Job 33:22

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

Yea, his soul {H5315} draweth near {H7126} unto the grave {H7845}, and his life {H2416} to the destroyers {H4191}.

His soul comes close to the pit and his life to those who bring death.

He draws near to the Pit, and his life to the messengers of death.

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers.

Context

Job 33:22 is part of Elihu's first speech to Job, found in chapters 32-37 of the Book of Job. Elihu, a younger man, steps forward to offer a perspective distinct from Job's three friends, who insist Job's suffering is solely due to his sin. Elihu argues that God's ways are just and that suffering is not always punitive; it can also be corrective, a means of divine discipline, instruction, or even a preventative measure to keep a person from greater sin. In the verses leading up to this one (Job 33:19-21), Elihu describes a person afflicted with severe pain and illness, a state of profound physical deterioration. This verse vividly portrays the individual's dire condition, teetering on the very edge of death, setting the stage for Elihu's subsequent explanation of God's redemptive purpose in such affliction.

Key Themes

  • The Brink of Death: The verse powerfully conveys the fragility of human life and the inevitable approach of mortality. The individual is depicted as being at death's door, a common human experience.
  • Divine Discipline and Purpose in Suffering: Elihu's broader argument is that even such extreme suffering, bringing one close to death, can be part of God's gracious plan to draw a person back to Him or to refine their character. It is not necessarily punitive but formative. This aligns with his message that God "opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction" through affliction (Job 33:16).
  • The Agents of Destruction: The "destroyers" refer to the forces or agents that bring about physical decay and death, whether they are diseases, natural processes, or even spiritual entities permitted by God to humble or test an individual.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Grave" (Hebrew: sheol - שְׁאוֹל): The Hebrew word sheol refers to the realm of the dead, the underworld, or the common abode of departed spirits. It signifies not just a physical burial place but the state of being dead or the destination of all humanity after death. To "draw near unto the grave" means to be on the verge of entering this state.
  • "Destroyers" (Hebrew: m'chabbalim - מְחַבְּלִים): This term literally means "spoilers," "corruptors," or "destroyers." It suggests active agents of ruin or decay. In this context, it could refer to the ravages of disease, the forces of death, or even spiritual beings (like angels of judgment or destruction) that carry out God's purposes in bringing a person to such a low state.

Related Scriptures

Elihu's perspective offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that God's ultimate purpose is not destruction but redemption. This suffering is part of a process that can lead to repentance and restoration, as seen in Job 33:28, where the afflicted person is delivered from the pit and experiences new life. The concept of sheol is also explored in other parts of Scripture, emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty over it, as in Psalm 16:10, which speaks of the soul not being left in hell (Sheol). The brevity and fragility of human life are also highlighted in verses like Psalm 90:10.

Practical Application

Job 33:22, while describing a dire situation, serves as a poignant reminder of human mortality and the reality of suffering. For believers, it offers a framework through which to understand hardship: God can use even the most severe trials to draw us closer to Him, to refine our faith, or to reveal hidden truths. When we feel our "soul draweth near unto the grave," it can be an invitation to deeper introspection, repentance, and reliance on God's grace. It underscores the truth that even at our lowest points, there is potential for divine intervention and restoration, a testament to God's desire for our spiritual well-being over our physical comfort alone.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Samuel 24:16

    And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

  • Acts 12:23

    And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

  • 1 Samuel 2:6

    The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

  • Job 15:21

    A dreadful sound [is] in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

  • Revelation 9:11

    And they had a king over them, [which is] the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue [is] Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath [his] name Apollyon.

  • Job 17:1

    ¶ My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves [are ready] for me.

  • Job 7:7

    ¶ O remember that my life [is] wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

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