One verse. Three ways to understand.
And Job took a broken piece of pottery to scrape his skin with, and he sat down in the ashes.
Job used a piece of broken pottery to scrape his painful sores and sat among ashes, showing the depth of his physical suffering and grief.
These are AI-assisted adaptations, not separate Bible editions. Compare them with the KJV source and read our methodology. How these readings are made →
Read the KJV source
King James Version · EnglishAnd he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.Ask the AI Assistant
Ask about this passage. AI can make mistakes; compare the answer with the source.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Job, this verse occurs during Job's intense suffering, where he has been afflicted with painful boils as part of a divine test allowed by God to prove Job's faithfulness. Using a potsherd, or broken piece of pottery, to scrape his skin was a common ancient practice for relieving irritation or wounds in Near Eastern cultures, while sitting among the ashes symbolized deep mourning and humility before God. This scene reflects the patriarchal era's understanding of human affliction as a means to explore themes of faith and divine justice.