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Job 21
Job 21:1
Connecting Statement:
Job begins to answer Zophar's accusations.
Job 21:2
General Information:
This page has intentionally been left blank.
Job 21:3
Put up with me
"Allow me" or "Be patient with me"
mock on
"you can continue mocking me." Job is using sarcasm to imply that his friends would ignore what he would say and continue to mock him. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-irony)
Job 21:4
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
As for me, is my complaint to a person? Why should I not be impatient?
Job uses questions to emphasize that he thinks it is fair for him to complain to God. Alternate translation: "I am not complaining to a person. I have the right to be impatient" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Job 21:5
lay your hand upon your mouth
"cover your mouth with your hand." Possible meanings are that 1) this is a response to being astonished. Alternate translation: "cover your mouth with your hand" or 2) this is a symbol that the person will not speak. Alternate translation: "do not say anything" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
Job 21:6
trembling seizes my body
"fear causes my body to tremble" or "I shake with fear"
Job 21:7
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
Why do wicked people continue to live, become old, and grow mighty in power?
Job uses this question to show that his friends are wrong to think evil men always suffer. Alternate translation: "Wicked people indeed continue to live, become old, and become wealthier." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Job 21:8
Their descendants are established with them in their sight ... their offspring are established before their eyes
This two clauses mean the same thing and emphasize that this is true. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
in their sight ... before their eyes
These phrases mean the same thing because "eyes" refers to sight. Wicked people get to watch their descendants grow strong and wealthy. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Job 21:9
Their houses
Here "houses" refers to the family members that lives in them. Alternate translation: "Their families" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
rod of God
This refers to God's punishment. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Job 21:10
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
does not lose her calf prematurely
"she does not miscarry" or "her calf is born healthy and strong"
Job 21:11
little ones like a flock
Job compares these children to lambs to emphasize that they run, play, and are happy. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Job 21:12
tambourine
a musical instrument with a head like a drum that can be hit and with pieces of metal around the side that sound when the instrument is shaken (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-unknown)
Job 21:13
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking with his friends.
their days
"their lifetime"
they go down quietly to Sheol
This is a polite way of saying that they die. Alternate translation: "they die peacefully" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism)
Job 21:14
your ways
This refers to how God wants people to behave.
Job 21:15
What is the Almighty, that we should worship him? What advantage would we get if we prayed to him?
The wicked people use these questions to mock God. Alternate translation: "We do not believe that this Almighty God is worthy of our worship. He can do nothing for us." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Job 21:16
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
See, is not their prosperity in their own hands?
Here "hands" refers to their power or control. Job uses this question to challenge his friends. Alternate translation: "Look, these wicked people claim that they make themselves prosper!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Job 21:17
How often is it ... their calamity comes upon them?
Job uses this question to emphasize that it seems to him that God does not punish the wicked very often. Alternate translation: "It is not often ... their calamity comes upon them." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
the lamp of wicked people is put out
Job compares extinguishing the lamp to a person dying. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "that God causes them to die suddenly" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
the lamp of wicked people
Job compares the life of the wicked to a lamp that is burning. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
How often does it happen ... in his anger?
Job uses this second question to emphasize that it seems to him that God does not punish the wicked very often. Alternate translation: "It is not often ... in his anger." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Job 21:18
How often is it ... the storm carries away?
Job uses this third question to emphasize that it seems to him that God does not punish the wicked very often. Alternate translation: "It is not often ... the storm carries away." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
they become like stubble before the wind or like chaff that the storm carries away
The death of the wicked is spoken of as if they were worthless less chaff and stubble that blows away. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God takes them away like the wind blows away the chaff" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Job 21:19
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
You say
These words are added by most versions in order to make it clear that the Job is quoting his friends in the next statement.
God lays up one's guilt for his children to pay
Guilt is spoken of as something that can be stored for later use. Here "to pay" refers to punishment for sin. Alternate translation: "God keeps a record of a person's sins, then he punishes the person's children for his wicked deeds" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Let him pay it himself, ... know his guilt
Job now begins to state his own opinion. It may be helpful to state this explicitly using an indirect quotation. "But I say that he should pay it himself, ... know his guilt'" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Job 21:20
Let his eyes see
Here "eyes" refers to the person. Alternate translation: "Let him see" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty
Here the wrath of God is spoken of as if it were a drink that a person can taste, and tasting is a metonym for experiencing the drink. Job wants the wicked person to experience God's punishment. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Job 21:21
For what does he care about his family after him when the number of his months is cut off?
Job uses this question to show that punishing the evil man's children is not effective. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "For the wicked man does not care what happens to his family after he has died!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
the number of his months is cut off
This is a polite way of saying that he dies. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism)
the number of his months
This refers to the length of his life.
Job 21:22
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
Can anyone teach God knowledge since he judges even those who are high?
Job asks this question to emphasize that God knows everything. Alternate translation: "Obviously, no one can teach anything to God since he even judges those in heaven." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
those who are high
Possible meanings are 1) "those who are in heaven" or 2) "powerful people."
Job 21:23
One man dies in his full strength
Job contrasts this man who dies in health and peace to the man who dies in sorrow and pain in Job 21:25. You can make this explicit. Alternate translation: "If there are two men, one may die in his full strength" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Job 21:24
His body is full of milk ... the marrow of his bones is moist
Both of these phrases mean that the person is very healthy. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
His body is full of milk
The word for "milk" may mean "fat." Either rendering means he is well-fed. Alternate translation: "His body if full of fat" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
the marrow of his bones is moist
This idiom means his body is youthful and healthy. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Job 21:25
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
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. Alternate translation: "with anger and resentment" or "after living a sad life" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
has never experienced anything good
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "has experienced only bad things"
Job 21:26
They lie down alike in the dust
This is a polite way to say that they died. Alternate translation: "They both die and people bury them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism)
the worms cover them both
Worms are associated with decay of dead bodies. Alternate translation: "the worms in the dirt eat their dead bodies" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Job 21:27
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
See
Job uses this phrase to call attention to the statement that follows. Alternate translation: "Listen"
Job 21:28
Where now is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?
Job believes his friends will ask these question to scold him. Both questions mean the same thing. Alternate translation: "See, the house of the evil ruler is gone. The tent of the wicked man has disappeared." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Job 21:29
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
Have you never asked traveling people?
Job uses these questions to rebuke his friends for not learning from people who travel. Alternate translation: "You should listen to those who have traveled to distant places." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Job 21:30
Connecting Statement:
Job finishes asking a rhetorical question that begins with the words "Do you not know" in verse 29.
the wicked man is kept ... from the day of wrath?
Job uses these questions to rebuke his friends for not learning from people who travel. "Those who have traveled to distant places will tell you ... from the day of wrath." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
the wicked man is kept from the day of calamity ... he is led away from the day of wrath
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God keeps the wicked man from the day of calamity ... God leads him away from the day of wrath" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Job 21:31
Connecting Statement:
Job continues speaking to his friends.
Who will condemn the wicked man's way to his face?
Job uses this question to contradict his friends' belief that the wicked are always judged. Alternate translation: "No one condemns the wicked man to his face." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
to his face
This means no one will go directly to the wicked person and condemn him personally. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Who will repay him for what he has done?
Job uses this question to contradict his friends' belief that the wicked are always judged. Alternate translation: "No one repays him for the bad things that he has done." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Job 21:32
he will be borne
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "people will carry him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Job 21:33
The clods of the valley will be sweet to him
Job imagines that the dead person will even enjoy the dirt that is put on him. This means the wicked person will even have a good death and a nice burial after a fulfilling life. "Clods" refer to the earth that covers the grave. Alternate translation: "He will enjoy being covered with the dirt of the valley" or "He will enjoy being buried in the dirt of the valley" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
all people will follow after him, as there were innumerable people before him
Job emphasizes that a large crowd of people will be in the funeral procession of this imaginary wicked man to honor him. Alternate translation: "a huge number of people go to the grave site; some go in front of the procession and some come behind"
Job 21:34
Connecting Statement:
This concludes Job's speech to his friends.
How then do you comfort me with nonsense, since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?
Job uses a question to scold his friends. Alternate translation: "You cannot comfort me with nonsense. All of your answers are false." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)