Job 3:19

KJV

The small and great are there; and the servant [is] free from his master.

KJV (with Strong's)

The small {H6996} and great {H1419} are there; and the servant {H5650} is free {H2670} from his master {H113}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Great and small alike are there, and the slave is free of his master.

Berean Standard Bible

Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master.

American Standard Version

The small and the great are there: And the servant is free from his master.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 3:19, nestled within Job's profound lament, expresses a desperate longing for the tranquility of death as a release from unbearable suffering. It paints a picture of the grave as the ultimate equalizer, where all earthly distinctions—social status, power dynamics, and master-servant relationships—dissolve into a state of universal peace and freedom from oppression. For Job, death is not merely cessation but a longed-for refuge where the weary find rest and the enslaved are finally liberated.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 3 marks a dramatic shift in the book, moving from the narrative prologue where Job endures catastrophic losses with remarkable piety (Job 1-2) to his deeply personal and agonizing lament. This chapter is Job's first utterance after seven days of silent mourning with his friends (Job 2:13). He curses the day of his birth, expressing a profound wish that he had never been born or had died at birth. Verses 17 and 18 immediately precede verse 19, describing how "there the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest" and "there the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor." Job 3:19 continues this theme, extending the idea of universal rest and liberation to all social strata, culminating his vision of death as a peaceful haven.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the ancient Near East, a society characterized by rigid social hierarchies. The distinction between "small and great" (referring to social standing, wealth, or power) and "servant" (`'eved`, often a bondservant or slave) and "master" (`'adon`) was fundamental to daily life. Servitude, whether voluntary or involuntary, was a common institution, and the life of a servant could range from relatively benign to severely oppressive. In this context, the idea of death as a state where such distinctions vanish and where the oppressed find ultimate freedom would have resonated deeply with the experiences and aspirations of many in that society, offering a stark contrast to the often harsh realities of life.
* **Key Themes:** Job 3:19 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Job and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent is the **equality in death**, asserting that all human beings, regardless of their earthly status, ultimately face the same fate in the grave. This challenges human pride and the transient nature of worldly power, echoing sentiments found in [Ecclesiastes 9:2](/ecclesiastes/9-2 "Ecclesiastes 9:2 - All share the same fate"). Another key theme is **liberation from suffering and oppression**. For Job, death offers the ultimate escape from his physical agony and emotional distress, a final release from the "voice of the oppressor" mentioned in [Job 3:18](/job/3-18 "Job 3:18 - Prisoners rest from their oppressors"). This longing for rest is a profound human desire, especially for those experiencing intense pain or injustice, and is a recurring motif throughout Job's lament.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Small/Great (Hebrew: קָטֹן, _qaton_ / גָּדוֹל, _gadol_):** These terms, literally referring to size, are used metaphorically here to denote social standing and influence. "Small" refers to the humble, the lowly, the less significant in society, while "great" refers to the powerful, the wealthy, the esteemed. The juxtaposition emphasizes the leveling effect of death, where all earthly distinctions of status, power, and wealth become irrelevant.
* **Servant (Hebrew: עֶבֶד, _'eved_):** This word refers to a bondservant, slave, or one who is in a state of servitude. In ancient societies, servants were bound to their masters, often with limited rights and subject to their master's will. Their lives could be marked by hard labor, lack of autonomy, and even abuse.
* **Free (Hebrew: חָפְשִׁי, _chafshi_):** This adjective signifies being "free," "liberated," or "released." It implies a state of absolute cessation from obligation, bondage, or servitude. In the context of death, it means a complete and irreversible release from the master's authority and from the burdens of service, highlighting death as the ultimate emancipation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The small and great are there;":** This clause powerfully asserts the universal leveling effect of death. "There" refers to the grave, the realm of the dead, which Job has been describing as a place of rest and quietness (Job 3:13-18). Regardless of one's social standing, wealth, or power during life—whether "small" (insignificant, poor, lowly) or "great" (influential, rich, powerful)—all ultimately arrive at the same destination and share the same fate in death. Earthly hierarchies are rendered meaningless.
* **"and the servant [is] free from his master.":** This second clause provides a specific and poignant example of the universal equality and liberation found in death. For the servant, whose life was defined by obligation, submission, and often toil under another's authority, death represents the ultimate and undeniable release. The bond of servitude is irrevocably broken, and the servant is "free" from the master's demands, control, and potential oppression. This highlights death as the final escape from all forms of earthly bondage and tyranny.

#### Literary Devices
Job 3:19 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Juxtaposition** is central, contrasting the hierarchical and often oppressive realities of life with the absolute equality and freedom imagined in death. The "small and great" and the "servant" and "master" represent opposing poles of social power, which are then brought together in the common experience of the grave. This creates a powerful image of death as an ultimate equalizer. **Symbolism** is also evident, with death symbolizing not just an end to life, but a profound state of rest, liberation, and peace from all earthly burdens and injustices. For Job, death is the ultimate **refuge**, a place where the weary find solace and the oppressed find release. The entire lament, including this verse, can also be seen as a form of **hyperbole**, as Job's despair leads him to idealize death as the only true escape from his overwhelming suffering, perhaps overlooking the theological implications of such a desire.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 3:19 offers a stark, yet profound, theological truth about the transient nature of human life and earthly distinctions. It underscores the biblical principle that all humanity stands equal before God in mortality, regardless of social status, wealth, or power. While Job's perspective is born of despair, the verse highlights a universal longing for justice and freedom from oppression, a longing that resonates deeply within the human spirit. It reminds us that our true worth is not derived from our position in society but from our inherent dignity as creations of God. This ultimate equality in death serves as a powerful critique of human pride and the often-unjust systems of the world.

* [Ecclesiastes 9:2](/ecclesiastes/9-2 "Ecclesiastes 9:2 - All share the same fate")
* [Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female in Christ")
* [Revelation 14:13](/revelation/14-13 "Revelation 14:13 - Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 3:19, though spoken from a place of profound suffering and a desire for cessation, offers a sobering and liberating truth: in the face of mortality, all human distinctions crumble. This perspective can serve as a powerful reminder for us today to re-evaluate what we truly value. If earthly status, wealth, or power are ultimately temporary and rendered meaningless in death, then our focus should shift to what truly endures—our character, our relationships, and our spiritual standing before God. For those who feel oppressed, marginalized, or burdened by the injustices of life, Job's words, while not advocating for death, acknowledge the deep human yearning for release and rest. It encourages us to cultivate empathy for those who suffer and to work towards justice in this life, recognizing that God sees and values all equally, regardless of their "small" or "great" status in the eyes of the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the idea of "equality in death" challenge your perspective on earthly achievements and social status?**
* **In what ways might the longing for "freedom from masters" resonate with modern forms of oppression or bondage (e.g., addiction, debt, societal expectations)?**
* **How can reflecting on the transient nature of life motivate you to live more purposefully and justly in the present?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 3:19 imply that death is always a desirable escape from suffering?**

Answer: Not necessarily. Job 3:19 reflects Job's *desperate perspective* in a moment of extreme suffering, where he views death as the only viable escape from his unbearable pain and injustice. It's a statement born of profound lament and a longing for rest, not a theological endorsement of death as universally desirable or an advocacy for suicide. The Bible presents death as the consequence of sin ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death")) and an enemy to be conquered ([1 Corinthians 15:26](/1_corinthians/15-26 "1 Corinthians 15:26 - The last enemy to be destroyed is death")). Job's words here are an expression of raw human anguish, not a prescriptive theological statement for all circumstances.

**What does "there" refer to in "The small and great are there"?**

Answer: In the context of Job 3, "there" refers to the realm of the dead, often understood as Sheol or the grave. Job has been describing this place in the preceding verses (Job 3:13-18) as a place of quietness, rest, and cessation from trouble. It is a metaphorical space where the wicked cease their troubling, the weary find rest, and prisoners are free from their oppressors. So, "there" signifies the ultimate destination for all humanity, where earthly distinctions and struggles are left behind.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 3:19 expresses a profound human longing for rest and liberation from the burdens of life and the injustices of social hierarchy, its ultimate fulfillment and hope are found in Christ. Job's vision of death as an equalizer points to a truth that finds its ultimate expression in the gospel: in Christ, earthly distinctions are abolished, and all are made one. As [Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female in Christ") declares, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Christ's death on the cross was the ultimate act of liberation, freeing humanity not merely from earthly masters, but from the bondage of sin and death itself ([Romans 8:2](/romans/8-2 "Romans 8:2 - The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death")). Furthermore, the rest that Job desperately sought in the grave is profoundly realized in the "rest" offered by Jesus to those who are weary and burdened ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest")). For believers, death is not merely a cessation, but a transition to eternal rest and fellowship with the Lord, where all tears are wiped away and there is no more pain or sorrow ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - God will wipe away every tear")). Thus, the freedom and equality Job yearned for in the grave are fully and eternally realized through Christ's victory over death and His promise of resurrection and new life.

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

Job 30:23

For I know [that] thou wilt bring me [to] death, and [to] the house appointed for all living.

Hebrews 9:27

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Ecclesiastes 8:8

[There is] no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither [hath he] power in the day of death: and [there is] no discharge in [that] war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Luke 16:22

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

Luke 16:23

And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Psalms 49:6

¶ They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;