His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
Parallel Translations
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His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth.
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His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
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His flesh is tenderer than a child's; he returneth to the days of his youth;
Cross-references (6)
Passages linked to Job 33:25 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Psalms 103:5 who satisfies your desire with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
- 2 Kings 5:14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
- Joshua 14:10-11 “Now, behold, Yahweh has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that Yahweh spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. Now, behold, I am eighty-five years old, today. As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me. As my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, to go out and to come in.
- Deuteronomy 34:7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died. His eye was not dim, nor his strength gone.
- Job 42:16 After this Job lived one hundred forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, to four generations.
- Hosea 2:15 I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she will respond there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (14 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain He shall feel God’s favor and rejoice: declaring hereby…
He shall feel God’s favor and rejoice: declaring hereby wherein standeth the true joy of the faithful, and that God will restore him to health of body, which is a token of his blessing.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Job 33:25 His flesh shall be fresher than a…
Job 33:25 His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:
Ver. 25. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s] Tender and smooth, full of good blood and fresh spirits, he shall be battle and blithe like a suckling. See a like hyperbole concerning Naaman the Syrian restored to health, 2Ki 5:14, implying that his disease was thoroughly cured, and his flesh in better case than ever. There is a memorable story in the Acts and Monuments of the Church, which here may not unfitly be inserted, to show the sweet fruits of remission of sins by the free mercy of God. In the dungeon with Petrus Bergerius at Lyons, in France, was a certain thief and malefactor, who had lain in the dungeon for seven or eight months. This thief, for pain and torment, cried out for God, and cursed his parents that begat him, being almost eaten up with lice, miserably handled, and fed with such bread as dogs and horses had refused to eat. So it pleased the goodness of the Almighty, that through the teaching and prayer of this Bergerius, he was brought to repentance and the knowledge of God, learning much comfort and patience by the word of the gospel preached unto him. Touching his conversion, himself wrote a sweet letter to some friends, declaring therein that the next day after he had taken hold of the gospel, and framed himself to patience according to the same, his lice (which he could pluck out before by twenty at once between his fingers) now were so gone from him, that he had not one; his rotten flesh (the Vulgate translateth this text thus, Consumpta est eius caro a suppliciis) was recruited, and the alms of good people so extended toward him, that he was fed with white bread, and that which was very good. His name was John Chambone.
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He shall return to the days of his youth] Reiuvenescet, He shall grow young again, and renew his youth, like the eagle’s, Psa 103:5. He shall be vigorous and active, as Isa 40:31.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Fresher than a child’s, i.e. more sound and tender.…
Fresher than a child’s, i.e. more sound and tender. These joyful tidings delivered to him by God’s messenger shall revive his spirit, and by degrees restore his former health and vigour.
To the days of his youth, i. e. to the same healthful and strong constitution of body which he had in his youth.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain His flesh shall be fresher than a child's,.... Being…
His flesh shall be fresher than a child's,.... Being recovered from illness and restored to health, through the gracious dealings of God with him. This is to be understood not simply and absolutely, but comparatively, or with respect to his former condition; that he, who before was reduced to skin and bone, is now become fat and plump; and whose flesh was dry and withered, now moist, succulent, and juicy; and whose skin was wrinkled, now soft and smooth, and sleek; and whose face was pale, now bloomy and ruddy. The Targum is,
"his flesh is weakened more than a child,''
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and the Vulgate Latin,
"is consumed,''
referring to his former state:
he shall return to the days of his youth. His youth renewed, and he seem young again; become hale and robust as in his youthful days; see Psa 103:5.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 25. His flesh shall be fresher than a…
Verse 25. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's] He shall be born a new creature.
