Job 19:20
“My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.”Read in Context
Modern Meaning
What Does “The skin of my teeth” Mean?
A narrow escape; barely surviving.
Biblical Origin
Where Does This Phrase Come From?
Job described his desperate condition using this bizarre image — teeth don't have skin, so escaping "with the skin of my teeth" means escaping with virtually nothing. The paradoxical image makes the narrowness of the escape unforgettable.
The phrase appears in Job 19:20 in the King James Version of the Bible, first published in 1611.
Usage Today
How Is It Used Today?
Describes a very narrow escape. "I passed that exam by the skin of my teeth."
The KJV Verse
Job 19:20
“My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.”
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