Job 21:24 — Word Study
WLCעֲ֭טִינָיו מָלְא֣וּ חָלָ֑ב וּמֹ֖חַ עַצְמוֹתָ֣יו יְשֻׁקֶּֽה׃
BSAHis bodyʻăṭîyn△ [breasts, belly area] is well nourishedmâlêʼ■ [full of milk, fat from eating well] and his bonesʻetsem [the substance or essence of his being] [are] richshâqâh▸ [moistened, full] with marrowmôach△ [the fatty tissue inside, providing nutrients and energy]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| עֲ֭טִינָיו | pails his | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| מָלְא֣וּ | they are full | Verb, Qal, perfect third person common plural |
| חָלָ֑ב | milk | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וּמֹ֖חַ | and [the] marrow of | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct |
| עַצְמוֹתָ֣יו | bones his | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| יְשֻׁקֶּֽה׃ | it is watered | Verb, Pual, imperfect third person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow. |
| KJV | His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. |
| ASV | His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened. |
| YLT | His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten. |
| WEB | His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened. |
| BBE | His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones. |
Where they part company is מָלְא֣וּ — see How Translations Differ.
One main clause with a descriptive noun phrase following. The structure emphasizes the state of the subject's body and bones.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbמָלֵא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
2 of 6 occur nowhere else in the Old Testament — words chosen on purpose.
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 21:24
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 — Job's Reflection on Prosperitygenerated
Job 21:24 describes the well-being of the wicked, contrasting their physical nourishment with the bitterness experienced by others. Job argues against the simplistic view that suffering is always a punishment for sin, as he observes that some live in comfort and die without hardship. This passage is part of a larger discourse where Job challenges the assumptions of his friends regarding divine justice and human suffering.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 15:27 | Though his face is covered with fat and his waistline bulges with flesh, |
| 2 | Psalm 17:10 | They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance. |
| 3 | Proverbs 3:8 | This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — עֲטִינָיו, 'A.ti.navgenerated
The word עֲטִינָיו ('A.ti.nav) is a noun referring to the belly or breast area, akin to the breasts of a nursing mother as seen in Isaiah 66:11. It conveys the idea of nourishment and abundance, suggesting a fullness that supports life.
This term is rooted in a word meaning to contain, indicating a receptacle such as a pail. In this context, it emphasizes the physical well-being of the individual, highlighting the contrast between their external prosperity and internal reality.
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 verb מָלְא֣וּ (mal'u, they are full) governs the sentence, with two noun phrases describing the subject's state: the first phrase details the body and its nourishment, while the second addresses the richness of the bones. Hebrew syntax here emphasizes the state of fullness and vitality.
The structure highlights the subject's physical condition, with the noun phrases working together to paint a vivid picture of well-being, contrasting with the preceding and following verses that discuss the fate of others.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מָלְא֣וּ as πλήρη (plērē), meaning 'full.' This choice aligns with the Hebrew's emphasis on abundance and nourishment, suggesting a direct connection between physical fullness and well-being.
The Greek term μυελὸς (muelos) for marrow indicates a focus on the richness and sustenance provided by the bones, reinforcing the idea of vitality.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 21:24 describes a prosperous person whose body is well nourished and whose bones are rich with marrow. This verse highlights the contrast between their physical health and the suffering of others, challenging the notion that suffering is always a punishment for wrongdoing.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job is emphasizing the physical prosperity and health of the wicked, contrasting it with the suffering of the righteous.
Marrow symbolizes richness and vitality, suggesting that the person described is not only physically healthy but also full of life and energy.
This verse illustrates Job's argument against the simplistic view that good people are rewarded and bad people are punished, as he observes that some wicked individuals experience prosperity.
The contrast highlights the complexity of life and suffering, challenging the belief that outward circumstances reflect one's moral standing before God.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How do I understand the relationship between physical well-being and spiritual condition in my own life?
- In what ways do I see prosperity in those who do not follow God's ways, and how does that challenge my understanding of justice?
- What can I learn from Job's perspective on suffering and prosperity?
- How can I apply the lessons from Job 21:24 to my own understanding of God's justice?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 21:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHis breasts are full of milk,.... As this is not literally true of men, some versions read the words otherwise; his bowels or intestines are full of fat, as the Vulgate Latin and Septuagint; and
Read John Gill on Job 21 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHis breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. Breasts - rather, skins or vessels for fluids (Lee).
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 21 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHis breasts: the Hebrew word is not elsewhere used, and therefore it is diversely translated; either, 1. Breasts. But that seems very improper here, because men’ s breasts do not use to be filled with milk. Or, 2. Milk-pails. But their fulness is common, and no sign of eminent plenty, which is here designed. Besides, the following branch, which in Job and elsewhere frequently explains the former, implies that it signifies some part of man’ s body, as all the ancient interpreters render it; either the sides, as some of them have it; or the bowels, as others. But for the following milk they read fat; the Hebrew letters being exactly the same in both words; and the Hebrews by the name of milk…
Read Matthew Poole on Job 21 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 21:24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.Ver. 24. His breasts are full of milk, and his bones, &c.] He is well lined within, as we say, having abundance of good blood and fresh spirits in his body; fat and plump, and well liking. He is enclosed in his own fat, Psalms 17:10. His back is well larded, and his bones are moistened with marrow; which, Plato saith, is not only the source and seminary of generation, but the very seat of life (Plat. in Timaeo). Now such a state of body as is here described is no defence at all against death, saith Job; nay, it is a presage and a forerunner of it many times. For ultimus sanitaria gradus est morbo proximus, say…
Read John Trapp on Job 21 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(24) His breasts.—This is an uncertain word, occurring only here. Some understand it literally of milk-pails, others of the lacteals of the human body, which certainly suits the parallelism better.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Job 21 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 24. His breasts are full of milk] The word עטיניו atinaiv, which occurs nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible, is most likely an Arabic term, but probably so provincial as to be now lost. [Arabic] atana signifies to macerate hides so as to take off the hair: hence Mr. Good thinks it means here, that sleekness of skin which is the effect of fatness both in man and beast. But as the radical idea signifies to stink, as leather does which is thus macerated, I cannot see how this meaning can apply here. Under the root עטן atan, Mr. Parkhurst gives the following definitions:" עטן occurs, not as a verb, but as a noun masculine plural, in construction, עטיני atiney, the bowels, intestines; once…
Read AdamClarke on Job 21 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges24. His breasts are full of milk] Perhaps, his vessels are full of milk; but the meaning is uncertain, the word rendered “breasts” not occurring again. The word however has analogies in the cognate languages, and may mean vessels, or troughs, marg. milk-pails, the reference being to the plenty and richness of the man’s herds and possessions, though this is a figure for plenty in general. By a slight alteration in spelling the word “milk” means fat, and the ancient versions so read, translating, his inwards, or sides, are full of fat. his bones are moistened with marrow] Rather, and the marrow of his bones is moistened, lit. watered, i. e. made fresh and strong. If the first clause be…
Read Cambridge on Job 21 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleHis breasts - Margin, “milk pails.” The marginal translation is much the most correct, and it is difficult to understand why so improbable a statement has been introduced into our common version.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 21 →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
His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow.
His pails are full of milk. The marrow of his bones is moistened.
His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow.
his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist.
Tyndale line
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.
His breasts are full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moistened.
His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
His breasts are full of milke, and his bones runne full of marowe.
Strictly literal
His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
His breasts have been full of milk, And marrow his bones doth moisten.
His breasts have been full of milk, || And marrow moistens his bones.
His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
His body is full of milk, and the marrow of his bones is moist.
From the Latin
His bowels are full of fat, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
Simplified
Their body is fat from eating well; their bones still strong.
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
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 of Job 21:24 states, "עֲטִינָיו מָלְא֣וּ חָלָ֑ב וּמֹ֖חַ עַצְמוֹתָ֣יו יְשֻׁקֶּֽה׃" which translates to, "His body is well nourished, and his bones are rich with marrow." The Septuagint agrees with this verse, matching all six words in a word-by-word correspondence, although the word order and articles differ due to the nature of the Greek translation. There are no significant differences in meaning or content between these two witnesses for this verse.
עֲ֭טִינָיו מָלְא֣וּ חָלָ֑ב וּמֹ֖חַ עַצְמוֹתָ֣יו יְשֻׁקֶּֽה׃
6 of the 6 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 21:24
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.
עֲטִין (atiyn) likely comes from a root meaning to contain and refers to a receptacle, such as a pail or bucket, and can also mean breast or belly. It appears in Job 21:24, where it is associated with the idea of holding or containing.
