Job 33 22

Job 33:22 kjv

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

Job 33:22 nkjv

Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners.

Job 33:22 niv

They draw near to the pit, and their life to the messengers of death.

Job 33:22 esv

His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death.

Job 33:22 nlt

They are at death's door;
the angels of death wait for them.

Job 33 verses

Job 33 22 Meaning

Job 33:22 describes a state of extreme physical deterioration where a person is on the very brink of death. "His soul draws near the pit" speaks to the entire being or life force approaching the grave, a place of destruction and decay. "And his life to those who bring death" further emphasizes this impending end, indicating an encounter with agents or circumstances that lead to physical demise. Elihu uses this stark imagery to illustrate a severe divine affliction, which he believes is often corrective rather than purely punitive, meant to bring an individual to a new understanding or repentance.

Job 33 22 Context

Job 33:22 is part of Elihu's first discourse (Job 32-33). Elihu, a younger and previously silent bystander, believes he has a more accurate understanding of God's ways than Job or his three friends. He addresses Job's complaint that God does not answer him or clarify the reason for his suffering. Elihu asserts that God communicates in various ways—through dreams, visions, and indeed, through physical pain and affliction. Verse 22 describes the severity of the affliction, where a person is near death's door. This dire situation, Elihu argues, is not necessarily punitive but often serves as a severe warning, a divine teaching, or a corrective measure to turn a person from a destructive path or hidden pride. The following verses (33:23-28) provide the hope of rescue from this pit through divine intervention or a "messenger." This perspective distinguishes Elihu's theology from the friends, who solely attributed suffering to sin requiring punishment, and from Job's assertion of blamelessness.

Job 33 22 Word analysis

• His soul (Nephesh, נֶפֶשׁ):
  • Signifies the whole being, the living entity, the person.
  • In Hebrew thought, it is not merely an ethereal part but the essence of life and personhood.
  • Drawing near the pit means the entire self is on the verge of dissolution.
  • Implies the vital spirit or breath of life is ebbing away.
• draws near (Qarab, קָרַב):
  • Means to approach, come close, or be brought near.
  • Indicates an active, relentless movement towards an inevitable end without external intervention.
  • Conveys immediacy and proximity to the state of death.
• the pit (Shachat, שַׁחַת):
  • Can mean corruption, decay, destruction, or the grave/Sheol itself.
  • Figuratively, it represents the depths of death and oblivion.
  • In the Ancient Near East, pits were sometimes used for imprisonment or traps, deepening the sense of entrapment leading to demise.
  • Highlights the end result of severe physical decline: not just death but disintegration.
• and his life (Chayyay, חַיָּי):
  • A plural form meaning "lives" or "life's duration/span."
  • A poetic parallelism to "his soul," reinforcing the totality of what is nearing its end.
  • Emphasizes that the existence itself, the duration of life, is reaching its conclusion.
• to those who bring death (Lam’mêmithim, לַמְמִתִים):
  • Literally "to the causing to die ones" or "to the destroyers."
  • This phrase has been interpreted in various ways by scholars.
  • It can refer to agents of death: fatal illness, injuries, or circumstances that lead to physical death.
  • Some interpret them as specific divine instruments of judgment or destruction, perhaps even angelic figures associated with death.
  • The phrase emphasizes the active process of dying, where life is surrendering to the forces or conditions that lead to its cessation.
  • In the context of Elihu, it speaks to a God-ordained process of decline rather than a random event.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "His soul draws near the pit": This phrase paints a vivid picture of the individual's inner and outer being rapidly deteriorating. It's not just the body but the entire self, the essence of life, that is nearing the state of grave, signifying a comprehensive nearing of death and decay. This highlights the severity and pervasive nature of the affliction, impacting the very core of one's existence.
• "and his life to those who bring death": This parallel phrase amplifies the imminent threat. It depicts life itself yielding to destructive forces. It conveys a sense of passive surrender to powerful, external agents or circumstances that are inexorably drawing one towards their end. This reinforces the idea of an advanced stage of physical decline where recovery without divine intervention seems impossible.

Job 33 22 Bonus section

Elihu's perspective in Job 33 contrasts sharply with both Job's self-justification and his friends' simplistic cause-and-effect theology (suffering = sin). He introduces the idea that God uses affliction not merely for punishment, but also as a preventative measure, a refining fire, or a revelatory warning to save a soul from destruction. The phrase "those who bring death" (לַמְמִתִים) can be understood not just as physical agents, but metaphorically as the "destroying forces" of the consequence of sin itself. Elihu sets the stage for God's eventual appearance (Job 38ff), demonstrating that even severe suffering can be part of a divine process of refinement and instruction, paving the way for spiritual transformation. This also prefigures the broader biblical understanding of God's use of discipline for His children's good (Heb 12). Elihu implicitly introduces the concept of a divine mediator (33:23-24), foreshadowing the redemptive role of a redeemer who can intervene on behalf of humanity to avert final destruction and restore life.

Job 33 22 Commentary

Job 33:22 presents a profound statement about the extreme severity of suffering and the immediate proximity to death, a condition Elihu uses to preface God's potential intervention. This isn't merely a description of illness; it's the very threshold of the grave, where the individual's life force is visibly waning and confronting the instruments of demise. Elihu’s core argument, soon to follow, is that even in such dire circumstances, God’s intention is often redemptive. This near-death experience can serve as a potent divine communication, designed to reveal hidden sin, foster humility, and ultimately lead to repentance and a renewed relationship with God, as seen in the subsequent verses promising rescue. It shows God as actively involved in the human condition, even through affliction, for purposes far beyond mere punishment.

• Example 1: A severe illness brings a hardened heart to humble prayer and reevaluation of life choices, preventing further spiritual decline.
• Example 2: Financial ruin leads a materialistic individual to depend solely on God, finding true wealth in spiritual values previously overlooked.