Job 30 23

Job 30:23 kjv

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

Job 30:23 nkjv

For I know that You will bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living.

Job 30:23 niv

I know you will bring me down to death, to the place appointed for all the living.

Job 30:23 esv

For I know that you will bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living.

Job 30:23 nlt

And I know you are sending me to my death ?
the destination of all who live.

Job 30 verses

Job 30 23 Meaning

Job 30:23 conveys Job’s profound conviction and despair that God is actively bringing him to death. He views the grave as a divinely appointed and universal destiny for all humanity. This verse reflects his perception of God as his tormentor, inevitably leading him to the "house" of death, a preordained fate for every living being.

Job 30 23 Context

Job 30:23 falls within Job's third cycle of lament and self-defense (Job 29-31). This chapter contrasts Job's previous state of honor and prosperity (Job 29) with his current humiliation and suffering. He describes his dramatic descent from public respect to scorn and affliction by the lowest societal strata. He attributes his plight directly to God, believing that God has actively cast him down and is relentless in his pursuit. The verse in question encapsulates Job's deep despair and conviction that his suffering is a deliberate act of God, leading him directly to death. He views his death not as a natural culmination but as a divine decree. In the wider context, this declaration highlights Job’s limited understanding of the cosmic conflict underlying his suffering, even as it articulates a universal truth about human mortality. It implicitly stands against the conventional belief of his friends that severe suffering is solely the result of specific sin, implying a deterministic end for all, innocent or guilty.

Job 30 23 Word analysis

• For I know (כִּי יָדַעְתִּי, ki yada'ti):

  • "For" (כִּי, ki): Introduces the reason or explanation for Job's profound despair and perception of divine action described in previous verses. It signals a foundational conviction.
  • "I know" (יָדַעְתִּי, yada'ti): From the Hebrew root יָדַע (yada), meaning to know, to perceive, to be acquainted with. This isn't mere speculation or hope, but a deeply held, experiential conviction for Job. He feels this truth with certainty. In biblical usage, yada often implies intimate or profound knowledge, not just intellectual understanding. Job asserts this as an undeniable personal reality.

• that you will bring me (תְשִׁיבֵנִי, təshivéni):

  • "you will bring me": Derived from the verb שׁוּב (shuv), meaning to return, restore, or bring back. Here, it implies moving from one state to another, specifically bringing to an end. It vividly portrays Job’s perception of God as an active agent, intentionally orchestrating his demise rather than passively allowing it. Job doesn't see a natural process; he sees divine action.

• to death (מָוֶת, mavet):

  • "death" (mavet): Refers to the physical cessation of life, the separation of body and soul, the ultimate end of earthly existence. It represents the dissolution of life and Job's perceived ultimate destiny under God's hand.

• to the house (בֵּית, beit):

  • "house" (beit): Literally "house," but used metaphorically to signify a dwelling place or abode. In this context, it is a euphemism for the grave or Sheol, the common destination for all the dead in the Old Testament understanding. It signifies permanence, the ultimate resting place for the body.

• appointed (מוֹעֵד, mo'ed):

  • "appointed" (mo'ed): From the root יָעַד (ya'ad), meaning to appoint, destine, or meet by appointment. This term conveys the idea of a fixed, pre-ordained time or place. It highlights the absolute certainty and divine decree behind the inevitability of death for all. It’s not accidental but divinely scheduled.

• for all the living (לְכָל־חָי, ləḵol-ḥāy):

  • "for all the living" (ləḵol-ḥāy): "All living" signifies every human being, universally and without exception. This phrase emphasizes the inescapable and democratic nature of death. It levels all distinctions—rich or poor, righteous or wicked, healthy or sick—all share this same "appointed house."

• Words-group analysis:

  • "you will bring me to death": This phrase encapsulates Job's accusatory and deeply felt belief that God is personally involved in his suffering and guiding him toward death. It's a statement of active divine causality from Job's distressed perspective.
  • "the house appointed for all the living": This powerful metaphor emphasizes the grave or Sheol as a universal and inescapable destiny, predetermined by God for every individual. It suggests an ultimate equalizer, where all paths eventually lead to this shared abode. It's a declaration of humanity's common mortal fate. This also highlights a profound contrast with his friends' theology: for Job, death is not necessarily a consequence of sin for him but rather an unavoidable part of human existence.

Job 30 23 Bonus section

• The term mo'ed ("appointed") has broader biblical usage often associated with divinely ordained feasts and sacred assemblies, where God "meets" His people at an "appointed time" or "appointed place." Its use here for death subtly imbues death with a divine schedule or plan, an appointment humanity cannot miss. It underscores God's meticulous governance even over the end of life.
• Job's stark reality, that death is the inevitable destiny for "all the living," resonates with other wisdom literature in the Bible, such as Ecclesiastes, which frequently emphasizes the transient nature of life and the universal fate of humanity.
• While this verse depicts Job’s despairing acceptance of death, the broader narrative of Job culminates in his restoration and a deeper understanding of God’s sovereignty, often implying a hope that transcends even death (e.g., Job 19:26-27), though that hope is not manifest in this specific expression of pain.
• This verse illustrates a moment of profound spiritual darkness for Job, where his understanding of God's justice is utterly overshadowed by his overwhelming suffering. His language is one of accusation, born out of deep physical and emotional anguish, challenging common pious assumptions about the simplicity of divine retribution.

Job 30 23 Commentary

Job 30:23 serves as a poignant expression of Job's deep despair and his distorted yet profound theological conviction concerning divine sovereignty over life and death. In his affliction, Job views God not as a benevolent provider, but as a relentless pursuer actively leading him to his demise. The phrase "you will bring me to death" signifies a deeply personal and accusatory perception of God's role in his suffering. This is a crucial point: Job doesn't feel abandoned; he feels targeted.

The subsequent imagery of "the house appointed for all the living" transforms the abstract concept of death into a tangible, preordained dwelling. This "house" is the grave or Sheol, a common and inescapable destination for every human being, regardless of their earthly status, wealth, or piety. It emphasizes death as the ultimate equalizer, leveling all human distinctions. This universality underscores the futility of resistance to God's decree, at least as Job understands it. While steeped in personal suffering, Job's words reveal a deep truth about human mortality that resonates universally, regardless of specific faith perspectives. He articulates the common human experience of life leading inevitably to the grave, a destiny divinely established. This also counters the false assumptions of his friends, who tied suffering directly and solely to sin; Job implies that death is a shared destiny for all the living, innocent or not, righteous or wicked, as ultimately appointed by God.