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Job 3:17

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There the wicked cease [from] troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

There the wicked {H7563} cease {H2308} from troubling {H7267}; and there the weary {H3019}{H3581} be at rest {H5117}.

"There the wicked cease their raging, there the weary are at rest,

There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest.

There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary are at rest.

Commentary

Job 3:17 encapsulates a profound expression of Job's desperate longing for peace and relief from his immense suffering. After enduring the catastrophic loss of his children, wealth, and health, Job curses the day of his birth and yearns for the quietude of death, portraying it as the ultimate escape from the world's afflictions.

Context of Job 3:17

This verse is part of Job's initial lament in Chapter 3, where he articulates his profound despair and wishes he had never been born or had died at birth. He imagines death not as an end, but as a place of serene refuge, contrasting sharply with his current torment. His desire for death is not an act of rebellion against God, but a raw cry for cessation of his overwhelming pain and physical affliction.

Meaning and Key Themes

  • Cessation of Oppression: Job envisions death as a state where "the wicked cease from troubling." This speaks to a release from the relentless harassment, injustice, and strife caused by evil people or forces. It’s a yearning for a world where the oppressor loses their power and influence.
  • Rest for the Weary: The phrase "the weary be at rest" powerfully conveys the desire for profound peace after exhaustive suffering. It highlights the longing for relief from physical toil, emotional distress, and spiritual anguish that burden the living.
  • Ultimate Peace: From Job's perspective in his lament, death offers a final, undisturbed repose, free from the anxieties and turmoil of life. It is presented as a neutral, peaceful state where all earthly distinctions and struggles are dissolved.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "troubling" is ragaz (רָגַז), which implies agitation, disturbance, or trembling. It conveys the idea of being constantly harassed or vexed. "Weary" comes from yagea' (יָגֵעַ), signifying exhaustion from labor or trouble. The term "rest" is nuach (נוּחַ), meaning to settle down, be quiet, or find repose. Together, these words paint a vivid picture of the profound relief Job seeks from a life filled with disturbing and exhausting trials.

Cross-References and Connections

While Job's lament reflects a pre-resurrection understanding of death, his yearning for rest resonates with universal human experience. The concept of ultimate rest and the cessation of suffering finds its complete fulfillment in God's eternal plan, where believers anticipate a future of no more tears, pain, or death in the new heaven and new earth. The Bible also speaks of God's people entering into His rest (Hebrews 4:9), a spiritual repose available even now, and fully realized in eternity.

Practical Application

Job 3:17 reminds us that everyone, at some point, yearns for relief from life's burdens. It validates the human desire for peace in the face of overwhelming adversity and oppression. For believers, this verse can offer a poignant reflection on the temporary nature of suffering and the glorious promise of eternal rest and peace in God's presence. It encourages us to trust in a sovereign God who ultimately brings justice and provides true rest for the weary soul, even when circumstances seem unbearable.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 14:13 (5 votes)

    ¶ And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

  • Job 17:16 (4 votes)

    They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when [our] rest together [is] in the dust.

  • Job 14:13 (3 votes)

    O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

  • Hebrews 4:9 (3 votes)

    There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

  • Isaiah 57:1 (3 votes)

    ¶ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth [it] to heart: and merciful men [are] taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].

  • Isaiah 57:2 (3 votes)

    He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, [each one] walking [in] his uprightness.

  • Hebrews 4:11 (3 votes)

    ¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.