Job 7:21

KJV

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].

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 7:21 encapsulates the profound anguish of a man brought to the brink of despair, as he pleads with God for the cessation of his suffering through divine forgiveness and the release of death. Convinced of his imminent demise, Job confronts God with a poignant question regarding divine justice, expressing a deep longing for reconciliation and an end to his torment, believing that soon he will be beyond God's reach in the grave.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the climactic conclusion of Job's first extended lament and direct address to God, immediately following the initial, somewhat unsympathetic counsel from Eliphaz in [Job 4](/job/4 "Job 4 - Eliphaz's First Speech") and [Job 5](/job/5 "Job 5 - Eliphaz Continues"). Chapter 7 itself is a profound outpouring of Job's misery, detailing his sleepless nights, the relentless physical pain, his utter loathing of life, and his perception of God as a relentless watchman rather than a compassionate Father. He feels like a target of divine scrutiny and a fleeting breath, and his plea in [Job 7:21](/job/7-21 "Job 7:21 - Job's Plea for Pardon") is the culmination of this desperate cry, delivered just before Zophar's harsh and dogmatic response in [Job 11](/job/11 "Job 11 - Zophar's First Speech"). It powerfully highlights the escalating tension between Job's perceived innocence and his overwhelming suffering, setting the stage for the deeper theological debates that follow.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Book of Job is set in the land of Uz, a region likely located east of Edom, suggesting a patriarchal, pre-Mosaic period. The cultural backdrop involves a deep-seated belief in divine retribution, where suffering is directly linked to sin—a premise that the book ultimately challenges and deconstructs. The concept of "dust" as the final resting place for humanity is a common ancient Near Eastern motif, reflecting a widespread understanding of human mortality and transience, albeit with a limited understanding of the afterlife compared to later biblical revelation. Job's interaction with God, though remarkably bold and questioning, still operates within a theological framework where divine authority is acknowledged, even if its actions are incomprehensible to him. His friends represent the conventional wisdom of their time, emphasizing piety and the consequences of transgression, against which Job vehemently struggles.
* **Key Themes:** [Job 7:21](/job/7-21 "Job 7:21 - Job's Desperate Plea") powerfully encapsulates several core themes that permeate the entire Book of Job. It underscores the profound **problem of suffering**, particularly for the righteous, as Job grapples with an inexplicable affliction that seems disproportionate to any sin he believes he has committed. His plea for pardon, even while asserting his innocence, reveals the complex theme of **humanity's relationship with God**—a relationship marked by both reverence and profound, agonizing questioning. The verse also highlights the **brevity and fragility of human life**, a recurring motif throughout Job's laments, as seen in passages like [Job 14:1-2](/job/14-1-2 "Job 14:1-2 - The Frailty of Man"). Furthermore, it touches upon the **limitations of human understanding** regarding divine providence, as Job struggles to reconcile his pain with God's justice and goodness, a struggle that anticipates God's majestic and humbling revelation in [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God Answers Job") through [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - The Leviathan").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Transgression (Hebrew, _peshaʻ_):** This term (פֶּשַׁע, H6588) denotes a rebellion, a revolt, or a deliberate breach of a covenant or relationship. It implies a conscious act of defiance or a serious offense against authority. Job's use of this word suggests that even in his assertion of innocence, he considers the possibility that his suffering might be a consequence of some profound, perhaps unknown, act of rebellion on his part, or he is challenging God to reveal such a transgression. It's a strong word, indicating a break in relationship or a revolt against divine order.
* **Iniquity (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn_):** This word (עָוֹן, H5771) refers to perversity, moral evil, or the guilt and punishment associated with sin. Unlike _peshaʻ_, which emphasizes the act of rebellion, _ʻâvôn_ often points to the crookedness or distortion of character that leads to sin, or the resulting guilt and its consequences. By pairing _peshaʻ_ and _ʻâvôn_, Job expresses a comprehensive desire for the removal of both active wrongdoing and any inherent moral defect or its resulting punishment, seeking a complete release from whatever might be causing his perceived divine judgment.
* **Dust (Hebrew, _ʻâphâr_):** The term (עָפָר, H6083) literally means dry earth or dust. In biblical literature, "dust" is a powerful and recurrent symbol of human mortality and transience, recalling humanity's creation from dust and its inevitable return to it upon death, as stated in [Genesis 3:19](/genesis/3-19 "Genesis 3:19 - Return to Dust"). Job's declaration, "I shall sleep in the dust," is a common euphemism for death, emphasizing the finality and physical decomposition associated with the grave, where the body returns to its elemental components.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity?"**: This clause is a direct, almost confrontational, rhetorical question posed to God. Job, despite his consistent protestations of innocence regarding specific sins, yearns for an end to his suffering, which he implicitly links to some form of divine judgment or unaddressed sin. He is asking why God, who possesses the ultimate power to forgive and remove guilt, has not yet done so, thereby ending his torment. This desperate plea reveals a deep-seated human desire for reconciliation and release from the burden of perceived sin or its consequences, even if the sin is unknown to him.
* **"for now shall I sleep in the dust;"**: This clause expresses Job's profound conviction of his imminent death. "Sleeping in the dust" is a vivid and common biblical metaphor for dying and being buried, emphasizing the cessation of earthly life and the physical return of the body to the earth. Job believes his end is near, adding immense urgency and desperation to his plea for divine intervention before it is too late, portraying death as a final, irreversible rest from his earthly woes.
* **"and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I [shall] not [be]."**: This poignant statement conveys Job's belief in the absolute finality and permanence of his impending death. He imagines God searching for him, perhaps to offer comfort or resolution, only to find him irrevocably gone, departed from the land of the living. This reflects a limited understanding of the afterlife prevalent in early biblical thought, where death was often seen as a permanent separation from earthly existence and, in some sense, from active communion with God. It underscores his profound sense of utter desolation and impending non-existence in the earthly realm, a mournful resignation to his perceived fate.

