Job 21:33

Job 21:33 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
• New International Version (NIV)The soil in the valley is sweet to them; everyone follows after them, and a countless throng goes before them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him; Everyone shall follow him, As countless have gone before him.

Context of Job 21:33

31But who will confront him with his actions and rebuke him face to face, And who will repay him for what he has done? 32When he is carried to his grave, A guard will keep watch over his tomb. The [dirt] clods of the valley are sweet to him [and gently cover him], Moreover, all men will follow after him [to a grave], While countless ones go before him. 34How then can you vainly comfort me with empty words, Since your answers remain untrue?”

Job 21:33 word by word

מָֽתְקוּ־ל֗וֹ רִגְבֵ֫י נָ֥חַל וְ֭אַחֲרָיו כָּל־אָדָ֣ם יִמְשׁ֑וֹךְ וּ֝לְפָנָ֗יו אֵ֣ין מִסְפָּֽר׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The clodsרֶ֫גֶבregeb · clodH7263
• of the valleyנַ֫חַלnachal nachlâh nachălâh · torrent: valleyH5158
• shall be sweetמָתֹקmâthaq · be sweetH4985
• unto him, and every manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• shall drawמָשַׁךְmâshak · to drawH4900
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• innumerableמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440

Cross-references for Job 21:33

• Job 3:17There [in death] the wicked cease from raging, And there the weary are at rest.
• Job 30:23For I know that You will bring me to death And to the house of meeting [appointed] for all the living.
• Genesis 3:19By the sweat of your face You will eat bread Until you return to the ground, For from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”
• Ecclesiastes 1:4One generation goes and another generation comes, But the earth remains forever.
• Ecclesiastes 8:8There is no man who has power and authority over the wind to restrain the wind, Nor does he have authority over the day of death; There is no discharge [from service] during time of war, And evil will not rescue those who [actively seek to] practice it.
• Ecclesiastes 12:7then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
• Hebrews 9:27And just as it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this [comes certain] judgment,

Commentaries on Job 21:33

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him - Perhaps there is an allusion here to the Asiatic mode of interment for princes, saints, and nobles: a well-watered valley was chosen for the tomb, where a perpetual spring might be secured. This was intended to be the emblem of a resurrection, or of a future life; and to conceal as much as possible the disgrace of the rotting carcass. Every man shall draw after him - There seem to be two allusions intended…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him - That is, he shall lie as calmly as others in the grave. The language here is taken from that delusion of which we all partake when we reflect on death. We think of “ourselves” in the grave, and it is almost impossible to divest our minds of the idea, that we shall be conscious there, and be capable of understanding our condition. The idea here is, that the person who was thus buried, might be sensible of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27-34Verses 27-34 Job opposes the opinion of his friends, That the wicked are sure to fall into visible and remarkable ruin, and none but the wicked; upon which principle they condemned Job as wicked. Turn to whom you will, you will find that the punishment of sinners is designed more for the other world than for this, Jude 1:14, 15. The sinner is here supposed to live in a great deal of power. The sinner shall have a splendid funeral: a poor thing for any man…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 33The clods of the valley are sweet to him: Job considered death as a relief (3:17–18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3333. As the classic saying has it, "The earth is light upon him." His repose shall be "sweet." draw--follow. He shall share the common lot of mortals; no worse off than they (He 9:27). Umbreit not so well (for it is not true of "every man"). "Most men follow in his bad steps, as countless such preceded him."Read the comment

Topics related to Job 21:33

• Death
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Argob (2)
• Clod

Commentaries on Job 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings