Job 18:19 — Word Study
WLCלֹ֘א נִ֤ין ל֣וֹ וְלֹא־ נֶ֣כֶד בְּעַמּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֥ין שָׂ֝רִ֗יד בִּמְגוּרָֽיו׃
BSAHe has nolôʼ [descendants, offspring, or posterity] offspringnîyn or posterityneked among his peopleʻam [nation, or family] noʼayin survivorsârîyd [or one remaining] where he once livedmâgûwr [sojourned, or dwelled]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לֹ֘א | not | Particle |
| נִ֤ין | posterity | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| ל֣וֹ | [belongs] to him | Preposition, suffix |
| וְלֹא־ | and not | Conjunction, particle |
| נֶ֣כֶד | progeny | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בְּעַמּ֑וֹ | [is] among people his | Preposition, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וְאֵ֥ין | and there not | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| שָׂ֝רִ֗יד | [is] a survivor | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| בִּמְגוּרָֽיו׃ | in sojourning-places his | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He has no offspring or posterity among his people, no survivor where he once lived. |
| KJV | He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. |
| ASV | He shall have neither son nor son’s son among his people, Nor any remaining where he sojourned. |
| YLT | He hath no continuator, Nor successor among his people, And none is remaining in his dwellings. |
| WEB | He will have neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining where he lived. |
| BBE | He has no offspring or family among his people, and in his living-place there is no one of his name. |
The translations agree on the absence of descendants and survivors in this verse.
The verse consists of a main clause followed by additional phrases that elaborate on the absence of descendants and survivors.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectנִין
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 18:19
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Fate of the Wickedgenerated
Job 18:19 describes the dire consequences for the wicked, emphasizing their lack of legacy or remembrance among their people. This verse is part of a larger discourse on the fate of those who oppose God, illustrating the complete absence of descendants and survivors where they once lived. Job reflects on the reality that the wicked will not be remembered or have a lasting impact on their community, as seen in the surrounding verses.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 1:19 | when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!” |
| 2 | Job 8:4 | When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion. |
| 3 | Job 42:13–16 | And he also had seven sons and three daughters. |
| 4 | Psalm 109:13 | May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation. |
| 5 | Isaiah 14:21–22 | Prepare a place to slaughter his sons for the iniquities of their forefathers. They will never rise up to possess a land or cover the earth with their cities. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — נִ֤ין, ningenerated
The word נִ֤ין (nin) means 'posterity' or 'offspring.' It is derived from the root for 'son' and emphasizes family lineage. In this verse, it highlights the absence of descendants, underscoring the totality of loss experienced by the wicked.
This term is significant as it conveys the idea of legacy and continuity in family lines, which is crucial in the biblical context. Without נִ֤ין, the individual is seen as cut off from future generations, marking a profound judgment.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the verb אֵ֥ין (ein), meaning 'there is not.' It sets the tone for the negation of existence regarding offspring and survivors. The structure includes multiple subjects and predicates that clarify the extent of the absence.
The sentence structure emphasizes the complete lack of legacy, with the subjects נִ֤ין and שָׂ֝רִ֗יד directly linked to the negation, creating a strong sense of finality.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates נִ֤ין as ἐπίγνωστος (epignostos), which carries the meaning of being known or recognized. This choice suggests a broader interpretation of the absence of legacy, implying not just offspring but also recognition within the community.
This translation indicates a widening of the concept, focusing on the individual's legacy and acknowledgment in society, which aligns with the overall theme of the wicked's fate.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 18:19 tells us that the wicked have no descendants or survivors among their people. This verse emphasizes the total loss of legacy and memory, illustrating the consequences faced by those who oppose God.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that they will not have descendants to carry on their name or legacy, indicating a complete severance from future generations.
Posterity represents family lineage and legacy, which are significant in biblical culture; lacking these signifies a profound judgment.
A survivor refers to someone who remains after a disaster, indicating that the wicked will not have anyone left to remember them or their deeds.
It reflects on the fate of the wicked and serves as a warning about the consequences of opposing God, emphasizing the ultimate loss of legacy.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to have a legacy, and how can I ensure mine is positive?
- In what ways can I contribute to my community to create a lasting impact?
- How do the themes of memory and legacy resonate in my own life?
- What lessons can I learn from the fate of the wicked as described in Job?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentary on this verse highlights the consequences faced by the wicked, emphasizing the absence of legacy and memory among their people.
