Job 6:12

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

Job 6:12 Meaning and Commentary

Job 6:12

[Is] my strength the strength of stones?
&c.] Is it like such especially which are foundation and corner stones that support a building? or like a stone pillar, that will bear a prodigious weight? no, it is not:

or [is] my flesh of brass?
is it made of brass? or is it like to brass for hardness, or for sustaining any weight laid on it? it is not; and, therefore, it cannot bear up under the ponderous load of afflictions on it, but must sink and fail; it is but flesh and blood, and that flesh like grass, weak and feeble; and, therefore, death is better than life laden with such an insupportable burden.

Job 6:12 In-Context

10 Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leaped: I will not shrink from it; for I have not denied the holy words of my God.
11 For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Or have I not trusted in him? but help is from me.
14 Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.