#### Literary Devices
Job 7:21 employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey Job's profound despair and desperate plea. The verse opens with a direct **rhetorical question**, "And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity?", which serves not only as a genuine inquiry into divine justice but also as a lament and a poignant challenge to God's perceived inaction. This question immediately establishes a tone of direct address and profound anguish. **Euphemism** is strikingly evident in the phrase "sleep in the dust," which is a gentle, yet stark, way of referring to death and burial, softening the harsh reality while still conveying its absolute finality. The imagery of God seeking Job "in the morning" but finding him "not [be]" functions as a form of **dramatic irony** from Job's limited perspective, as he imagines God's futile search, thereby underscoring his belief in his own imminent and irreversible demise. This also powerfully evokes **pathos**, drawing the reader's sympathy for Job's perceived abandonment and the tragic finality he anticipates for his earthly existence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 7:21 stands as a profound testament to the human struggle with inexplicable suffering and the perceived silence of God. It highlights the deeply ingrained human longing for forgiveness and reconciliation, even when one feels unjustly afflicted. Job's plea for pardon, despite his insistence on his righteousness, demonstrates a foundational understanding of God's ultimate authority over life and death, and His sovereign power to remit sin. This verse also foreshadows the broader theological exploration within the book concerning the nature of divine justice and the inadequacy of a simple retributional theology to explain all suffering. While Job's immediate focus is on earthly cessation, his cry for the removal of "transgression" and "iniquity" resonates with the universal human need for atonement and cleansing, a need ultimately met in God's redemptive plan.

* [Psalm 32:5](/psalm/32-5 "Psalm 32:5 - Confession and Forgiveness")
* [Psalm 90:3](/psalm/90-3 "Psalm 90:3 - Return to Dust")
* [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant's Atonement")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job's raw and honest lament in Job 7:21 offers a profound space for reflection on our own experiences of suffering, doubt, and the deep human desire for resolution. It validates the human tendency to question God in the midst of pain, reminding us that faith does not always mean the absence of struggle or confusion. Job, in his utter despair, still turns directly to God, acknowledging His supreme power to pardon and to end life. This invites us to bring our deepest pains, our most challenging questions, and our sense of injustice directly to the Lord, trusting in His ultimate sovereignty and compassion, even when His ways are beyond our comprehension. For believers today, while our understanding of the afterlife is far richer than Job's, his yearning for an end to suffering and for divine forgiveness points us to the ultimate hope found in Christ, who has conquered death and offers complete pardon, transforming our "sleep in the dust" into a glorious awakening.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you reconcile Job's plea for forgiveness with his consistent assertion of innocence throughout the book?**
* **In what ways does Job's limited understanding of the afterlife impact the urgency and nature of his plea in this verse?**
* **When you face intense suffering, do you feel comfortable expressing raw, honest questions and laments to God, as Job does? Why or why not?**
* **How does the hope of Christ's resurrection transform the "sleep in the dust" for believers today?**

### FAQ
**Does Job truly believe he is guilty of a transgression, or is he simply desperate for his suffering to end?**

Answer: Job's plea to "pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity" in [Job 7:21](/job/7-21 "Job 7:21 - Job's Plea for Pardon") is complex and nuanced. Throughout the Book of Job, he vehemently maintains his righteousness and innocence concerning any specific sin that would warrant his immense suffering. He repeatedly challenges God to show him his sin (e.g., [Job 10:2](/job/10-2 "Job 10:2 - Job's Challenge to God")). Therefore, his words here are most likely not an admission of guilt for a known sin, but rather a desperate, almost rhetorical, appeal born out of his profound confusion and agony. He is essentially saying, "If there is *any* sin, known or unknown, that is causing this relentless suffering, why don't You just forgive it and end my misery?" It reflects his deep confusion and his desire for *any* explanation or resolution, even if it means hypothetically accepting a guilt he doesn't feel. Ultimately, it is a plea for divine action to alleviate his pain, whether through forgiveness or by simply ending his life, rather than an acknowledgment of specific wrongdoing.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job's desperate cry for pardon and an end to his suffering in [Job 7:21](/job/7-21 "Job 7:21 - Job's Plea for Pardon") finds its ultimate, glorious fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Job, longing for a mediator and a redeemer who could stand between him and God ([Job 9:33](/job/9-33 "Job 9:33 - Job's Desire for a Mediator")), unknowingly yearned for the one who would become our great High Priest. The "transgression" and "iniquity" that Job desired to be taken away, though he claimed innocence for himself, represent the universal human condition of sin that separates all humanity from a holy God. Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), perfectly bore the iniquity of us all, suffering on the cross to "take away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His atoning sacrifice provides the complete pardon and cleansing that Job could only desperately wish for. Furthermore, Job's anticipation of "sleep[ing] in the dust" and not being found speaks to the finality of death in his limited understanding. However, Christ's resurrection from the grave fundamentally transforms this reality. Through His victory over death, those who believe in Him do not "sleep in the dust" eternally, but are promised a glorious resurrection and eternal life, for "Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" ([1_corinthians/15-20](/1-corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ is Risen")). Jesus is the one who was sought and found, not in the dust of the grave, but alive, offering hope beyond the grave and the ultimate answer to suffering and sin, ushering believers into an eternal presence with God where there will be no more pain or tears ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Tears")).

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

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.