There shall neither be seed of him, nor offspring in his people, nor any remnant in his parts. For it is written, that the Lord Jesus shall consume him, with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy him with the brightness of His coming.Early Church Fathers on Job 18 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 18:19 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe shall neither have son nor nephew among his people,.... Neither son, nor son's son, or grandson; so the Targum, Jarchi, and Bar Tzemach; that is, he shall be childless, and have no heirs,
Read John Gill on Job 18 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHe shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings. Nephew - (so Isaiah 14:22). But it is translated 'grandson' (Genesis 21:23): translate 'kinsman.'
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 18 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleBut if any such survive, they shall be in the hands and power of strangers, or rather of their enemies.
Read Matthew Poole on Job 18 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 18:19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.Ver. 19. He shall neither have son nor nephew, &c.] A sore affliction to be written childless, which yet is the portion of some good people, as Abel; many prophets and apostles, for whose comfort that is written, Isaiah 56:4-5. God, as he will be to his childless children better than ten sons; so he will give them in his house, and within his walls, a place and a name, better than of sons and of daughters, he will give them an everlasting name that shall never be cut off, 1 Samuel 1:8 Isaiah 56:5. Not so the ungodly, those men of God’ s hand, for though, full of children, they leave the rest…
Read John Trapp on Job 18 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(19) He shall have neither son nor nephew.—“He shall have neither his own son’s son among his people, nor any remaining, where he sojourned.”
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 18 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 19. He shall neither have son nor nephew] Coverdale, following the Vulgate, translates thus: We shal neither have children ner kynss folk among his people, no ner eny posterite in his countrie: yonge and olde shal be astonyshed at his death.
Read AdamClarke on Job 18 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges19. son nor nephew] i. e. son nor grandson. So the word nephew (Lat nepos, through Fr. neveu) means in the English of the time— O thou most auncient grandmother of all, Why suffredst thou thy nephews dear to fall. Spens. Fa. Q. 1. 5. 22, (Michie, Bible Words and Phrases). In Genesis 21:23 the word is rendered son’s son. The Heb. expression is more general, he shall neither have offspring nor descendant.
Read Cambridge on Job 18 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHe shall neither have son ... - All his family shall be cut off. He shall have no one to perpetuate his name or remembrance. All this Job could not help applying to himself, as it was doubtless intended he should.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 18 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He has no offspring or posterity among his people, no survivor where he once lived.
He will have neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining where he lived.
He has no offspring or posterity among his people, no survivor where he once lived.
He has neither children nor descendants among his people, no survivor in those places he once stayed.
Tyndale line
He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.
He shall have neither son nor son’s son among his people, Nor any remaining where he sojourned.
He shall have neither son nor son’s son among his people, nor any remaining where he sojourned.
He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.
Hee shall neither haue sonne nor nephewe among his people, nor any posteritie in his dwellings.
Strictly literal
He hath neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining in the places of his sojourn.
He hath no continuator, Nor successor among his people, And none is remaining in his dwellings.
He has no continuator, || Nor successor among his people, || And none is remaining in his dwellings.
He will have neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any that escapeth in the places of his sojourning.
He will have no son or son's son among his people, nor any remaining kinfolk where he had stayed.
From the Latin
His seed shall not subsist, nor his offspring among his people, nor any remnants in his country.
Simplified
They have no children or descendants among their people, and no survivors where they used to live.
He has no offspring or family among his people, and in his living-place there is no one of his name.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint show agreement in the core message of Job 18:19. While the Septuagint's wording differs slightly, the essential meaning regarding the absence of descendants and survivors remains consistent.
לֹ֘א נִ֤ין ל֣וֹ וְלֹא־ נֶ֣כֶד בְּעַמּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֥ין שָׂ֝רִ֗יד בִּמְגוּרָֽיו׃
6 of the 9 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 18:19
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
נִין (niyn) means 'offspring' or 'posterity.' It is derived from the root word for 'son' and emphasizes the idea of progeny. The term is used in contexts related to descendants, highlighting familial lineage.
נִין n.[m.] offspring, posterity
base
H5209 נִין offspring, posterity
5209 niyn neen
from 5125; progeny:--son.
see HEBREW for 05125
נִין (nin) — offspring.
offspring, posterity
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HR/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3ms
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
HC/Tn — Conjunction · particleHC/Tn
נֶ֫כֶד (neked) refers to progeny or posterity. It is derived from an unused root meaning to propagate and can denote offspring, such as a nephew or grandson. The entries consistently emphasize its connection to lineage and descendants.
