Job 21 Study Notes

21:21 This verse continues the thought of v. 19. God should punish the person, not his family (20:10).

21:22 Job had asked previously whether anyone could rightly question God (9:12,19). Job’s friends had declared that no one could be especially wise (11:7-9) or be absolutely pure in God’s eyes—not even the angels (4:17-18). Yet his friends had acted as though they had special insight into God’s ways and truth (4:12-21; 8:3-7; 11:5-6; 15:8-13; 20:4-5,20).

21:23-26 Job’s observations on life pointed to facts that could not be accounted for in the worldview expressed by his friends. As Job saw it, a person’s goodness or wickedness had nothing to do with life’s fortunes.

Shalem, related to shalom (peace), means be completed (Neh 6:15), over, or at peace (Jb 22:21) and come out unharmed (Jb 9:4). The passive participle implies peaceful. Intensive verbs denote repay (Ex 22:1), pay back, give compensation, compensate, make (full) restitution, or pay. They describe keeping (Dt 23:21) or fulfilling vows and making offerings. They mean complete, restore, or reward (Pr 13:21). People give rewards. They avenge evil (Pr 20:22). The passive participle signifies dedicated one (Is 42:19). Causative verbs indicate accomplish, fulfill, or make an end of (Is 38:12). One makes peace (Dt 20:12) or makes to be at peace (Pr 16:7). Shelem (87x) represents fellowship offering or sacrifice (Ex 24:5). Adjectival shalem (28x) conveys full (Gn 15:16), whole, and peaceful; it connotes completely, safely, or completed and describes uncut or finished stones. Shillem involves repayment (Dt 32:35); shalmoniym, bribes (Is 1:23); and shillumah, punishment (Ps 91:8).

21:27 Job asserted that when his friends described the fate of the wicked, they were alluding to him (16:1-4), but they were wrong (19:1-6).

21:28 When Job’s friends spoke of the loss of the nobleman’s house and goods, he understood them to be applying that to his case (15:34; 18:14-21; 20:26-28). Their remarks were painful reminders to him of the loss of his children and all they had (1:13-19).

21:29-30 Job’s questions imply that his friends’ doctrine of swift retribution conflicts with facts that anyone who has traveled can observe. Rather than having their homes destroyed (18:14-15; 20:22), the wicked rich live securely in them.

21:31 Job’s friends said that the wicked are on shaky ground and soon fall, but Job observes they are so powerful that no one can touch them.

21:32-33 Job’s observation was that the wicked nobleman went to his grave with great honor and a large funeral procession (Ec 8:10), which was contrary to Bildad’s remarks (Jb 18:17). The image of the dirt being sweet may indicate that as far as Job could tell, the wicked person’s lot was pleasant even in death.

21:34 Job categorically denounced his friends’ counsel as failing to provide comfort (v. 3; 16:2-3) and being deceptive (13:4).