Iyov 33:22

22 Yea, his nefesh draweth near unto the shachat, and his life to the ones bringing death.

Iyov 33:22 Meaning and Commentary

Job 33:22

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave
Not the soul, strictly and properly speaking, for that does not, nor is it laid in the grave at death, but returns to God that gave it; rather the body, for which it is sometimes put, and of which what is here said is true, see ( Psalms 16:10 ) ; or the person of the sick man, whose disease being so threatening, all hope is gone, and he is given up by his physicians and friends, and seemingly is at the grave's mouth, and that is ready for him, and he on the brink of that; which were the apprehensions Job had of himself, ( Job 17:1 ) ; see ( Psalms 88:3 ) ( 107:17 ) ;

and his life to the destroyers;
the destroying angels, as Aben Ezra, and so the Septuagint version: or destroying diseases, and so Mr. Broughton renders it, "to killing maladies"; or it may be to worms, which destroy the body in the grave, and which Job was sensible of would quickly be his case, ( Job 19:26 ) ; though some interpret it of those that kill, or of those that are dead, with whom they are laid that die; or of deaths corporeal and eternal, and the horrors and terrors of both, with which persons in such circumstances are sometimes distressed.

Iyov 33:22 In-Context

20 So that his life abhorreth lechem, and his nefesh dainty food.
21 His basar is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his atzmot that were not seen stick out.
22 Yea, his nefesh draweth near unto the shachat, and his life to the ones bringing death.
23 If there be a malach (messenger, i.e., Malach HaBrit, HaAdon [see Malachi 3:1] ) as melitz (mediator) for him, one of a thousand, who declares a person yashar (upright, Isa 53:11),
24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the shachat (pit); I have found a kofer (ransom) [Mk 10:45].
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.