נֶ֫כֶד n.[m.] progeny, posterity
base
H5220 נֶ֫כֶד progeny, posterity
5220 neked neh'-ked
from an unused root meaning to propagate;
offspring:--nephew, son's son.
נֶ֫כֶד (ne.khed) — progeny.
progeny, posterity
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
עַם (am) primarily means 'people' or 'nation,' referring to a collective group, often in the context of tribes such as those of Israel. It can also denote kinsmen or compatriots. The term appears in various contexts, including military and familial references. There is a mention of a specific individual named Ammi in Song of Solomon 6:12.
עַם, עָם 1810 n.m. people
a people, nation
= smaller units
= common people
people in gen., persons
phrases
base
[עַם] n.[m.] kinsman (on father's side)
base
H5971a עַם, עָם people H5971b עַם kinsman (on father's side)
5971 `am am
from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a
tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or
attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation,
people.
see HEBREW for 06004
עַם (am) — people.
: people/nation
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — kinsman.
kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Ammi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, only mentioned at Sng.6.12
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — People's (Gate).
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — (Ibleam)-am.
Combined with yiv.le.am (יִבְלְעָם "Ibleam" H2991)
§ kinsman, kindred
עַם (am) — Amaw.
This name means nation, people
עַם (am) — people: soldiers.
: soldiers/army
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
עַם (am) — people: creatures.
: creatures
1) nation, people
1a) people, nation
1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men
Prep | N-ms | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
אַ֫יִן (ayin) primarily means 'nothing' or 'nought' and serves as a negative particle indicating absence or negation, such as 'is not' or 'there is not.' It can also express lack of possession or existence. The word is derived from a root meaning to be non-existent, and it appears frequently in various grammatical constructions.
אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought
to nothing, as nothing
cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
in circumst. clauses
with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
with prefixes
base
H369 אַ֫יִן, אָ֑֫יִן cstr. אֵין subst. prop. nothing, nought . to nothing, as nothing
. cstr. אֵין, very freq. as particle of negation, is not, are not, was not, were not
. אֵין לְ׳, with subst., or pron., there is (was) not to … = … have, has, had, etc. not
. in circumst. clauses
. with inf. and ל׳, it is not to …
. with prefixes
369 'ayin ah'-yin
as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not
exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative
particle:--else, except, fail, (father-)less, be gone,
in(-curable), neither, never, no (where), none, nor, (any,
thing), not, nothing, to nought, past, un(-searchable),
well-nigh, without. Compare 370.
see HEBREW for 0370
אַ֫יִן (a.yin) — nothing.
1) nothing, not, nought n
1a) nothing, nought neg
1b) not
1c) to have not (of possession) adv
1d) without w/prep
1e) for lack of
Conj | Part — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
שָׂרִיד (sariyd) means 'survivor' or 'remnant,' referring to what remains after a defeat. It is derived from the root word meaning 'to remain.' The entries consistently emphasize its use in contexts of survival and what is left over.
שָׂרִיד n.m. survivor (from a defeat, etc.)
base
H8300 שָׂרִיד survivor (from a defeat, etc.)
8300 sariyd saw-reed'
from 8277; a survivor:--X alive, left, remain(- ing),
remnant, rest.
see HEBREW for 08277
שָׂרִיד (sa.rid) — survivor.
1) survivor, remnant, that which is left
1a) survivor
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
מָגוֹר (maguwr) refers to a sojourning or dwelling place, indicating both temporary and permanent residences. It is derived from a root meaning lodging and encompasses the idea of being a stranger or a pilgrim. The term is used in contexts related to living or residing, highlighting the transient nature of some abodes.
[מָגוֹר] n.[m.] sojourning-place, dwelling-place, sojourning
base
H4033 מָגוֹר sojourning-place, dwelling-place, sojourning
4033 maguwr maw-goor'
or magur {maw-goor'}; from 1481 in the sense of lodging; a
temporary abode; by extension, a permanent
residence:--dwelling, pilgrimage, where sojourn, be a
stranger. Compare 4032.
see HEBREW for 01481
see HEBREW for 04032
מָגוֹר (ma.gur) — sojourning.
1) sojourning place, dwelling-place, sojourning
1a) dwelling-place
1b) sojourning, lifetime
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms