Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The small and the great are there, and the slaves are freed from their owners. New Living Translation Rich and poor are both there, and the slave is free from his master. English Standard Version The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master. Berean Standard Bible Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master. King James Bible The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. New King James Version The small and great are there, And the servant is free from his master. New American Standard Bible “The small and the great are there, And the slave is free from his master. NASB 1995 “The small and the great are there, And the slave is free from his master. NASB 1977 “The small and the great are there, And the slave is free from his master. Legacy Standard Bible The small and the great are there, And the slave is free from his master. Amplified Bible “The small and the great are there, And the servant is free from his master. Christian Standard Bible Both small and great are there, and the slave is set free from his master. Holman Christian Standard Bible Both small and great are there, and the slave is set free from his master. American Standard Version The small and the great are there: And the servant is free from his master. Contemporary English Version where captives and slaves are free at last. English Revised Version The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. GOD'S WORD® Translation There [you find] both the unimportant and important people. There the slave is free from his master. Good News Translation Everyone is there, the famous and the unknown, and slaves at last are free. International Standard Version The unimportant and the important are both there, and the servant is free from his master. NET Bible Small and great are there, and the slave is free from his master. New Heart English Bible The small and the great are there. The servant is free from his master. Webster's Bible Translation The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBoth small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master. World English Bible The small and the great are there. The servant is free from his master. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSmall and great [are] the same there. And a servant [is] free from his lord. Young's Literal Translation Small and great are there the same. And a servant is free from his lord. Smith's Literal Translation The little and the great, he is there; and the servant being free from his lord. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master. Catholic Public Domain Version The small and great are there, and the servant is free from his master. New American Bible Small and great are there; the servant is free from the master. New Revised Standard Version The small and the great are there, and the slaves are free from their masters. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe small and the great are there; and the servant is free from his master. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated The small and the great are there, and the Servant who is freed from his Master OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917The small and great are there alike; And the servant is free from his master. Brenton Septuagint Translation The small and great are there, and the servant that feared his lord. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job Laments His Birth…18The captives enjoy their ease; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor. 19Both small and great are there, and the slave is freed from his master. 20Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul,… Cross References Ecclesiastes 9:2-3 It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow. / This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead. Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. / All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. Psalm 49:10 For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others. Psalm 49:17 For when he dies, he will carry nothing away; his abundance will not follow him down. Isaiah 14:10-11 They will all respond to you, saying, “You too have become weak, as we are; you have become like us!” / Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket. Isaiah 14:18-20 All the kings of the nations lie in state, each in his own tomb. / But you are cast out of your grave like a rejected branch, covered by those slain with the sword, and dumped into a rocky pit like a carcass trampled underfoot. / You will not join them in burial, since you have destroyed your land and slaughtered your own people. The offspring of the wicked will never again be mentioned. Ecclesiastes 6:6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place? Ecclesiastes 7:2 It is better to enter a house of mourning than a house of feasting, since death is the end of every man, and the living should take this to heart. Psalm 39:5 You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah Psalm 89:48 What man can live and never see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah Matthew 25:46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” Treasury of Scripture The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master. The small. Job 30:23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. Psalm 49:2,6-10 Both low and high, rich and poor, together… Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. and the servant. Psalm 49:14-20 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… Jump to Previous Alike Bondman Free Freed Great Master Servant Slave SmallJump to Next Alike Bondman Free Freed Great Master Servant Slave SmallJob 3 1. Job curses the day and services of his birth.13. The ease of death. 