King James Version
What Does Job 21:33 Mean?
“The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.”
Job 21:33 · KJV
Context
31
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. grave: Heb. graves remain: Heb. watch in the heap
33
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? falsehood: Heb. transgression?
Commentary
KJV Study CommentaryThe wicked's tomb is guarded: 'And he shall remain in the tomb.' Job may refer to guarded monuments ensuring the wicked's memory endures honorably. Or this might mean their corpses rest peacefully rather than being desecrated. Either way, even death doesn't bring the justice his friends claim—the wicked rest honored while the righteous like Job suffer shamefully in life. Ultimate justice requires more than temporal observation.
KJV Study — Public Domain
Historical & Cultural Context
Ancient Near Eastern tombs for the wealthy included guards and monuments. Important people's tombs were maintained and honored. That the wicked received such honor while the righteous suffered challenged simple retribution theology.
Reflection Questions
- How do earthly honors given to the undeserving test our faith in divine justice?
- What does it mean to live for divine approval rather than earthly legacy?
- How does final judgment reorder all temporal honors and disgraces?
Original Language Analysis
Hebrew · 11 wordsמָֽתְקוּ1 of 11
“shall be sweet”
H4985to suck, by implication, to relish, or (intransitively) be sweet
ל֗וֹ2 of 11
H0נָ֥חַל4 of 11
“of the valley”
H5158a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
וְ֭אַחֲרָיו5 of 11
“after”
H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
כָּל6 of 11
H3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אָדָ֣ם7 of 11
“unto him and every man”
H120ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
יִמְשׁ֑וֹךְ8 of 11
“shall draw”
H4900to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall, etc.)
וּ֝לְפָנָ֗יו9 of 11
“before”
H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
מִסְפָּֽר׃11 of 11
“him as there are innumerable”
H4557a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
Study Guide
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Job. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Job 21:33 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Job 21:33 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge