Job 3:21
New International Version
to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure,

New Living Translation
They long for death, and it won’t come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure.

English Standard Version
who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

Berean Standard Bible
who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,

King James Bible
Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

New King James Version
Who long for death, but it does not come, And search for it more than hidden treasures;

New American Standard Bible
Who long for death, but there is none, And dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

NASB 1995
Who long for death, but there is none, And dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

NASB 1977
Who long for death, but there is none, And dig for it more than for hidden treasures;

Legacy Standard Bible
Who long for death, but there is none, And dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

Amplified Bible
Who wait for death, but it does not come, And dig (search) for death more [diligently] than for hidden treasures,

Christian Standard Bible
who wait for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasure,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
who wait for death, but it does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasure,

American Standard Version
Who long for death, but it cometh not, And dig for it more than for hid treasures;

Contemporary English Version
I keep longing for death more than I would seek a valuable treasure.

English Revised Version
Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
to those who long for death but it never comes- though they dig for it more than for buried treasure?

Good News Translation
They wait for death, but it never comes; they prefer a grave to any treasure.

International Standard Version
To those who are longing for death— even though it does not come? To those who search for it more than for hidden treasure?

Majority Standard Bible
who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,

NET Bible
to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures,

New Heart English Bible
Who long for death, but it doesn't come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,

Webster's Bible Translation
Who long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

World English Bible
who long for death, but it doesn’t come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Who are waiting for death, and it is not, "" And they seek it above hid treasures.

Young's Literal Translation
Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures.

Smith's Literal Translation
Waiting for death, and it is not; and they will dig more than for hidden treasures;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That look for death, and it cometh not, as they that dig for a treasure:

Catholic Public Domain Version
who expect death, and it does not arrive, like those who dig for treasure

New American Bible
They wait for death and it does not come; they search for it more than for hidden treasures.

New Revised Standard Version
who long for death, but it does not come, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Who long for death, but it comes not, and seek it as one seeks a hidden treasure;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Who expect death, and it is not, and seek it like a treasure
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Who long for death, but it cometh not; And dig for it more than for hid treasures;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
who desire death, and obtain it not, digging for it as for treasures;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Laments His Birth
20Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul, 21who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure, 22who rejoice and greatly exult when they can find the grave?…

Cross References
Revelation 9:6
In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, but death will escape them.

Jeremiah 8:3
And wherever I have banished them, the remnant of this evil family will choose death over life,” declares the LORD of Hosts.

Ecclesiastes 4:2-3
So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. / But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

1 Kings 19:4
while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Jonah 4:3
And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Philippians 1:23
I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.

2 Corinthians 5:2-4
For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, / because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. / For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Psalm 88:3-5
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. / I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. / I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care.

Psalm 13:3
Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,

Isaiah 38:10-12
I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.” / I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world. / My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me.

2 Corinthians 1:8-9
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. / Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God, who raises the dead.

Matthew 26:38
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”

2 Kings 20:1-3
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’” / Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, / “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Psalm 42:5-6
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence. / O my God, my soul despairs within me. Therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—even from Mount Mizar.

Romans 8:23
Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.


Treasury of Scripture

Which long for death, but it comes not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;

long.

Numbers 11:15
And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.

1 Kings 19:4
But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

Jonah 4:3,8
Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live…

dig.

Proverbs 2:4
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

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Death Desire Dig Hid Hidden Search Searching Secret Seek Treasure Treasures Waiting Wealth
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Death Desire Dig Hid Hidden Search Searching Secret Seek Treasure Treasures Waiting Wealth
Job 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.














who long for death
The Hebrew word for "long" here is "חָכָה" (chakah), which conveys a deep yearning or waiting with expectation. In the context of Job's suffering, this longing is not a mere wish but an intense desire for relief from his overwhelming pain. Historically, death was often seen as a release from earthly suffering, and Job's lament reflects a profound spiritual and emotional turmoil. This longing underscores the depth of his despair, as he sees death as a preferable alternative to his current afflictions.

that does not come
The phrase "that does not come" highlights the elusiveness of death for Job. Despite his intense desire, death remains out of reach. This can be seen as a divine intervention, where God, in His sovereignty, withholds death, perhaps to fulfill a greater purpose in Job's life. Theologically, it suggests that life and death are ultimately in God's hands, and human beings, despite their suffering, are subject to His timing and will.

and search for it
The word "search" in Hebrew is "חָפַר" (chaphar), which means to dig or seek diligently. This implies an active pursuit, as if Job is on a quest for something precious. The intensity of this search reflects the desperation and urgency in Job's heart. In a broader scriptural context, this can be seen as a metaphor for the human condition, where individuals often seek solutions or escapes from their suffering, sometimes in ways that are not aligned with God's will.

more than for hidden treasure
The comparison to "hidden treasure" elevates the value Job places on death as a release from his suffering. In ancient times, treasure was often buried or hidden, requiring great effort and determination to uncover. This metaphor suggests that Job's pursuit of death is not a passive wish but an active, consuming quest. Historically, treasures were symbols of wealth and security, and Job's comparison indicates that he views death as a greater prize than any earthly possession. This reflects a deep existential crisis, where the spiritual and emotional relief he seeks outweighs all material considerations.

Verse 21. - Which long for death, but it cometh not; literally, which wait for death' anxiously and longingly (comp. Psalm 33:20). And dig for it more than for hid treasures; i.e. "seek it more earnestly than even they seek who dig for hid treasures." As Professor Lee remarks, "From the great instability of all Eastern governments, treasures were in Eastern countries often hid away" ('Book of Job,' pp. 200, 201). And hence treasure-seeking became a profession, which was pursued with avidity by a large number of persons. Even at the present day Orientals are so possessed with the idea, that they imagine every European, who is eager to unearth antiquities, must be seeking for buried treasure.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
who long
הַֽמְחַכִּ֣ים (ham·ḥak·kîm)
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 2442: To adhere to, to await

for death
לַמָּ֣וֶת (lam·mā·weṯ)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

that does not come,
וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ (wə·’ê·nen·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb | third person masculine singular
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

and search for it
וַֽ֝יַּחְפְּרֻ֗הוּ (way·yaḥ·pə·ru·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2658: To pry into, to delve, to explore

like hidden treasure,
מִמַּטְמוֹנִֽים׃ (mim·maṭ·mō·w·nîm)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4301: A secret storehouse, a secreted valuable, money


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OT Poetry: Job 3:21 Who long for death but it doesn't (Jb)
Job 3:20
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