Job 3:21

KJV

Which long for death, but it [cometh] not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

KJV (with Strong's)

Which long {H2442} for death {H4194}, but it cometh not; and dig {H2658} for it more than for hid treasures {H4301};

Complete Jewish Bible

They long for death, but it never comes; they search for it more than for buried treasure;

Berean Standard Bible

who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,

American Standard Version

Who long for death, but it cometh not, And dig for it more than for hid treasures;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 3:21 encapsulates the profound depth of Job's despair, where the cessation of existence is longed for with an intensity surpassing the pursuit of the most coveted earthly treasures. Following a series of unimaginable losses—his children, wealth, and health—Job breaks his seven-day silence with a bitter lament, articulating a desperate yearning for death as the ultimate refuge from his excruciating physical and emotional torment, yet even this desired release is agonizingly withheld.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 3:21 is a pivotal statement within Job's initial, extensive lament, which commences in [Job 3:1](/job/3-1 "Job 3 - Job's Bitter Lament"). This chapter marks a dramatic shift from Job's earlier, almost stoic, acceptance of his suffering, famously articulated in [Job 1:21](/job/1-21 "Job 1:21 - Job's Initial Submission") ("The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord"). After seven days of silent mourning shared with his friends, Job's anguish erupts in a curse against the day of his birth, expressing a fervent wish that he had never been born or had died at birth. Verses 11-19 detail his desire for the peace found in the grave, a place where the wicked cease troubling and the weary are at rest, a theme powerfully echoed in [Job 3:13](/job/3-13 "Job 3:13 - Job's Wish for Rest in Death") ("For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest"). Verse 21 intensifies this longing, portraying death not merely as an escape but as a desperately sought, yet cruelly denied, treasure.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, lamentation was a recognized and often public form of expressing profound grief and suffering, frequently directed towards the deity. Job's lament fits within this cultural tradition, though its intensity and directness are remarkably striking. The concept of "hid treasures" (Hebrew: *maṭmônîm*) refers to wealth, often gold, silver, or precious jewels, buried in the ground for safekeeping during times of war, invasion, or instability. Unearthing such treasures was a common metaphor for diligent and arduous searching for something of immense value, as seen in [Proverbs 2:4](/proverbs/2-4 "Proverbs 2:4 - Searching for Wisdom as for Hidden Treasures"). Job's statement therefore highlights an extreme inversion of values: for him, death, or non-existence, has become more desirable and worthy of strenuous pursuit than the greatest earthly riches.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully illustrates the theme of **profound human despair** in the face of overwhelming suffering, where life itself becomes an unbearable burden and death is perceived as the ultimate, albeit elusive, relief. It underscores the **limits of human endurance** and the raw, unvarnished cries for cessation of pain that can arise from deep anguish. The striking metaphor of valuing death above "hid treasures" introduces the theme of **inverted values**, demonstrating how extreme torment can warp one's perspective on life's most fundamental desires, making what is naturally feared into what is most coveted. Furthermore, it subtly touches upon the **mystery of suffering** and the **sovereignty of God**, as Job's desired release is withheld, highlighting that even the timing of death is not within human control, but ultimately rests in divine hands, as explored throughout the book of [Job](/job/1 "The Book of Job").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **long (Hebrew, _châkâh'_):** A primitive root meaning "to wait eagerly," "to hope," or "to expect." In this context, it conveys an active, intense, and desperate anticipation rather than a passive wish. It suggests a yearning that consumes Job, a fervent desire for something that remains just out of reach, thereby intensifying his torment. This word implies a persistent, almost obsessive, waiting.
* **dig (Hebrew, _châphar'_):** A primitive root meaning "to pry into," "to delve," or "to explore." This word emphasizes the strenuous, deliberate, and painstaking effort involved in seeking out something valuable. It reinforces the idea that Job is not merely wishing for death but is actively and desperately pursuing it, as if it were the most precious and elusive commodity, requiring immense exertion to uncover. It speaks to a determined, laborious search.
* **hid treasures (Hebrew, _maṭmôwn'_):** This noun refers to a secret storehouse or, concretely, a secreted valuable (often buried). It generally denotes money or riches that are hidden. The pursuit of such treasures was a highly motivated and often dangerous endeavor in the ancient world, promising immense reward. By comparing his longing for death to the diligent search for these treasures, Job underscores the extraordinary and desperate value he places on the cessation of his existence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Which long for death":** This clause immediately establishes the core of Job's anguish: a profound and active yearning for death. It is not a casual thought but a deep, consuming desire for the ultimate escape from his unbearable suffering. This longing represents the complete reversal of the natural human instinct for self-preservation and a desperate cry for release from his torment.
* **"but it [cometh] not":** This short, poignant phrase highlights the agonizing reality of Job's situation. The very thing he longs for most desperately—the end of his torment through death—is denied him. This denial exacerbates his suffering, trapping him in a cycle of pain without the desired release, adding a layer of cruel irony and profound frustration to his plight.
* **"and dig for it more than for hid treasures":** This powerful metaphor vividly illustrates the extreme intensity and inversion of Job's values. In a culture where the discovery of hidden wealth was the epitome of good fortune and diligent pursuit, Job declares that his desire for death surpasses even this. He would expend more effort, more fervent searching, for death than for the greatest earthly riches, underscoring the overwhelming nature of his torment and his desperate need for oblivion.

#### Literary Devices
Job 3:21 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the depth of his despair. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, where Job's longing for death is equated with "digging for hid treasures." This comparison is not literal but draws a striking parallel between the intense human pursuit of wealth and Job's equally intense, yet tragically inverted, pursuit of non-existence. This is further amplified by **Hyperbole**, which exaggerates the intensity of Job's desire, emphasizing that his anguish is so absolute that his yearning for death transcends all conventional human aspirations and values. There is also a strong element of **Irony**, as the ultimate "treasure" Job seeks is not life or prosperity, but oblivion—a state typically feared or mourned by humanity. The verse functions as a key component within Job's larger **Lament**, a poetic form expressing profound sorrow, complaint, and petition, which allows him to voice his raw and unfiltered anguish to God and the world.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 3:21 offers a stark glimpse into the human experience of suffering so profound that it eclipses the natural will to live. Theologically, it confronts us with the reality of despair within a biblical framework, reminding us that even the most righteous individuals can reach a point of such agony where death seems preferable to life. This verse challenges simplistic notions of faith as always leading to joy and contentment, revealing the raw, honest cries of a soul in torment. It implicitly raises questions about the nature of divine sovereignty and human free will, as Job's desired release is withheld, underscoring that the timing and manner of life and death ultimately rest in God's hands, not our own.

* [Psalm 88:3-4](/psalms/88-3-4 "Psalm 88:3-4 - A Man at the Brink of Death")
* [Ecclesiastes 9:4](/ecclesiastes/9-4 "Ecclesiastes 9:4 - Life Preferred Over Death")
* [Revelation 9:6](/revelation/9-6 "Revelation 9:6 - People Seeking Death but Not Finding It")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 3:21 serves as a powerful reminder of the crushing weight of profound despair and the desperate cries it can elicit from the human heart. It calls us to cultivate deep empathy for those enduring extreme physical, emotional, or spiritual suffering, recognizing that their longing for an end to pain, even through death, is a genuine expression of their agony, not necessarily a lack of faith. This verse challenges us to move beyond superficial comfort and to simply be present with those who suffer, listening without judgment and acknowledging the reality of their pain. It underscores the limits of human endurance and the crucial need for compassion, understanding, and sustained support for those navigating the darkest valleys of life. Ultimately, while Job's lament is a cry for oblivion, the broader narrative of the book points to the enduring hope found in God's ultimate sovereignty and wisdom, even when His ways are inscrutable and His purposes hidden.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Job's lament challenge our understanding of what it means to be faithful in suffering?**
* **What is our responsibility when encountering those who express such profound despair or a longing for death?**
* **How does the Christian hope, rooted in resurrection, differ from Job's longing for oblivion as an escape from pain?**

### FAQ

**Is it sinful to wish for death when suffering?**

Answer: Job 3:21 reflects a raw, honest expression of profound human despair, not necessarily a sinful rejection of God. The Bible frequently records the laments of righteous individuals (e.g., Elijah in [1 Kings 19:4](/1_kings/19-4 "1 Kings 19:4 - Elijah's Despair"), Jeremiah in [Jeremiah 20:14-18](/jeremiah/20-14-18 "Jeremiah 20:14-18 - Jeremiah's Lament")). These are cries for relief from unbearable pain, not typically a deliberate act of rebellion against God's will. God understands human frailty and the limits of endurance, as [Psalm 103:14](/psalms/103-14 "Psalm 103:14 - God Knows Our Frame") reminds us, "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." While the Christian hope points to life, acknowledging and processing such deep grief is a part of the human experience, and God is compassionate towards those in such distress.

**How does Job's desire for death relate to the ancient Israelite concept of Sheol?**

Answer: Job's longing for death and the rest it might bring aligns with the ancient Israelite understanding of Sheol as the common destination for all the dead—a shadowy, silent realm where earthly activity ceases. For Job, death is not a transition to a vibrant afterlife, but a cessation of consciousness and pain, a place of quiet and stillness, as he articulates in verses like [Job 3:13](/job/3-13 "Job 3:13 - Job's Wish for Rest in Death") and [Job 3:17-19](/job/3-17-19 "Job 3:17-19 - The Rest of the Grave"). He seeks the "rest" of the grave, a release from his torment, which is consistent with the pre-resurrection understanding of Sheol as a place where the weary are at peace and the wicked cease troubling. His desire is for oblivion from suffering, rather than a conscious existence elsewhere, reflecting the common ancient Near Eastern perspective on the afterlife.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate longing for death in [Job 3:21](/job/3-21 "Job 3:21 - Job's Longing for Death") foreshadows, in a profoundly inverted way, the ultimate reality of suffering and its resolution found in Jesus Christ. While Job sought death as an escape into oblivion, Christ embraced death on the cross, not as an escape, but as an act of redemptive love to conquer suffering and death itself. Jesus, the Suffering Servant, truly knew what it meant to be "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")), and His cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")), echoes the depths of Job's despair, yet with a divine purpose. Through Christ's death and resurrection, the meaning of death is transformed from a feared end or a desired oblivion into a passage to eternal life. For the believer, death is no longer a final defeat but a transition into the glorious presence of God, where "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain" ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Pain or Death")). Thus, the true rest and ultimate treasure Job desperately sought are found not in the grave, but in union with the resurrected Christ, who declares, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" ([John 11:25-26](/john/11-25-26 "John 11:25-26 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")). For the Christian, to "live is Christ, and to die is gain" ([Philippians 1:21](/philippians/1-21 "Philippians 1:21 - To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain")), offering a hope far beyond Job's anguished cry for mere cessation.

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 9:6

And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

Proverbs 2:4

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures;

Jonah 4:3

Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for [it is] better for me to die than to live.

Jonah 4:8

And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, [It is] better for me to die than to live.

Numbers 11:15

And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

1 Kings 19:4

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I [am] not better than my fathers.