What is the meaning of Job 21:25? Yet another man dies Job contrasts two individuals: one who “dies in full vigor” (Job 21:23) and “another man” who does not. By placing them side by side, he wipes away the illusion that earthly outcomes always match human ideas of justice. • Scripture repeatedly affirms this shared appointment with death (Hebrews 9:27; Ecclesiastes 9:2). • The fact that both righteous and wicked reach the same grave (Job 21:26) undercuts the simplistic notion that prosperity equals divine favor while suffering equals divine displeasure. • We are reminded to fix our hope not on the variability of this life but on the certainty of resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:22). in the bitterness of his soul Bitterness here speaks to deep inner anguish—a life colored by disappointment, grief, or unresolved pain. • Naomi cried, “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20). Heartache is real, even for the faithful. • “The heart knows its own bitterness” (Proverbs 14:10), showing that suffering is often hidden from public view. • Job exposes the flaw in the retribution formula: a bitter soul is not proof of sin; it is proof that life east of Eden is broken (Romans 8:22). • Christ Himself tasted the cup of bitterness (Matthew 26:38), assuring us He is acquainted with grief and able to sympathize (Hebrews 4:15). having never tasted prosperity The man in view never enjoyed material ease or societal success. Job’s friends had argued that righteousness invariably leads to wealth, yet Job points to those who live and die without it. • Asaph had wrestled with the same tension: “Behold, these are the wicked—always carefree as they increase their wealth” (Psalm 73:12). • Ecclesiastes observes, “There is a righteous man who perishes despite his righteousness” (Ecclesiastes 7:15), echoing Job’s lament. • Jesus’ parable contrasts the rich man and Lazarus; earthly lack did not bar Lazarus from eternal comfort (Luke 16:25). Practical takeaways: – Prosperity is not the yardstick of God’s approval (James 1:9-10). – Poverty does not negate dignity or eternal worth (Matthew 5:3). – Our hope of ultimate prosperity rests in God’s future kingdom where He will “wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:4). summary Job 21:25 dismantles the simplistic equation of righteousness with riches and wickedness with want. One man dies strong and satisfied; another departs bruised and bitter, yet both stand before the same sovereign God. Earthly outcomes are varied and often baffling, but Scripture assures that final justice and true prosperity are secured in the Lord who sees beyond the grave. |
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