Job 21 32

Job 21:32 kjv

Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.

Job 21:32 nkjv

Yet he shall be brought to the grave, And a vigil kept over the tomb.

Job 21:32 niv

They are carried to the grave, and watch is kept over their tombs.

Job 21:32 esv

When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.

Job 21:32 nlt

When they are carried to the grave,
an honor guard keeps watch at their tomb.

Job 21 verses

Job 21 32 Meaning

Job 21:32 counters the friends' rigid theology by stating that even wicked individuals, who often prosper in life (as described by Job in previous verses), are granted a dignified end. They are "borne to the grave" with proper funeral rites and "watches are kept over his tomb," indicating an honored burial, a marked contrast to the shameful end the friends presumed for the wicked.

Job 21 32 Context

Job 21 is a powerful argument by Job in response to Zophar (Chapter 20), who had presented the traditional view that the wicked invariably suffer calamity and shame in this life. Job directly refutes this, using his own observations and challenging the simplistic retributive theology of his friends. In Chapter 21, Job insists that, contrary to their claims, the wicked often prosper, live long lives, enjoy peace, and die a tranquil death, unmolested by immediate divine judgment. Verse 32, specifically, serves as a capstone to this argument by emphasizing that the wicked are often afforded the dignity of a respectful funeral and an honored burial, challenging the expectation of ignominy and public disgrace that the friends posited for evildoers. Historically, a proper burial was a paramount sign of honor and peace in the ancient Near East, while not receiving a burial, or a desecrated grave, was a profound disgrace.

Job 21 32 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis:

• וַיּוּבַל (wayyûval): "and he is borne" or "he is carried." This is a passive verb (Hophal stem of יָבַל, yāval, "to bring, to lead"). It implies that the person is respectfully carried, indicative of a formal funeral procession and burial, not an unceremonious dumping of a corpse. This points to a dignified burial, suggesting social respect.
• אֶל־קְבָרִים (ʾel-qəbārîm): "to the graves" or "to the tombs." Qəbārîm (plural of קֶבֶר, qeber) refers to burial places. Using the plural could denote a more substantial burial site, perhaps a family tomb, or merely indicate the generality of being buried. This again signifies a proper burial, an established custom for the departed, rather than a nameless, forgotten demise.
• וְעַל־גָּלִים (wəʿal-gālîm): "and over the mounds/heaps" or "and over the tombs." Gālîm (plural of גַּל, gal) primarily means "heap" or "mound," often a heap of stones or a cairn. In the context of burial, it typically refers to grave mounds, tumuli, or memorials. The preposition ʿal ("over, upon") places the following action at or on these mounds. This term connects to established, visible burial sites.
• יָקִיץ (yāqîṣ): "he awakens/arises." This is the Qal imperfect form of the verb קוּץ (qûṣ), meaning "to awake, to arise." This word is highly debated among scholars.
  • One interpretation takes "he awakens" in the sense of "one remains vigilant (awakes and keeps watch)" over the grave. This fits the idea of respecting the tomb, preventing desecration, or guarding valuables within. Many ancient versions (Septuagint, Vulgate) support this rendering, reflecting a common ancient custom of guarding significant tombs.
  • Another interpretation, favored by some modern scholars for its literal sense, suggests the subject awakens in or from the tomb, hinting at an eschatological concept of future resurrection or judgment for the wicked. While the immediate context focuses on their outwardly peaceful end, the verb choice holds a profound theological depth. It might be a subtle nod to accountability beyond the visible present.For Job's immediate argument in Job 21, the sense of "watches are kept" (by others) for respectful preservation of the grave seems most coherent with his point that the wicked receive dignity in death. However, the latent meaning of "awakening" cannot be dismissed, as it reflects developing theological ideas.

Words-group analysis:

• "Yet he is borne to the grave": This phrase underscores that even with a life of wickedness and apparent prosperity, the universal fate of humanity is death and burial. The term "borne" implies respect, an organized, public ceremony, reinforcing Job's argument that the wicked do not necessarily suffer ignominious deaths. It sets up the idea that they receive the same rites as others, a form of societal recognition in death.
• "and watches are kept over his tomb": This crucial phrase deepens the idea of a dignified burial. Taking "watches are kept" (reflecting the prevalent interpretation in English translations) emphasizes that the grave is not neglected or dishonored but observed, protected, or perhaps even memorialized. It counters the friends' expectation of the wicked being unburied, dishonored, or suffering in death, suggesting instead that the wicked are allowed a peaceful, respected, and even watched-over rest in their final dwelling. If interpreted as "he awakes," it would imply a future, perhaps terrifying, awakening for the wicked for judgment.

Job 21 32 Bonus section

The ambiguity surrounding the Hebrew verb yāqîṣ ("he awakens/arises" or by extension "one watches") in Job 21:32 is significant. While many English translations opt for "watches are kept" to maintain coherence with the theme of outward dignity in death, the literal "he awakes" points to an emerging, albeit nascent, concept of resurrection or post-mortem accountability in ancient Israelite thought. Although not a full-fledged resurrection theology as seen in Daniel 12 or Isa 26:19, its presence here in Wisdom literature, however subtle, indicates the ongoing wrestling with the problem of suffering and justice beyond immediate life. This phrase thus offers a deeper theological resonance, hinting at a time when all will eventually "awake" from the grave, a concept crucial to the full biblical understanding of God's justice. This theological wrestling aligns with the book of Job's overarching aim to move beyond conventional theological boxes.

Job 21 32 Commentary

Job 21:32 is a sharp critique of simplistic retribution theology that asserts that the wicked always experience immediate and visible divine judgment in life and disgrace in death. Job observes the reality: many wicked individuals live long, prosperous lives, and are granted not only a peaceful passing but also a culturally esteemed burial. "Borne to the grave" speaks to funeral rites and communal respect, and "watches are kept over his tomb" suggests either a venerated grave that requires guarding, or a place where an ultimate awakening (judgment or resurrection) awaits the deceased. Job's point challenges the friends' black-and-white view of justice, forcing them to confront a more complex reality where God's timing and methods of justice are not always transparent or immediate to human observation. This verse ultimately emphasizes that earthly experiences of blessing or curse do not perfectly align with one's righteousness or wickedness, suggesting that ultimate justice resides solely in God's hands and may occur beyond human perception or in an eschatological future.