One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
Parallel Translations
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One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
Another dies in bitterness of soul, and never tastes of good.
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
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One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Show all 3 translations
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One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
His pails are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath never tasted of good.
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.
Cross-references (27)
- Ecclesiastes 9:2 (v26) All things come alike to all. There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good, to the clean, to the unclean, to him who…
- Isaiah 14:11 (v26) Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, with the sound of your stringed instruments. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you.
- Job 20:11 (v26) His bones are full of his youth, but youth will lie down with him in the dust.
- Proverbs 3:8 (v24) It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
- Ezekiel 4:16-17 (v25) Moreover he said to me, “Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem. They will eat bread by weight, and with…
Show all 27 cross-references
- Job 3:18-19 (v26) There the prisoners are at ease together. They don’t hear the voice of the taskmaster. The small and the great are there. The servant is…
- Job 7:11 (v25) “Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
- Job 20:22-23 (v23) In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress will overtake him. The hand of everyone who is in misery will come on him. When he is about to…
- Psalms 49:17 (v23) for when he dies he will carry nothing away. His glory won’t descend after him.
- Luke 12:19-21 (v23) I will tell my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him,…
- 2 Samuel 17:8 (v25) Hushai said moreover, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce in their minds, like a bear robbed…
- 1 Kings 17:12 (v25) She said, “As Yahweh your God lives, I don’t have a cake, but a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jar. Behold, I am gathering…
- Job 3:20 (v25) “Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,
- Job 9:18 (v25) He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
- Job 10:1 (v25) “My soul is weary of my life. I will give free course to my complaint. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
- Job 15:27 (v24) because he has covered his face with his fatness, and gathered fat on his thighs.
- Job 17:14 (v26) if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father;’ to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
- Job 19:26 (v26) After my skin is destroyed, then I will see God in my flesh,
- Job 20:23 (v25) When he is about to fill his belly, God will cast the fierceness of his wrath on him. It will rain on him while he is eating.
- Job 24:20 (v26) The womb will forget him. The worm will feed sweetly on him. He will be no more remembered. Unrighteousness will be broken as a tree.
- Psalms 17:10 (v24) They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
- Psalms 49:14 (v26) They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their…
- Psalms 73:4-5 (v23) For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm. They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like…
- Proverbs 14:10 (v25) The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
- Ecclesiastes 6:2 (v25) a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power…
- Isaiah 38:15-17 (v25) What will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul.…
- Ezekiel 12:18 (v25) “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv23, 25, 26 Meaning, the wicked.
Meaning, the wicked.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv23–26 Job 21:23 One dieth in his full strength, being…
Job 21:23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
Ver. 23. One dieth in his full strength] Iste moritur, There is one dieth in his very perfections; or, in the strength of his perfection, when he is in the zenith, in the highest degree, of earthly felicity; and he seemeth to point at some one eminent wicked person, well known to them all. Confer Ecc 9:2. God is pleased to do wonderful contradictory things in man’s reason; so that we must needs confess an unsearchableness in his ways. In hoc opere, ratio humana talpa magis caeca est, saith Brentius; In this work of his, human reason is blinder than a mole. Averroes turned atheist upon it, and Aristotle was little better, as being accused at Athens and banished into Chalcis, quod de divinitate male sentiret. because he was thinking poorly about the gods.
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Being wholly at ease and quiet] At ease in body and quiet in mind. The common sort ask, What should ail such a man? The Irish, What such a one meaneth to die?
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv23–26 One, to wit, either,
One, to wit, either,
1. One of these wicked men, of whose condition he is here speaking. Or,
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2. Any one man, whether good or bad. In his full strength; in a state of perfect health, and strength, and prosperity; all which this phrase implies.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv23–26 His breasts are full of milk,.... As this is…
His breasts are full of milk,.... As this is not literally true of men, some versions read the words otherwise; his bowels or intestines are full of fat, as the Vulgate Latin and Septuagint; and others, his sides or ribs are full of fat, as the Syriac and Arabic; the words for "side" and "fat" being near in sound to those here used; and so it describes a man fit and plump, and fleshy, when death lays hold upon him, and not wasted with consumptions and pining sickness, as in the case of some, Job 33:21; the word for breasts is observed by some (h) to signify, in the Arabic language, "vessels", in which liquors are contained, and in the Misnic language such as they put oil in, out of which oil is squeezed; and so are thought here to intend such vessels as are milked into; and therefore render it by milk pails; so Mr. Broughton, "his pails are full of milk" (i); which may denote the abundance of good things enjoyed by such persons, as rivers of honey and butter; contrary to Zophar's notion, Job 20:17; and a large increase of oil and wine, and all temporal worldly good; amidst the plenty of which such die:
and his bones are moistened with marrow; not dried up through a broken spirit, or with grief and trouble, and through the decays of old age; but, being full of marrow, are moist, and firm and strong; and so it intimates, that such, at the time when death seizes them, are of an hale, healthful, robust, and strong constitution; see Psa 73:4.
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(h) See Kimchi, Sepher Shorash. rad. and Jarchi and Ben Melech in loc. (i) "muletralia ejus", Montanus, Beza, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Bolducius, Drusius, Cocceius, Schmidt.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv25–26 Another - Another wicked man. So there is a…
Another - Another wicked man. So there is a great variety of God's dispensations; he distributes great prosperity to one, and great afflictions to another, according to his wise but secret counsel.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26 Verse 23. One dieth in his full strength] In…
Verse 23. One dieth in his full strength] In this and the three following verses Job shows that the inequality of fortune, goods, health, strength, c., decides nothing either for or against persons in reference to the approbation or disapprobation of God, as these various lots are no indications of their wickedness or innocence. One has a sudden, another a lingering death but by none of these can their eternal states be determined.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv23, 25 Job 21:23-24. One dieth in his full strength —…
Job 21:23-24. One dieth in his full strength — In a state of perfect health, and strength, and prosperity; all which this phrase implies. His breasts are full of milk — The Hebrew word, עשׂין, gnatin, here rendered breasts, is not elsewhere used in Scripture, and therefore is translated different ways. Houbigant renders the clause, When his bowels are loaden with fatness. Others, When his milk-pails are full of milk; or, his oil-vessels are full of fatness. And his bones are moistened with marrow — Which is opposed to that dryness of the bones (Job 30:30; Psa 102:3;) which is caused by old age or grievous distempers and calamities.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26 One dieth in his full strength - Margin, “very…
One dieth in his full strength - Margin, “very perfection,” or, “in the strength of his perfection.” The meaning is, that he dies in the very prime and vigor of life, surrounded with everything that can contribute to comfort. Of the truth of this position, no one can doubt; and the wonder is, that the friends of Job had not seen or admitted it.
Being wholly at ease and quiet - That is, having everything to make them happy, so far as external circumstances are concerned. He is borne down by no calamities; he is overwhelmed by no sudden and heavy judgments. The phrase in this verse rendered “full strength” (תמו בעצם be‛etsem tômô), is literally, “in the bone of his perfection.” It means full prosperity.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv23–25 Hale, or healthy. Hebrew, "in perfect strength." (Haydock) ---…
Hale, or healthy. Hebrew, "in perfect strength." (Haydock) --- Septuagint, "simplicity, or folly." St. Augustine reads with the old Vulgate, "in the strength of his simplicity, (Calmet) or innocence. (Haydock) --- These outward appearances prove nothing for interior piety or wickedness. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26 Literally, "in the bone of his perfection," that is,…
Literally, "in the bone of his perfection," that is, the full strength of unimpaired prosperity [UMBREIT].
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv23–26 23. One dieth — The wicked man whose life…
23. One dieth — The wicked man whose life of uninterrupted prosperity he proceeds to describe.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv23–26 23. in his full strength] lit. in his very…
23. in his full strength] lit. in his very perfection, or completeness, meaning, in the full enjoyment of all that made his lot complete, wanting nothing—as the second clause explains.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv23, 24, 26 (23) One dieth.—Job enlarges on the inequality of human…
(23) One dieth.—Job enlarges on the inequality of human fate, showing that death is the only equaliser.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv23–26 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at…
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. Some continue healthy and vigorous in body, peaceful and satisfied in mind, up to the very moment of their departure (comp. ver. 13, "They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave").
Vers. 23-26. The common fate.
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Job has pointed out that the wicked are not always punished in this life with external trouble; on the contrary, they often flourish to the end in unbroken prosperity (ver. 7, etc.). He next proceeds to show that the end of the happy and the sorrowful is the same. The prosperous had man does not meet with a reverse of fortune at last, nor does the afflicted righteous man find an earthly reward in his later days. Both go down to death without a sign of the reversal of their condition which justice would seem to demand.
I DEATH HAPPENS ALIKE TO ALL. As Shakespeare puts it, this may be said of all of us"Nothing can we call our own, but death: And that small model of the barren earth, That serves as paste and cover to our bones.
The "great leveller" should not only humble pride, but also teach us more bureau brotherhood. If we are brothers" in death, should we not he brothers also in life? The deepest facts of life are common to all men. Our differences of state and rank only affect what is superficial.
II DEATH IS NOT FELT TO BE THE SAME BY ALL. Our feelings are affected by contrasts and changes, not by our absolute condition at any moment. The candle-light that looks brilliant to the prisoner in a dungeon, is most gloomy to a man who has just come from the sunshine. Death is all loss and darkness to one who is suddenly snatched away from earthly enjoyment, but it is a haven of rest to the storm-tossed soul. The same death has very different meanings according to our spiritual condition. In sin and worldliness and heathenish ignorance, death is a going out into the darkness. To the Christian it is falling asleep in Christ.
III THESE IS NO EARTHLY ADJUSTMENT OF LOTS. Job is quite right. It is vain to expect it. If it has not come yet, we have no reason to believe that it will come later on, even at the last. There is nothing in experience to warrant us in the hope that it will come at all. In many respects, no doubts moral causes work out visible effects on earth. But this is by no means universal, nor are the effects always adequate to the requirements of justice.
IV THERE MUST BE A FUTURE LIFE. The story is not complete on earth. It breaks off suddenly without any kind of finish. This abruptness of the visible ending of life points to a continuance beyond the grave. Justice requires that the unfinished life should have its appropriate conclusion. Not from necessity of nature, but from moral considerations, we conclude that the broken threads must be picked up and drawn together again to make the perfect pattern.
V THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS INFINITELY SUPERIOR TO THE MATERIAL. It looks as though the differences of external fortune could be treated with contempt. The good have misfortune, the bad have prosperity. These are slight matters in the eyes of Providence, because real prosperity, is spiritual prosperity, and that is only possible to those who live a right life. W.F.A.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv23, 25 Job_21:23; Job_21:25-26
Job_21:23; Job_21:25-26
One dieth in his full strength . . . Another dieth in the bitterness of his soul.
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Providence vindicated against the superficial observer
That which hampers men most in understanding providence is its tremendous extent. It is like a great poem, and all that one life or one observer can read is a few words, or at most, a few lines. God does not always show His hand. Sometimes He does, and when it suits Him better, He hides it. It is expedient that some mystery hang over the dispensations of this life. Whatever is unsatisfactory, therefore, at present plainly suggests that the scheme is yet unfinished. The unsatisfactory nature of the present suggests a future. Revelation steps in to tell us that this life is but the vestibule of existence. One or two considerations will modify our hasty conclusions in regard to the real fortunes of those who live and die around us, whether their circumstances be apparently prosperous or depressed.
1. Happiness and misery are by no means always according to appearance. They depend more upon the inner state of the soul than its outward surroundings, and are therefore put, to some extent, within the power of everyone.
2. Men make their judgments too much from the outside. It is the outside look of providence that puzzles us, and makes understanding difficult.
We arrive at the following conclusions--
1. God is no indifferent spectator of human fortunes, but manages them on a perfectly righteous plan.
2. The deceptive character of appearances makes it necessary to subtract a good deal from the apparent happiness and misery of the world at the outset of our investigations.
3. Physical disadvantages, and deprivation of the members and senses are capable of compensation in the other world.
4. The difficulty in understanding aright the providence of God, arises from the complex nature of many of His acts, which may have various distinct branches or departments, as penal, disciplinary, merciful, and even remunerative, all in a single stroke.
5. We can understand enough of the Divine doings to enable us to trust for the remainder.
6. The root of all happiness is a good conscience, and this is put within the reach of all.
7. A good conscience can only be had and maintained by seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness with all the means in our power.
8. And for all the purposes of practical piety, it is rather necessary we should remember the superintending arm of the great Worker, than that we should understand what He is doing. (William Isaac Keay.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v25 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
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Another man dies
Job contrasts this man to the man who dies in peace in Job 21:23.
in bitterness of soul
Here sorrow is spoken of as if it tasted bitter, and "soul" refers to the whole man. AT: "with anger and resentment" or "after living a sad life" (See: Metaphor and Synecdoche)
has never experienced anything good
This can be stated in positive form. AT: "has experienced only bad things"
They lie down alike in the dust
This is a polite way to say that they died. AT: "They both die and people bury them" (See: Euphemism)
the worms cover them both
Worms are associated with decay of dead bodies. AT: "the worms in the dirt eat their dead bodies" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
translationWords
soul
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv24–26 21:24 vigorous and fit (literally the marrow of his…
21:24 vigorous and fit (literally the marrow of his bones [is] moist): Bones were thought to be the seat of health.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.