Job 19:20
“My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh. I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.”
What does Job 19:20 mean?
Job is describing his physical deterioration during his suffering, saying he's been reduced to skin and bones. The phrase "escaped by the skin of my teeth" has become a common way to describe a narrow escape, though it's a bit puzzling as teeth don't have skin, which shows how desperate and almost nonsensical his condition feels to him. What Job is really conveying is that he's hanging on to life by the thinnest possible margin. After losing his wealth, his children, and his health, he feels like he's barely survived at all, clinging to existence with almost nothing left. It's a vivid picture of someone who has endured nearly everything and wonders what's even left of him anymore.