Where did the term "...by the skin of my teeth" come from?

Question:I know what it means today--having escaped by "the skin of your teeth" means you just barely escaped. But where did it come from?

If you don't know, i wouldnt mind some funny guesses. But i would like to know for real too.

http://lost.eu/5e917

Answers:
The origen of this idiom is the Old Testament book of Job, Chapter 19 verse 20: "My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth." Job refers to the fact that the only parts of his body not covered with painful boils are his gums. He has escaped, but just barely, with very little to show for it.
"By the skin of my teeth" is a cliche traceable to an actual biblical verse, which has kept it in the forefront of the English language for many centuries. Though it may not have been the origin for the author of "Job 19:20, it's about as far back as I can go and call it an origin.

"My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth." Job 19:20

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