Job 21:25

25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, And never tastes of good.

Job 21:25 Meaning and Commentary

Job 21:25

And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul
Either another wicked man; for there is a difference among wicked men; some are outwardly happy in life, and in the circumstances of their death, as before described; and others are very unhappy in both; their life is a scene of afflictions which embitter life, and make death eligible; and in the midst of which they die, as well as oftentimes in bitter pains, and terrible agonies of body, as well as in great distress and horror of mind, and black despair, as Judas and others:

and never eateth with pleasure,
or "of any good", or "any good thing" {y}; either he has it not to eat, or what he has is not good, but like husks which swine eat, of which the prodigal would fain have filled his belly, when in extreme poverty, such as those words may describe; or else having what is good, has not an heart to eat of it; and so they describe a miser, living and dying such; see ( Ecclesiastes 6:2 ) ; or rather the case of a man, who, through distempers and diseases of body, has lost his appetite, and cannot with any pleasure taste of the richest dainties; see ( Job 33:20 ) . Some F26 interpret this verse and ( Job 21:23 Job 21:24 ) as what should be the case according to the sentiments of Job's friends, who objected, that God punished the iniquities of wicked men, not in their own persons, but in their children; according to which, a wicked man then should die in the perfection of happiness, without weakness or want, in all quietness, ease, peace, and prosperity; and not in poverty and distress: but as ( Job 21:23 Job 21:24 ) respect a wicked man, and his case and circumstances at death, agreeably to the whole context; so this relates to those of a good man, whom the Lord often deals bitterly with in life, as he did with Naomi, and was now the case of Job; see ( Ruth 1:20 ) ( Job 3:20 ) ; and who die in very poor and distressed circumstances; so that nothing is to be concluded from such appearances, with respect to the characters of men, as good or bad, and especially since both are brought into a like condition by death, as follows.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (hbwj) "bonum", Pagninus, Mercerus; so Junius & Tremellius, Piscator & Bar Tzemach; "de bono", Cocceius, Michaelis, Schultens.
F26 Bar Tzemach.

Job 21:25 In-Context

23 One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, And never tastes of good.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, The worm covers them.
27 "Behold, I know your thoughts, The devices with which you would wrong me.
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