King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I [shall] not [be].
Complete Jewish Bible:
Why don't you pardon my offense and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust; you will seek me, but I will be gone."
Berean Standard Bible:
Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”
American Standard Version:
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; And thou wilt seek me diligently, but I shall not be.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And why dost thou not pardon{H5375} my transgression{H6588}, and take away{H5674} mine iniquity{H5771}? for now shall I sleep{H7901} in the dust{H6083}; and thou shalt seek me in the morning{H7836}, but I shall not be.
Cross-References (KJV):
Daniel 12:2
- And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
Job 10:14
- ¶ If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
Isaiah 64:9
- Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we [are] all thy people.
1 John 1:9
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
- Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
Lamentations 5:20
- Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [and] forsake us so long time?
Lamentations 5:22
- But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.
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Commentary for Job 7:21
Job 7:21 is a poignant verse found within the poetic dialogues of the Book of Job, a wisdom text that is part of the Ketuvim (Writings) in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. The book is traditionally ascribed to the time of the Patriarchs, placing it in the second millennium BCE, though scholars suggest it might have been composed between the 7th and 4th centuries BCE. The narrative centers on Job, a righteous man who suffers great personal loss and physical affliction, prompting a prolonged theological debate about the nature of suffering and divine justice.
In this verse, Job is in the depths of his suffering, crying out to God in despair. He questions why God has not forgiven his supposed transgressions and removed his iniquity. The themes here are profound: the nature of human sinfulness, the hope for divine forgiveness, and the human yearning for reconciliation with the divine. Job feels that his life is slipping away ("I shall sleep in the dust")—a metaphor for death—and expresses a sense of urgency, recognizing that life is fleeting and that the opportunity for divine pardon may pass with his death ("thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be"). This verse reflects Job's deep anguish and his struggle to understand why God allows the innocent to suffer and why His mercy seems to be withheld. It underscores the human condition before an omnipotent and, at times, inscrutable God, a theme that resonates deeply within the broader context of Judeo-Christian theology.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H5375
There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשָׂא
Transliteration: nâsâʼ
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. - Strong's Number: H6588
There are 90 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פֶּשַׁע
Transliteration: peshaʻ
Pronunciation: peh'-shah
Description: from פָּשַׁע; a revolt (national, moral or religious); rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass. - Strong's Number: H5674
There are 493 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָבַר
Transliteration: ʻâbar
Pronunciation: aw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation); alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. - Strong's Number: H5771
There are 213 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָוֺן
Transliteration: ʻâvôn
Pronunciation: aw-vone'
Description: or עָווֹן; (2 Kings 7:9; Psalm 51:5 (אֲבַד)), from עָוָה; perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischeif, punishment (of iniquity), sin. - Strong's Number: H7901
There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁכַב
Transliteration: shâkab
Pronunciation: shaw-kab'
Description: a primitive root; to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose); [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay. - Strong's Number: H6083
There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָפָר
Transliteration: ʻâphâr
Pronunciation: aw-fawr'
Description: from עָפַר; dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud; ashes, dust, earth, ground, morter, powder, rubbish. - Strong's Number: H7836
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁחַר
Transliteration: shâchar
Pronunciation: shaw-khar'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to dawn, i.e. (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking); (do something) betimes, enquire early, rise (seek) betimes, seek diligently) early, in the morning).