He shall return to the days of his youth] He shall be born again, and become a child of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Job 33:25-26. His flesh shall be fresher than a…
Job 33:25-26. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s — Presently the sick man shall begin to recover: these joyful tidings delivered to him by God’s messenger shall revive his spirit, and, by degrees, restore his former health and vigour; so that he shall become a new man in his body, as well as in his mind: his flesh shall look as fresh as when he was a child; and he shall return to the days of his youth — To the same healthful and strong constitution of body which he had in his youth. He shall pray unto God — The sick man shall, being encouraged and engaged so to do, either by the aforesaid gracious message, or by the goodness of God manifested in his miraculous recovery. And he will be favourable unto him — In hearing and answering his prayers, which before he seemed to neglect. And he shall see his face with joy — God will lift up upon him the light of his reconciled countenance; whereas, before, he either hid his face from him, or seemed to frown upon him: in other words, he shall now be sensible that God looks graciously upon and is pleased with him. For he will render unto man his righteousness — He will deal with him as with one now reconciled to him through the Mediator, and turning from sin to righteousness.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s -…
His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s - Margin, “childhood.” The meaning is obvious. He would be restored again to health. The calamity which had been brought upon him for purposes of discipline, would be removed. This was the theory of Elihu in regard to afflictions, and he undoubtedly meant that it should be applied to Job. If he would now, understanding the nature and design of affliction, turn to God, he would be recovered again, and enjoy the health and rigor of his youth. We are not to suppose that this is universally true, though it is undoubtedly often a fact now, that if those who are afflicted become truly penitent, and call upon God, the affliction will be removed. It will have accomplished its object, and may be withdrawn. Hence, they who pray that their afflictions may be withdrawn, should first pray that they may accomplish on their own hearts the effect which God designs, producing in them penitence, deadness to the world, and humiliation, and then that his hand may be withdrawn.
He shall return to the days of his youth - That is, to health and rigor.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Consumed. Hebrew, "fresher than a child’s," (Haydock) as was…
Consumed. Hebrew, "fresher than a child’s," (Haydock) as was the case of Naaman, 4 Kings v. 14.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Effects of restoration to God's favor; literally, to Job…
Effects of restoration to God's favor; literally, to Job a temporal revival; spiritually, an eternal regeneration. The striking words cannot be restricted to their temporal meaning, as used by Elihu (Pe1 1:11-12).
his flesh shall be fresher than a child's--so Naaman, Kg2 5:14, spiritually, Joh 3:3-7.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 25. Fresher than a child’s — His flesh swells…
25. Fresher than a child’s — His flesh swells with the vigour of youth, (Delitzsch,) or, more than in his youth, (Hitzig,) according as מן is regarded as causal or comparative. The word ratphash appears in the Arabic with letters transposed, tarphasha, and signifies to “become fresh or convalescent,” or to “grow green.” The figure is taken from plants long withered, but restored to more than pristine vigour under the life-giving power of copious showers of rain. The change Elihu speaks of is like that which took place in Naaman when delivered from leprosy, the type of sin. In the view of Elihu the perfect health of the body sets forth in emblem the work wrought in the soul. Thus Christ spoke the outward healing, and at the same time healed the soul. “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature.” In the old economy temporal blessings were brought into greater prominence than in the new.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 25. His restoration out of his affliction to health…
25. His restoration out of his affliction to health is like the freshness of a new childhood and the strength of a new youth.
25, 26. The sufferer’s restoration. For the future tenses of A. V. present tenses would be better in these two verses.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain His flesh shall be fresher than a child"s. The…
His flesh shall be fresher than a child"s. The chastisement having done its work, and the sufferer being delivered from death by the mediating angel, a restoration to health follows. The recovery of "flesh fresher than a child"s" stands as the natural antithesis to Job"s leprosy. He shall return to the days of his youth. Youthful strength, youthful vigour, youthful feelings, shall come back to. He shall be once more as he was in the days of his prime.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain He shall return to the days of his youth.
Job_33:25
He shall return to the days of his youth.
