Job 3:22

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 3:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Who rejoice exceedingly, And are glad, when they can find the grave?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Who rejoice exceedingly, And are glad, when they can find the grave?
Job 3:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
22Who rejoice exceedingly, And are glad, when they can find the grave?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Which rejoice exceedingly, etc.] Or, “which joy till they do skip again”, as Mr. Broughton renders it, and to the same purport others f127; are so elated as to skip and dance for joy: [and] are glad when they can find the grave; which is to be understood either of those who dig in the earth for hid treasure, such as is laid there by men; when they strike and hit upon a grave where they expect to find a booty; it being usual in former times to put much riches into the sepulchres of great personages, as Sanctius on the place observes; so Hyrcanus, opening the sepulchre of David, found in it three thousand talents of silver, as Josephus f128 relates: or rather this is said of the miserable and…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Which rejoice exceedingly - Hebrew “Who rejoice upon joy or exultation” (אל־גיל 'el-gı̂yl), that is, with exceedingly great joy. When they can find the grave - What an expression! How strikingly does it express the intense desire to die, and the depth of a man’s sorrow, when it becomes a matter of exultation for him to be permitted to lie down in the corruption and decay of the tomb! A somewhat similiar sentiment occurs in Euripides, as quoted by Cicero, Tusc. Quaest. Lib. 1, cap. 48: Nam nos decebat, doman Lugere, ubi esset aliquis in lucem editus, Humanae vitae varia reputantes mala; At qui labores morte finisset graves Hunc omni amicos laude et Lactitia exsequi. return to 'Top of Page'”
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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
“Glad, &c. - To be thus impatient of life, for the sake of the trouble we meet with, is not only unnatural in itself, but ungrateful to the giver of life, and shews a sinful indulgence of our own passion. Let it be our great and constant care, to get ready for another world: and then let us leave it to God, to order the circumstances of our removal thither. Job 3:23”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification