King James Version
Job 21:33 in the King James Version says “The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him...” — study this verse from Job chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“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
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. grave: Heb. graves remain: Heb. watch in the heap
The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? falsehood: Heb. transgression?
KJV Study — Public Domain
“shall be sweet”
H4985to suck, by implication, to relish, or (intransitively) be sweet
“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)
“after”
H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
“unto him and every man”
H120ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
“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.)
“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
“him as there are innumerable”
H4557a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also (abstractly) narration
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.
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.
Verses related to Job 21:33 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge