Job 21 Study Notes

21:1-3 Eliphaz had suggested that he and his friends were offering Job consolation (15:11), but Job contended that Zophar and the others were instead mocking him (16:20). Earlier Zophar had accused Job of mocking or ridiculing them (11:3).

21:4 Job’s rhetorical question indicated that his complaint was against God (19:4,21-22), not a human being. He had grown impatient (lit “short of spirit”) because he seemingly could not get through to God (7:11-21; 9:33-35; 16:21).

21:5-6 Job invited his friends to take another look at him (2:12; 17:7-8; 18:20). Rather than speaking so glibly, let them gaze at him in silent astonishment (29:9; 40:4; Mc 7:16). Even Job was terrified as he thought about his condition.

21:7 Job asserted that his friends’ statements about the short-lived success of the wicked were wrong (15:20; 18:5-21; 20:5,15-18). The fact is that the wicked often live long, prosperous lives in positions of power (Ec 7:15).

21:8-13 Contrary to his friends’ assertions (15:20-30; 18:5-19; 20:21-28), the wicked live out their lives and leave behind children who are also successful and prosperous.

21:14-15 As Job viewed it, the wicked succeed, even while rejecting the Almighty. They neither serve him nor recognize his lordship (Ps 73:9-12; 94:3).

21:16 In a parenthetical statement, Job acknowledged that prosperity comes from God and distanced himself from the defiant attitude the wicked express in the previous verses.

21:17 Job’s rhetorical question implies that despite the wicked person’s acts of evil and flagrant defiance of God, it does not appear that the Lord disciplines them; thus, Bildad’s statements did not hold up (18:5; cp. Ps 73:4-5,12). Lamp is used metaphorically as a symbol of a happy life (Ps 18:28). An extinguished lamp refers to an untimely death (2Sm 21:17), often because of the judgment of God (Pr 13:9; 20:20; 24:20).

21:18 Wind-blown straw and chaff often symbolize judgment. As Job saw it, the wicked person escapes judgment while he lives. Job’s remarks were born of pessimism because of his suffering, and they do not accurately reflect biblical teaching (Ps 1:4; Dn 2:35; Zph 2:1-2).

21:19-20 As Job saw it, God’s punishment unfairly passes over the wicked person and lands on the next generation (Dt 24:16; Jr 31:29-30; Ezk 18:2-4). To drink from the Almighty’s wrath reflects the figure of the cup of God’s judgment (Ps 75:8; Is 51:17; Jr 25:15; Ezk 23:31-34). In other contexts the cup symbolizes God’s blessing (Ps 23:5). The cup also signifies Jesus’s surrender to the Father’s will (Jn 18:11) and the new covenant that he enacted (Mt 26:27-29; 1Co 11:25-26).

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.

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).