <a href="/psalms/2-9.htm">Pottery</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-13.htm">Rubbing</a> <a href="/job/2-13.htm">Sat</a> <a href="/ezekiel/26-4.htm">Scrape</a> <a href="/ezekiel/26-4.htm">Scraped</a> <a href="/job/36-7.htm">Seated</a> <a href="/job/16-9.htm">Sharp</a> <a href="/job/36-16.htm">Sitting</a> <a href="/proverbs/10-22.htm">Therewith</a> <a href="/psalms/141-10.htm">Withal</a><div class="vheading2">Job 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/2-1.htm">Satan, appearing again before God, obtains further leave to tempt Job.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/2-7.htm">He afflicts him with sore boils.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/2-9.htm">Job reproves his wife, who moved him to curse God.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">11. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/2-11.htm">His three friends console with him in silence.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>And Job took a piece of broken pottery</b><br>Job's action of taking a piece of broken pottery reflects his dire situation and the extremity of his suffering. In ancient times, pottery was a common household item, and broken pieces were often discarded. Job's use of such a shard indicates his reduced state, both physically and socially. This act symbolizes his humility and the depth of his affliction. The broken pottery can also be seen as a metaphor for Job's own brokenness and shattered life. In the broader biblical narrative, brokenness often precedes restoration, as seen in the lives of other biblical figures like Joseph and David.<p><b>to scrape himself</b><br>Job's scraping of his sores with pottery highlights the severity of his physical affliction. This act was likely an attempt to relieve the intense itching and pain caused by his boils. In the cultural context, skin diseases were often seen as a sign of divine displeasure or judgment, adding to Job's social isolation. The scraping can be seen as a form of self-care in the absence of medical remedies, reflecting the limited medical knowledge of the time. This physical suffering parallels the spiritual and emotional trials Job faces, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of his testing.<p><b>as he sat among the ashes</b><br>Sitting among ashes was a traditional sign of mourning and repentance in the ancient Near East. Ashes symbolize desolation and ruin, and Job's presence among them underscores his profound grief and loss. This imagery is consistent with other biblical accounts where ashes are associated with lamentation and humility, such as in the stories of Tamar (<a href="/2_samuel/13-19.htm">2 Samuel 13:19</a>) and the people of Nineveh (<a href="/jonah/3-6.htm">Jonah 3:6</a>). The ashes also serve as a visual representation of Job's life, once prosperous and now reduced to ruin. This setting foreshadows the eventual restoration and redemption that God will bring, aligning with the biblical theme of beauty from ashes, as seen in <a href="/isaiah/61-3.htm">Isaiah 61:3</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and steadfast faith.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/ashes.htm">Ashes</a></b><br>In ancient times, sitting among ashes was a sign of mourning, repentance, or extreme distress. It symbolizes Job's deep sorrow and the gravity of his affliction.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/b/broken_pottery.htm">Broken Pottery</a></b><br>Represents the tools of Job's self-relief amidst his suffering. It signifies the depth of his physical and emotional pain, as he uses it to scrape his sores.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/s/satan's_challenge.htm">Satan's Challenge</a></b><br>The event where Satan challenges God, claiming that Job's faithfulness is due to his prosperity. God allows Satan to test Job's faith by afflicting him with severe physical suffering.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/job's_suffering.htm">Job's Suffering</a></b><br>The event of Job being afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, leading him to sit among the ashes and scrape himself with pottery.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_suffering.htm">The Reality of Suffering</a></b><br>Job's experience reminds us that suffering is a part of the human condition, even for the righteous. It challenges the notion that faithfulness to God guarantees a life free from pain.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/humility_in_affliction.htm">Humility in Affliction</a></b><br>Job's act of sitting among the ashes is a powerful image of humility. In our own times of distress, we are called to humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our dependence on Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/endurance_and_faith.htm">Endurance and Faith</a></b><br>Despite his intense suffering, Job does not curse God. His endurance is a testament to unwavering faith, encouraging believers to hold fast to their faith in trials.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_lament.htm">The Role of Lament</a></b><br>Job's actions demonstrate that lament is a valid expression of faith. It is permissible to express our pain and confusion to God, trusting that He hears and understands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_support.htm">Community and Support</a></b><br>Job's account highlights the importance of community. While his friends initially come to comfort him, their eventual failure underscores the need for compassionate and understanding support during trials.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_unquenchable_fire.htm">How does Job remain faithful amidst immense suffering?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_job's_illness_scientifically_plausible.htm">Could Job’s condition—covered in painful sores—have a natural explanation, or does this story conflict with scientific understanding of disease? (Job 2:7) </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_job_stay_faithful_in_suffering.htm">How does Job remain faithful amidst immense suffering?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_job_27_2_claim_god_is_unjust.htm">In Job 27:2, how can Job accuse God of injustice when other Scriptures assert God's perfect fairness?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal</span>. "The surface of the integuments," says Dr. Quain, "is often much inflamed, and sometimes discharges a serous ichor, or chyle-like fluid, according to the extent to which the lymphatics are engaged in the particular ease" (ibid., p. 432). This "serous or lymph-like fluid" is occasionally "acrid and offensive." Job seems to have used his potsherd to scrape it away<span class="cmt_word">. And he sat down among the ashes.</span> Not as a curative process, or even as an alleviation of his pains, but simply as was the custom of mourners (comp. <a href="/isaiah/47-3.htm">Isaiah 47:3</a>; <a href="/isaiah/58-5.htm">Isaiah 58:5</a>; <a href="/jeremiah/6-26.htm">Jeremiah 6:26</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/27-30.htm">Ezekiel 27:30</a>; <a href="/jonah/3-6.htm">Jonah 3:6</a>). The LXX. renders, "on the dung-heap;" but this meaning, if a possible one, is highly improbable. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/2-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">And Job took</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּֽקַּֽח־</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·qaḥ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a piece of broken pottery</span><br /><span class="heb">חֶ֔רֶשׂ</span> <span class="translit">(ḥe·reś)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2789.htm">Strong's 2789: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earthenware, earthen vessel, sherd, potsherd</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to scrape himself</span><br /><span class="heb">לְהִתְגָּרֵ֖ד</span> <span class="translit">(lə·hiṯ·gā·rêḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1623.htm">Strong's 1623: </a> </span><span class="str2">To scrape, scratch</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as he</span><br /><span class="heb">וְה֖וּא</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sat</span><br /><span class="heb">יֹשֵׁ֥ב</span> <span class="translit">(yō·šêḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">among</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּתוֹךְ־</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṯō·wḵ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8432.htm">Strong's 8432: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bisection, the centre</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the ashes.</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֵֽפֶר׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ê·p̄er)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_665.htm">Strong's 665: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ashes</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/2-8.htm">Job 2:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/2-8.htm">OT Poetry: Job 2:8 He took for himself a potsherd (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/2-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 2:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 2:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/2-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 2:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 2:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>