Job 24:19

Drought and heat consume the snow waters: [so doth] the grave [those which] have sinned.

Drought {H6723} and heat {H2527} consume {H1497} the snow {H7950} waters {H4325}: so doth the grave {H7585} those which have sinned {H2398}.

may drought and heat steal away their snow water and Sh'ol those who have sinned.

As drought and heat consume the melting snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned.

Drought and heat consume the snow waters: So dothSheolthose thathave sinned.

Commentary

Context

Job 24 is part of Job's third cycle of speeches, where he continues to grapple with the perplexing question of divine justice. Throughout this chapter, Job laments the apparent prosperity and impunity of the wicked, describing various acts of oppression, theft, and violence that go unpunished in the short term. He struggles to reconcile God's righteousness with the suffering of the innocent and the success of the ungodly. Verse 19 serves as a stark declaration of the ultimate, inescapable fate awaiting those who persistently sin, even if their judgment seems delayed. It's a statement about the inevitability of death and the grave as the final equalizer for all, particularly for those who have defied God.

Key Themes

  • Inevitable Judgment: The verse powerfully asserts that just as natural elements consume water, so too does the grave consume sinners. This highlights the certainty of judgment, regardless of earthly appearances or delays.
  • Mortality and Finality: It emphasizes the universal truth of death. For the wicked, the grave marks the end of their earthly defiance and the beginning of accountability, contrasting with the fleeting nature of their perceived success.
  • Consequences of Sin: While Job often questions the immediate consequences, this verse affirms that sin ultimately leads to a definitive end and a reckoning. It echoes the broader biblical principle that "the wages of sin is death".
  • Divine Justice (Ultimate): Despite Job's personal struggle with the problem of evil, this verse underscores the belief that God's justice will ultimately prevail, even if it is enacted through the finality of death.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV text uses a vivid simile: "Drought and heat consume the snow waters: [so doth] the grave [those which] have sinned."

  • "Drought and heat consume": The Hebrew words for "drought" (ืฆึดื™ึผึธื” - tsiyyah) and "heat" (ื—ึนื - chom) vividly describe parching, destructive forces. The verb "consume" (ื™ึดื’ึฐื–ึฐืœื•ึผ - yigzelu) implies a forceful taking away, a stripping bare, much like a robber (which is another common meaning of the root). This imagery emphasizes the absolute and undeniable nature of the grave's power.
  • "Snow waters": (ืžึตื™ ืฉึถืืœึถื’ - mei sheleg) represents a temporary, fleeting source of refreshment and life, easily evaporated and gone. This metaphor highlights the transient nature of human life and earthly achievements, especially for those who live in sin.
  • "The grave": The Hebrew word here is ืฉึฐืืื•ึนืœ (Sheol). In the Old Testament, Sheol refers to the common realm of the dead, the underworld. While it's a destination for all, the context here implies it is a place of ultimate judgment and oblivion for the wicked, where their earthly power and influence cease entirely. This contrasts with the New Testament understanding of death for believers, who have victory over the grave through Christ.

Practical Application

Job 24:19 serves as a sobering reminder of the universal reality of death and the ultimate consequences of a life lived in opposition to God. For those who feel disheartened by the apparent success of the wicked, this verse offers a perspective of ultimate justice: no one escapes the grave, and for the sinner, it signifies the end of their earthly rebellion. It encourages believers to trust in God's perfect timing and ultimate judgment, knowing that true justice will prevail, even if it is not always immediately evident. This verse also prompts introspection, urging everyone to consider their own mortality and eternal destiny, aligning their lives with God's will before the finality of the grave.

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Cross-References

  • Job 21:13 (3 votes)

    They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.

  • Psalms 49:14 (3 votes)

    Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

  • Luke 16:22 (3 votes)

    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 12:20 (2 votes)

    But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

  • Proverbs 14:32 (2 votes)

    ยถ The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:4 (2 votes)

    ยถ For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:6 (2 votes)

    Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done under the sun.