so the body is by Epictetus called clay elegantly wrought; and another Heathen writer calls it clay steeped in, or macerated and mixed with blood: being of clay denotes the original of bodies, the dust of the earth; and the frailty of them, like brittle clay, and the pollution of them, all the members thereof being defiled with sin, and so called vile bodies, and will remain such till changed by Christ, Php 3:21; now the argument stands thus, if God put no trust in angels, then much less in poor, frail, mortal, sinful men; he has no dependence on their services, whose weakness, unprofitableness, and unfaithfulness, he well knows; he puts no trust in their purposes, and resolutions, and vows, which often come to nothing; nor does he trust his own people with their salvation and justification, or put these things upon the foot of their works, but trusts them and the salvation and justification of them with his Son, and puts them upon the foot of his own grace and mercy: and if he charges the holy angels with folly, then much more (for so it may be also rendered) will he charge mortal sinful men with it, who are born like the wild ass's colt, and are foolish as well as disobedient, even his chosen ones, especially before conversion; or thus if so stands the case of angels, then much less can man be just before him, and pure in his sight: the weakness, frailty, and pollution of the bodies of men, are further enlarged on in some following clauses:whose foundation [is] in the dust; meaning not the lower parts of the body, as the feet, which support and bear it up; rather the soul, which is the basis of it, referring to its corruption and depravity by sin; though it seems chiefly to respect the original of the body, which is the dust of the earth, of which it consists, and to which it will return again, this being but a poor foundation to stand upon, Ge 2:7; for the sense is, whose foundation is dust, mere dust, the particle b being redundant, or rather an Arabism:[which] are crushed before the moth?
Bible Commentary
Job 13:12
Job 13:12
John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain
The Daily Devotional
One devotional. Every morning.
The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.
We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.
Continue tomorrow
Turn Bible study into a daily habit
Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.
Recommended reading
More for Job 13:12
Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.
Other commentaries
Job 13 — OverviewJob 13 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleJob here comes to make application of what he had said in the foregoing
chapter; and now we have him not in so good a temper as he was in then:
for, I. He is very bold with his friends, comparing himself with…Job 13 — OverviewJob 13 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeJob 13:1, Job reproves his friends for partiality; Job 13:14, He professes his confidence in God; and entreats to know his own sins, and God’s purpose in afflicting him.Job 13 — OverviewJob 13 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleJob begins this chapter by observing the extensiveness of his knowledge, as appeared from his preceding discourse, by which it was evident he was not less knowing than his friendsJob 13:1-12Job 13:1-12 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleJob here warmly expresses his resentment of the unkindness of his
friends.
I. He comes up with them as one that understood the matter in dispute
as well as they, and did not need to be taught by them, v. 1, 2.…Job 13:12Job 13:12 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgeremembrances: Job 18:17; Exodus 17:14; Psalms 34:16, Psalms 102:12, Psalms 109:15; Proverbs 10:7; Isaiah 26:14
ashes: Genesis 18:27
to bodies: Job 4:19; Genesis 2:7; 2 Corinthians 5:1Job 13:12Job 13:12 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleYour remembrances [are] like unto ashes,.... Either of things they put Job in remembrance of, the mementos which they had suggested to him; see
commentaryRecommended resourceExplore this resource connected to the verse you are reading.commentaryRecommended resourceExplore this resource connected to the verse you are reading.commentaryRecommended resourceExplore this resource connected to the verse you are reading.devotionThe Winter TreeIf you feel spiritually dry right now, don't panic. You aren't dying; it’s just Winter. God removes the emotional 'leaves' so you are forced to grow deeper roots. Stand firm.DiscipleDeck