20. He complains of life, because of his anguish. Both small and great are there This phrase highlights the universality of death, a theme prevalent throughout the book of Job. In the context of Job's lament, he is expressing the idea that death is the great equalizer, where social status, wealth, and power hold no significance. This reflects the biblical teaching found in Ecclesiastes 3:20, where it is stated that all go to the same place. Historically, ancient Near Eastern cultures, including those surrounding Job's time, often viewed the afterlife as a place where earthly distinctions were erased. This concept is echoed in the New Testament, where Galatians 3:28 speaks of the equality of all in Christ, transcending social and economic barriers. and the slave is freed from his master Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man of great faith and integrity, Job is the central figure in the Book of Job. He experiences profound suffering and questions the meaning of life and justice. 2. The Grave (Sheol) In the context of Job 3:19, the grave is depicted as a place where earthly distinctions and hierarchies are nullified. It is a common theme in ancient Near Eastern literature, representing the final resting place for all, regardless of status. 3. Slaves and Masters This verse references the social structure of the time, where slavery was a common practice. The mention of slaves being freed in death highlights the theme of equality in the afterlife. Teaching Points The Universality of DeathDeath is a universal experience that transcends social, economic, and cultural boundaries. It serves as a reminder of our shared humanity and the temporary nature of earthly distinctions. Equality Before God In death, all are equal before God. This should encourage us to treat others with respect and dignity, recognizing that earthly status holds no weight in the eyes of God. Hope Beyond Earthly Life While death is a great equalizer, Christians hold the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ. This hope should influence how we live and interact with others, focusing on eternal values rather than temporary status. Freedom in Christ The freedom mentioned in Job 3:19 can be seen as a precursor to the spiritual freedom offered in Christ. Believers are called to live in the freedom that comes from being children of God, free from the bondage of sin and societal constraints. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Job 3:19?2. How does Job 3:19 reflect the equality of all before God? 3. What can Job 3:19 teach us about earthly status and eternal rest? 4. How does Job 3:19 connect with Jesus' teachings on humility? 5. How should Job 3:19 influence our view of wealth and power? 6. How can Job 3:19 guide us in treating others with fairness? 7. How does Job 3:19 challenge the concept of social hierarchy in the afterlife? 8. What does Job 3:19 suggest about equality in death? 9. How does Job 3:19 reflect on the futility of earthly status? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Job 3? 11. What are the Courts of Heaven? 12. What occurs in 'Left Behind' after the Rapture? 13. What does 'the still small voice' mean? 14. Revelation 19:17-18 depicts a grisly feast of flesh for birds--how does this align with a compassionate God portrayed elsewhere in scripture? What Does Job 3:19 Mean Both small and great are thereJob is speaking of the grave (v. 17). In that place: • Rank and status evaporate. Kings lie beside paupers just as Psalm 49:10 observes: “The wise and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.” • Death is the great leveler, fulfilling Genesis 3:19—“for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” • Whether a life was celebrated or forgotten, every person meets the same appointment (Ecclesiastes 9:2 - 3). Job’s lament reminds us that earthly distinctions, so weighty now, hold no sway beyond the grave. and the slave is freed from his master In Sheol, oppression ceases. Notice how Job expands the thought already introduced in verse 17—“there the weary are at rest.” • The slave’s chains drop away; the whip is silenced. Isaiah 14:3-4 pictures a similar release when “the LORD gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and hard labor.” • No hierarchy survives death (Matthew 20:16). Every believer can take comfort that ultimate justice lies with God (Romans 14:9). • Job is not endorsing suicide; he is voicing anguish. The rest he pictures foreshadows the perfect freedom promised in Christ (Revelation 14:13). summary Job 3:19 captures two linked truths: death erases human status, and it ends earthly oppression. While Job speaks from deep despair, his words highlight God’s ultimate equalizing of all people and hint at the rest God provides to those who trust Him. Verse 19. - The small and great are there; i.e. "all are there, the small and great alike;" for"Omnes eodem cogimur, cranium Hebrew Both smallקָטֹ֣ן (qā·ṭōn) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant and great וְ֭גָדוֹל (wə·ḡā·ḏō·wl) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent are there, שָׁ֣ם (šām) Adverb Strong's 8033: There, then, thither and the slave וְ֝עֶ֗בֶד (wə·‘e·ḇeḏ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant is freed חָפְשִׁ֥י (ḥā·p̄ə·šî) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2670: Exempt from his master. מֵאֲדֹנָֽיו׃ (mê·’ă·ḏō·nāw) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller Links Job 3:19 NIVJob 3:19 NLT Job 3:19 ESV Job 3:19 NASB Job 3:19 KJV Job 3:19 BibleApps.com Job 3:19 Biblia Paralela Job 3:19 Chinese Bible Job 3:19 French Bible Job 3:19 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 3:19 The small and the great are there (Jb) |