Job 21:24

24 His entrails be full of fatness; and his bones be moisted with marrow.

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 Whether any man shall teach God knowing, which deemeth them that be (on) high? (Shall anyone teach God knowledge, he who even judgeth those who be on high?)
23 This evil man dieth strong and whole, rich and blessful to the world (rich and blessed before the world).
24 His entrails be full of fatness; and his bones be moisted with marrow.
25 And another man dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and without any riches.
26 Nevertheless they shall sleep together in (the) dust, and worms shall cover them.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.