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The autumn crocus
If the snowdrop may be called the morning star that ushers in the dawn of the floral year, the crocus may be said to be its sunrise. So much is the crocus associated with the showers and the sunbeams of April, that it requires a special mental effort, even when the fact is known, to realise that it also blooms in the fading light and amid the withering foliage of September. There are well-known species of crocus that flower only during the autumnal months. In Switzerland the sandy meadows along the banks of the Alpine streams are covered with myriads of autumn crocuses, whose exquisitely pure and delicate amethystine hue in the glowing sunshine is a feast of colour of which the eye never wearies. Every one is familiar with the pale violet saffron crocus, which blooms according to soil and position from the end of September to the beginning of November. If the yellow spring crocus is the golden sunrise of the floral year, the lilac autumn crocus is its sunset. The autumn crocus is a type of one of the most interesting phenomena of nature and of human life. In many departments there are numerous instances of the recurrence at a later period of something that belongs to an earlier time. The crimson and gold of the sunrise is repeated in the splendour of sunset. The older one grows, the more pathetic does the tender grace of each spring become. So much of what we loved and lost never comes back, that the beauty of the spring touches us like the brightness of a perfect day, when the grave is closing over dear eyes that shall never more behold it. Why should the inferior things of nature return, and those for whose use they were all made, lie unconscious in the dust? The aged live in the springs of the past and their life goes forward to another and brighter spring in the eternal world, of which the springs of earth are only fleeting types and shadows. But though the bright flame of their spring crocus has burnt down to the socket, and only the green monotonous leaves remain behind, is there no re-kindling in the withered plot of their life of the autumn crocus, whose more sober hue befits the sadder character of the season? Yes, mans life, too, has its Indian summer and its autumn crocus. The season of decay brings to him also reminiscences of the bright season of renewal. Often, where others see only withered leaves, the heart feels the springing of vernal flowers. Job, describing the happiness which he had in former years, and longing for its return, says, Oh that I were as I was in the days of my youth! This phrase literally means the vintage season, the time of fruit gathering; and the authorised version, adopting another translation which the phrase also bears, unwittingly expresses the subtle connection between youth and age, the spring and the autumn, the blossoming and the fruit time of life. The true days of Jobs youth was the period when his life became young again through the maturity of his powers, and the consummation of his hopes. It was in the autumn of his life that he enjoyed all those blessings of prosperity whose loss he deplores. The legitimate symbolic use of autumn is as the season of ripeness--fulness of power, not of decay. That there are days and signs of youth in the time of the harvest and vintage of life everyone can testify. The autumn fields are happy with the flowers that tell of spring, with the remembrance of days that are no more. True, indeed, the autumn crocus is not the same flower as the spring crocus. It has hues deeper and more intense. It speaks of change and decay. So the joys of our early life, which we recall in late years, are not the same as when they stirred our young blood; we colour them with the deeper and tenderer hues of our own spirit. In the physical sphere of man there are numerous instances of the spring crocus blooming again in the autumn. The cutting of new teeth, and the growth of young hair, in old age, are by no means so infrequent as we might suppose. The eagles power of self-renewal has been manifested by many an aged form. In the mental sphere the growth of the autumn crocus is much more common than in the physical, and much more precious and beautiful. How numerous and splendid are the examples of intellect disclosing its fullest powers at the very close of life! As an old man Cute learnt Greek. Goethe was fourscore years old when he completed the second part of Faust. Literary men have often recorded the peculiar delight with which in their later years they have returned to the studies of their youth. The Chinese encourage their students to persevere in their mental pursuits to extreme old age, by bestowing the golden button of the successful candidate upon a man when he is eighty years old, although he has failed in all his previous examinations. But it is in the sphere of the soul that the autumn crocus blooms most beautifully. The rejuvenescence of the soul, the renewal of the spiritual life, may be the experience of all. This youthful victoriousness--the inward man being renewed more and more while the outward man is decaying--is the glory of every true Christians old age. Only the fire that comes down from heaven can preserve the youth of the spirit amid all the changes and sorrows of life. Religion really lived keeps the heart always young, always tender. It teaches us that nothing beautiful or good once possessed is wholly lost to us; that there is a deeper truth in the words, A thing of beauty is a joy forever, than even its poet knew. (Hugh Macmillan, D. D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 General Information:
General Information:
Elihu continues speaking to Job.
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then
The word "then" is used here to mark what will happen if God grants the angel's request. AT: "then as a result" or "as a result of the angel's request to God"
his flesh will become fresher than a child's
This speaks of the man being healed and his body growing strong again as if his body became new like a child's body. AT: "the sick man's body will become new again like a young person's body" (See: Simile)
fresher than a child's
In this comparison, the word "fresher" is an exaggeration. AT: "fresh like a child's" (See: Hyperbole and Generalization)
a child's
This refers to a child's flesh. AT: "a child's flesh" (See: Ellipsis)
he will return to the days of his youthful strength
This speaks of the man being strong again like when he was young as if he was in fact actually young again. AT: "he will become strong again, like when he was young" (See: Metaphor)
he sees God's face with joy
This is an idiom. AT: "he joyfully worships God" (See: Idiom)
God's face
Here God is represented by his "face." AT: "God" (See: Synecdoche)
God will give the person his triumph
"God will save the person" or "God will make things right for the person again"
translationWords
pray
face
joy
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.