Job 3:17

KJV

There the wicked cease [from] troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

KJV (with Strong's)

There the wicked {H7563} cease {H2308} from troubling {H7267}; and there the weary {H3019}{H3581} be at rest {H5117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"There the wicked cease their raging, there the weary are at rest,

Berean Standard Bible

There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest.

American Standard Version

There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary are at rest.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 3:17 encapsulates the profound despair and desperate longing for peace expressed by Job in the depths of his suffering. Following the catastrophic loss of his children, wealth, and health, Job curses the day of his birth and articulates a yearning for the quietude of death, portraying it not as an end, but as a serene refuge where all earthly afflictions, oppression, and weariness finally cease, offering a longed-for state of undisturbed repose.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 3:17 is situated within Job's initial and most extensive lament, marking his first spoken words after seven days of silent mourning with his friends ([Job 2:13](/job/2-13 "Job 2:13 - Job's Friends Sit with Him")). This chapter represents a pivotal shift from Job's earlier, stoic endurance and declarations of faith ([Job 1:21-22](/job/1-21-22 "Job 1:21-22 - Job's Response to Loss"); [Job 2:10](/job/2-10 "Job 2:10 - Job's Integrity Maintained")) to a raw, unvarnished expression of profound despair. Having been afflicted with painful sores from head to foot ([Job 2:7](/job/2-2 "Job 2:7 - Job's Physical Affliction")), Job curses the day of his birth ([Job 3:1-10](/job/3-1-10 "Job 3:1-10 - Job Curses His Birth")) and then articulates a fervent wish that he had died at birth or had never been conceived ([Job 3:11-16](/job/3-11-16 "Job 3:11-16 - Job's Wish for Death")). Verse 17, along with the verses that follow, describes the state of death as Job imagines it—a place of ultimate rest and freedom from the troubles of life, contrasting sharply with his present unbearable torment. This lament sets the stage for the ensuing dialogue between Job and his friends, as they attempt to interpret his suffering according to their theological frameworks.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the concept of death was often associated with Sheol, a shadowy, subterranean realm where the dead resided in a state of quiet inactivity, largely separated from the vibrant life and activities of the living. While not a place of torment in the same sense as later concepts of hell, it was generally viewed as a diminished existence. Job's longing for death as a cessation of suffering aligns with this understanding of Sheol as a place of universal stillness, where earthly distinctions and struggles dissolve. His perspective, predating the fuller revelation of resurrection and eternal life found in later biblical texts, reflects a common human yearning for relief from suffering within the confines of his cultural and theological understanding. The lament itself is a well-established literary and cultural form in the ancient world, providing an outlet for expressing deep sorrow and distress.
* **Key Themes:** Job 3:17 contributes significantly to several key themes woven throughout the Book of Job. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **intense suffering and the human response to it**, validating the profound desire for relief when pain becomes unbearable. Secondly, it explores the **nature of death**, presenting it, from Job's tormented perspective, as the ultimate equalizer and source of peace, where the distinctions of earthly life—oppressor and oppressed, weary and at rest—are dissolved. This contrasts with the vibrant life God intends for humanity, as seen in [the creation account](/genesis/1 "Genesis 1 - The Creation Account"). Thirdly, it touches on the **problem of evil and injustice**, as Job yearns for a place where "the wicked cease from troubling," reflecting a universal human longing for justice and the end of oppression. Finally, it implicitly raises questions about **divine sovereignty and justice**, as Job grapples with why he, an innocent man, is enduring such profound affliction, a central theological tension throughout the book. His cry for rest foreshadows the ultimate rest God provides for His people, as described in [Hebrews 4](/hebrews/4 "Hebrews 4 - The Promise of Rest").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Troubling (Hebrew, _rôgez'_):** This word (H7267) signifies commotion, restlessness, disquiet, or wrath. It conveys the idea of being constantly harassed, agitated, or disturbed by external forces, particularly by the wicked or oppressors. Job's use of this word highlights the relentless, unsettling nature of the evil he perceives in the world and his longing for an escape from its persistent turmoil and vexation.
* **Weary (Hebrew, _yâgîyaʻ'_):** This adjective (H3019) describes someone who is tired or utterly worn out and fatigued. Derived from a root meaning "to toil" or "to be exhausted," it perfectly captures Job's state of profound exhaustion, not merely from physical illness, but from the cumulative burden of his losses and the emotional and spiritual distress of his suffering.
* **Rest (Hebrew, _nûwach'_):** This verb (H5117) means to settle down, to be quiet, to find repose, or to be at peace. It implies a cessation of movement, activity, or disturbance, leading to a state of tranquility. For Job, "rest" is the antithesis of his current existence—a state of undisturbed peace, free from the agitation of the wicked and the exhaustion of his trials, a deep quietude.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"There the wicked cease [from] troubling":** This clause expresses Job's fervent desire for a realm where the power and influence of those who cause distress, injustice, and agitation are nullified. "There" refers to the realm of death, where the active malice and oppressive actions of the wicked are brought to an absolute halt. Job envisions a place where the constant harassment and vexation he experiences, whether from his physical torment or the perceived injustice of his situation, simply cease to exist. It speaks to a deep yearning for a world free from the tyranny of evil.
* **"and there the weary be at rest":** This parallel clause articulates the positive aspect of death as Job perceives it—a profound and complete repose for those who have been utterly exhausted by life's burdens. "The weary" refers to those who are worn out by toil, suffering, and distress. In this imagined state, their physical and emotional anguish finds ultimate relief. It is a longing for a final, undisturbed peace, a deep quietude that contrasts sharply with the turmoil and pain of his current existence.

#### Literary Devices
Job 3:17 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey Job's profound despair and longing. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically synonymous parallelism, where the two clauses express similar ideas using different words ("the wicked cease from troubling" and "the weary be at rest"). This repetition reinforces the central theme of cessation and repose. **Imagery** is also vividly used, painting a picture of a tranquil, undisturbed realm of death, contrasting sharply with the turbulent and painful reality of Job's life. The phrase "the wicked cease from troubling" employs **Personification** by attributing active, malicious intent to "the wicked," whose cessation of activity is desired. Furthermore, the verse functions as a powerful **Antithesis** to Job's present suffering, presenting death as the ultimate escape from his current state of agitation and exhaustion. This creates a stark contrast between his unbearable present and his desired future in death.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 3:17, while reflecting a pre-resurrection understanding of death as a static realm, resonates deeply with universal human longings for peace, justice, and relief from suffering. The desire for a place where "the wicked cease from troubling" speaks to a fundamental human cry for divine justice and the ultimate triumph over evil. Similarly, the yearning for "rest" for the weary points to a profound need for solace that only God can ultimately provide. While Job's immediate context is his personal suffering, his lament foreshadows the biblical promise of a future where all injustice is rectified and all suffering is brought to an end, not through death as an escape, but through God's redemptive work. This longing finds its ultimate fulfillment in God's eschatological plan for His people.

* [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears, Pain, or Death")
* [Hebrews 4:9](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9 - The Rest for the People of God")
* [Isaiah 57:2](/isaiah/57-2 "Isaiah 57:2 - The Righteous Enter into Peace")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 3:17 offers a profound validation of the human experience of suffering and the natural longing for relief. It reminds us that it is permissible to express deep anguish and a desire for peace when life's burdens become overwhelming. Job's raw honesty in his lament serves as a model for bringing our deepest pains and questions before God, even when we don't understand His ways. For believers, this verse can serve as a poignant reminder of the temporary nature of earthly suffering and the glorious, eternal rest promised in God's presence. It encourages us to trust in a sovereign God who, in His perfect timing and wisdom, will ultimately bring justice to the oppressed and provide true, lasting rest for every weary soul. Even in the midst of our present troubles, we can find solace in the knowledge that our ultimate peace is secured in Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's lament in this verse validate your own experiences of weariness or feeling troubled by the world?**
* **What does it mean to "rest" in God, even when circumstances around you are chaotic or painful?**
* **How does the promise of ultimate cessation of evil and suffering in God's eternal plan bring you hope?**
* **In what ways can you find moments of spiritual and emotional rest in your daily life, even before the final, eternal rest?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 3:17 endorse a desire for death or suicide as a solution to suffering?**

Answer: Job 3:17 reflects Job's profound despair and his human longing for an end to his unbearable suffering, viewing death as a cessation of pain and oppression. It is an expression of deep lament, not an endorsement of suicide or a theological statement about the desirability of death over life. The Book of Job presents Job's raw, honest emotions in the face of incomprehensible tragedy. While he expresses a wish to have never been born or to have died at birth, this is a cry from the depths of his anguish, highlighting the intensity of his affliction. The Bible consistently affirms the sanctity of life and does not promote death as an escape from suffering. Instead, it points to God as the ultimate source of comfort, strength, and hope, even in the darkest valleys, as seen in passages like [Psalm 23:4](/psalm/23-4 "Psalm 23:4 - The Lord is My Shepherd") and [2 Corinthians 1:3-4](/2_corinthians/1-3-4 "2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - God of All Comfort"). Job's lament, rather than offering a solution, invites us to empathize with profound human suffering and to trust in God's sovereignty even when His ways are beyond our comprehension.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate longing for a place where "the wicked cease from troubling" and "the weary be at rest" finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Job, in his pre-resurrection understanding, envisioned this rest in the quietude of death, the New Testament reveals that true and lasting rest from the world's troubles is found in Christ alone. Jesus Himself invites the burdened: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and and I will give you rest" ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus Offers Rest")). He is the one who has definitively conquered sin, death, and the power of the wicked one ([John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Jesus Overcomes the World"); [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). The ultimate cessation of all troubling and the profound rest for the weary are not found in a neutral state of death, but in the new heavens and new earth, inaugurated by Christ's return, where God will wipe away every tear, and "death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears, Pain, or Death")). Thus, Job's ancient cry becomes a prophetic echo of the perfect peace and eternal rest secured for believers through the Lamb of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Revelation 14:13

¶ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Job 17:16

They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when [our] rest together [is] in the dust.

Job 14:13

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Hebrews 4:9

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Isaiah 57:1

¶ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].

Isaiah 57:2

He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, [each one] walking [in] his uprightness.

Hebrews 4:11

¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.