Job 21:24

24 His body is[a] well-fed,[b] and his bones are full of marrow.[c]

Job 21:24 Meaning and Commentary

Job 21:24

His breasts are full of milk
As this is not literally true of men, some versions read the words otherwise; his bowels or intestines are full of fat, as the Vulgate Latin and Septuagint; and others, his sides or ribs are full of fat, as the Syriac and Arabic; the words for "side" and "fat" being near in sound to those here used; and so it describes a man fit and plump, and fleshy, when death lays hold upon him, and not wasted with consumptions and pining sickness, as in the case of some, ( Job 33:21 ) ; the word for breasts is observed by some


FOOTNOTES:

F8 to signify, in the Arabic language, "vessels", in which liquors are contained, and in the Misnic language such as they put oil in, out of which oil is squeezed; and so are thought here to intend such vessels as are milked into; and therefore render it by milk pails; so Mr. Broughton, "his pails are full of milk" F9; which may denote the abundance of good things enjoyed by such persons, as rivers of honey and butter; contrary to Zophar's notion, ( Job 20:17 ) ; and a large increase of oil and wine, and all temporal worldly good; amidst the plenty of which such die:

and his bones are moistened with marrow;
not dried up through a broken spirit, or with grief and trouble, and through the decays of old age; but, being full of marrow, are moist, and firm and strong; and so it intimates, that such, at the time when death seizes them, are of an hale, healthful, robust, and strong constitution; see ( Psalms 73:4 Psalms 73:7 ) .


F8 See Kimchi, Sepher Shorash. rad. (Nje) , and Jarchi and Ben Melech in loc.
F9 (wynyje) "muletralia ejus", Montanus, Beza, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Bolducius, Drusius, Cocceius, Schmidt.

Job 21:24 In-Context

22 Can anyone teach God knowledge, since He judges the exalted ones?
23 One person dies in excellent health, completely secure and at ease.
24 His body is well-fed, and his bones are full of marrow.
25 Yet another person dies with a bitter soul, having never tasted prosperity.
26 But they both lie in the dust, and worms cover them.

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or His sides are; Hb obscure
  • [b]. Lit is full of milk
  • [c]. Lit and the marrow of his bones is watered
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