The big picture
Job 21 opens in verse 1 with “But Job answered and said,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon…”, and closes in verse 34 with “How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?” Repeated or prominent terms include wicked, destruction, know, Almighty, children. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Job · King James Version · 34Job 21:1-7
1–7: Job answered and said,
Job 21:1–7 opens with “But Job answered and said,” and reaches “Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 21 develops its own movement around wicked, destruction, know, Almighty, children, with particular weight carried by afraid, astonished, become.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Job 21:1-7
King James Version1But Job answered and said,
2Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Job 21:8-14
8–14: Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring…
Job 21:8–14 opens with “Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.” and reaches “Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 21 develops its own movement around wicked, destruction, know, Almighty, children, with particular weight carried by bull, calf, calveth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.” Naming Their keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Job 21:8-14
King James Version8Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Job 21:15-21
15–21: What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should…
Job 21:15–21 opens with “What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto…” and reaches “For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 21 develops its own movement around wicked, destruction, know, Almighty, children, with particular weight carried by Almighty, destruction, wicked.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Job 21:15-21
King James Version15What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
18They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
19God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.
20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
Job 21:22-28
22–28: Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
Job 21:22–28 opens with “Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.” and reaches “For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 21 develops its own movement around wicked, destruction, know, Almighty, children, with particular weight carried by dieth, full, alike.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Job 21:22-28
King James Version22Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
23One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
26They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
27Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
Job 21:29-34
29–34: Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their…
Job 21:29–34 opens with “Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,” and reaches “How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Job 21 develops its own movement around wicked, destruction, know, Almighty, children, with particular weight carried by answers, asked, clods.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 4 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Job 21:29-34
King James Version29Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
30That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Job 21:1 begins with “But Job answered and said,”
Where the chapter turns
Job 21:15 forms a natural hinge: “What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?”
The final note
Job 21:34 leaves the reader with “How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?”
A word trail through the chapter
The words wicked, destruction, know, Almighty, children, dieth help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How is God's faithfulness shown in both halves of the family?
Isaac is born as promised, and Ishmael is heard and preserved with a future of his own.
Why does a well deserve narrative space?
Water sustains life and makes residence possible in a land Abraham does not yet own.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.