Job 21:32

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 21:32 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.
Job 21:32 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
32Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Yet shall he be brought to the grave, etc.] Or “and”, “or yea he shall be brought”, etc. f829; for the meaning is not, that though he is great in life he shall be brought low enough at death; for Job is still describing the grand figure wicked men make, even at death, as well as in life; for he is not only brought to the grave, as all men are, it being the house appointed for all living, and every man’s long home; but the wicked rich man is brought thither in great funeral pomp, in great state, as the rich sinner was buried, (<210810>Ecclesiastes 8:10 <421622>Luke 16:22); or “to the graves” f830, the place where many graves are, the place of the sepulchres of his ancestors; and in the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Yet--rather, "and." brought--with solemn pomp (Psa 45:15). grave--literally, "graves"; that is, the place where the graves are. remain in--rather, watch on the tomb, or sepulchral mound. Even after death he seems still to live and watch (that is, have his "remembrance" preserved) by means of the monument over the grave. In opposition to Bildad (Job 18:17).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Yet shall he be brought to the grave - Margin, “graves.” That is, he is brought with honor and prosperity to the grave. He is not cut down by manifest divine displeasure for his sins. He is conducted to the grave as other people are, not withstanding his enormous wickedness. The “object” of this is clearly to state that he would not be overwhelmed with calamity, as the friends of Job had maintained, and that nothing could be determined in regard to his character from the divine dealings toward him in this life. And shall remain in the tomb - Margin, “watch in the heap.” The marginal reading does not make sense, though it seems to be an exact translation of the Hebrew. Noyes renders it, “Yet…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And - The pomp of his death shall be suitable to the glory of his life. Brought - With pomp and state, as the word signifies. Grave - Heb. to the graves; to an honourable and eminent grave: the plural number being used emphatically to denote eminency. He shall not die a violent but a natural death. Job 21:33”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he be: Psa 49:14; Eze 32:21-32; Luk 16:22 grave: Heb. graves remain in the tomb: Heb. watch in the heap Job 21:33”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“32 And he is brought to the grave, And over the tomb he still keepeth watch. 33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him, And all men draw after him, As they preceded him without number. . . . . . . 34 And how will ye comfort me so vainly! Your replies are and remain perfidy. During life removed at the time of dire calamity, this unapproachable evil-doer is after his death carried to the grave with all honour (יוּבל, comp. Job 10:19), and indeed to a splendid tomb; for, like משׁכנות above, קברות is also an amplificative plural. It is certainly the most natural to refer ישׁקד, like יוּבל, to the deceased. The explanation: and over the tomb one keeps watch (Bttch., Hahn, Rd., Olsh.), is indeed…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification