Have you ever had a narrow escape or squeaked by on a test? We often say, “I passed by the skin of my teeth,” but what does that mean?
Merriam-Webster says the phrase means “by a very narrow margin.” The phrase originates from Job, a man who endured some of the most difficult tests of any man. We must look closely at Job and his situation to understand the meaning. It reveals universal truths that we can apply to our own lives.
Where Does 'By the Skin of My Teeth' Appear in the Bible?
The origin of “by the skin of my teeth” comes from the King James Bible translation of Job 19:20, which says, “My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.”
Previously, Job had lived a righteous life with a large family and a wealth of servants and livestock, but his righteousness was put to the test by Satan. His children, servants, and livestock were all destroyed. Still reeling from the losses, Job was struck by a disease that covered his body in boils. Yet, through it all, he refused to curse God.
His friends came to offer consolation, but they moved from sitting with him in his misery to accusing him of sin. His friends believed that if you were righteous, you were blessed, but if you were unrighteous, you were cursed. Therefore, Job must have unconfessed sin in his life and come clean to be restored. They take turns admonishing him even as he maintains his innocence, but he allows each to make their case before responding. In Job 18, Bildad has just finished his discourse, so in chapter 19, Job offers his response.
What Is the Overall Theme of This Passage in Job?
Matthew Henry notes that in the first part of chapter nineteen, Job complains of unkind usage because:
1) His comforters had added to his affliction
2) God was the author of his affliction
3) His relations and friends treated him as a stranger in his affliction.
However, Job does comfort himself with hopes of health and happiness in the next world and offers a solemn confession of faith. He concludes by warning his friends not to continue censuring him before God disciplined them.
In the middle of this is verse 20, the source of the phrase “by the skin of my teeth.” He tells his so-called friends that he is emaciated to the point that he is literally skin and bones and has only escaped death by the skin of his teeth.
So, what did Job mean?
What Does 'Escaped By the Skin of My Teeth' Mean?
According to Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible, there are various interpretations of the phrase, such as only the skin around his gums was left by Satan so that Job could blaspheme God. Others interpreted it to mean that the skin about his teeth was keeping him alive, that he was completely emaciated except for his teeth, or only the enamel was left of his teeth because of his afflictions. However, the simplest and probably most accurate answer is that he was almost consumed.
Job’s body was covered in boils except for his mouth. The disease had almost consumed him, yet he was still alive. He didn’t understand why he was suffering, and his “friends” were of no help. Everyone assumed he had done something wrong. Job wrongly assumed God had sent the affliction, yet he still proclaimed his belief in God.
Was Job Correct that He Had Escaped 'By the Skin of My Teeth'?
The arguments between Job and his friends continue for several chapters, but God finally answers Job in chapters 38-40.
Instead of explaining his afflictions, God asks him a series of questions that no human can answer. Through this, Job recognizes that God is far greater and wiser than any humans and that His ways are best. He repented of his accusations, admitting that he had spoken about things he did not understand.
Job 42:10 says that when Job “prayed for his friends,” God restored all he had lost and even doubled it. God had been with him the whole time, preventing Satan from taking his life even though he didn’t know it. While it may have seemed like he was narrowly escaping death, God had protected his life throughout his suffering.
Can the 'By the Skin of My Teeth' Teach Us Anything Today?
Job is not the only human to ever suffer or feel they are escaping “by the skin of their teeth.” We must remember who controls the universe and trust His goodness and faithfulness to work things out for the best. Even during his suffering, Job maintains a balance between complaints and hopes that is a good example to follow.
Something else to remember is that the book of Job is full of questions, and not all of them are wrong. The problem was their reliance on man’s wisdom instead of God’s. When you find yourself in the middle of suffering, here are a few questions to ask yourself and God:
1. Am I being punished by God for sin? We should start with self-examination and pray Psalm 139:23, which asks God to search us for any sin in our lives so that we can confess it and repent.
2. What can I learn from this season? Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that there is a time and a season for everything, including afflictions. Daniel 2:21 tells us to ask God for wisdom. So, look at your circumstances and ask God to show you what can be learned from this moment or season.
3. Am I suffering consequences for others’ sins or just the nature of a fallen world? Matthew 5:45 tells us that rain and sun fall on the just and the unjust alike because we live in a fallen world, but we also know that God works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).
4. Am I suffering for some unknown reason? This was the case of Job. He did not know that he was being tested to prove his loyalty to God existed despite all circumstances. Sometimes, we lose luxuries. We may never know why. We do know it can lead us to be less dependent on those things and more dependent on God. Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15). Do we still love God no matter what?
Even when it seems like we are just escaping by the skin of our teeth, we can know that God is the one who is over life and death. We may not always understand why things happen the way they do, but we can trust in the goodness of God that He will work it out for our good. Like Job, we may not understand the seasons and events, but we can react in a way that will glorify God. When we are tempted to complain, let’s take a moment to be grateful for what we do have. Gratitude can turn complaints into praise because even escaping by the skin of our teeth is still escaping, which is something to be grateful for.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Wirestock
Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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