[עֲטִין] n.[m.] prob. pail, bucket;—Jb 21:24
ref
H5845 עֲטִין
5845 `atiyn at-een'
from an unused root meaning apparently to contain; a
receptacle (for milk, i.e. pail; figuratively,
breast):--breast.
עֲטִין (a.tin) — belly.
belly, body, bucket, pail, breasts
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
מָלֵא (male') means 'to fill' or 'be full,' with applications ranging from literal filling to figurative uses like accomplishing or completing something. It appears in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances such as being satisfied or confirming. Notably, it can also refer to massing against someone.
מָלֵא 249 vb. be full, fill
Qal 99
be full, usu. c. acc. material
trans. fill
Niph.
be filled
be accomplished, ended
Pi.
fill
special uses are:
fulfil, accomplish, complete, obj. week, year, day
Pu. filled
Hithp. mass themselves against me
base
H4390 מָלֵא be full, fill .. be full, usu. c. acc. material
. trans. fill
. . be filled
. be accomplished, ended
. . fill
. special uses are:
. fulfil, accomplish, complete, obj. week, year, day
. filled
. mass themselves against me
4390 male' maw-lay'
or malae (Esth. 7:5) {maw-law'}; a primitive root, to fill or
(intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally
and figuratively):--accomplish, confirm, + consecrate, be at
an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, X
draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-)flow,
fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume,
replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-)full, + have
wholly.
מָלֵא (ma.le) — to fill.
1) to fill, be full
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be full
1a1a) fulness, abundance (participle)
1a1b) to be full, be accomplished, be ended
1a2) to consecrate, fill the hand
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be filled, be armed, be satisfied
1b2) to be accomplished, be ended
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to fill
1c2) to satisfy
1c3) to fulfil, accomplish, complete
1c4) to confirm
1d) (Pual) to be filled
1e) (Hithpael) to mass themselves against
Aramaic equivalent: me.la (מְלָא "to fill" H4391)
V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · perfect third person common pluralHVqp3cp
חָלָב (chalab) means milk and is associated with richness, as seen in cattle. It can refer to various forms of milk, including sour milk and cheese, and metaphorically to abundance. The entries do not present any significant disagreement.
H2461 חָלָב milk
2461 chalab khaw-lawb'
from the same as 2459; milk (as the richness of kine):--+
cheese, milk, sucking.
see HEBREW for 02459
חָלָב (cha.lav) — milk.
1) milk, sour milk, cheese
1a) milk
1b) abundance of the land (metaph.)
1c) white (as milk)
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
milk (chalabh; gala; Latin lac (2 Esdras 2:19; 8:10)): The fluid secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals for the nourishment of their young. The word is used in the Bible of that of human beings (Isa 28:9) as well as of that of the lower animals (Ex 23:19). As a food it ranked next in importance to bread (Ecclesiasticus 39:26). Palestine is frequently described as a land "flowing with milk and honey" (Ex 3:8,17; Nu 13:27; De 6:3; Jos 5:6; Jer 11:5; Eze…
Milk
(1.) Hebrew halabh, “new milk”, milk in its fresh state (Judg. 4:19). It is frequently mentioned in connection with honey (Ex. 3:8; 13:5; Josh. 5:6; Isa. 7:15, 22; Jer. 11:5). Sheep (Deut. 32:14) and goats (Prov. 27:27) and camels (Gen. 32:15), as well as cows, are made to give their milk for the use of man. Milk is used figuratively as a sign of abundance (Gen. 49:12;
As an article of diet, milk holds a more important position in eastern countries than with us. It is not a mere adjunct in cookery, or restricted to the use of the young, although it is naturally the characteristic food of childhood, both from its simple and nutritive qualities. (1 Peter 2:2) and particularly as contrasted with meat, (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12) but beyond this it is regarded as substantial food adapted alike to all ages and classes. Not only the milk of cows, but of sheep, (32:14) of camels, (Genesis 32:15) and of goats, (Proverbs 27:27) was used; that latter appears to have been most highly…
Is often alluded to in the Bible, as a symbol of pure, simple, and wholesome truth, Heb 5:12,13 1Pe 2:2; and in connection with honey, to denote fertility and plenty, Ge 49:12 Nu 16:13 Jos 5:6. The Jews and their neighbors used not only the milk of cows, but also that of camels, sheep, and goats, Ge 32:15 De 32:14 Pr 27:27. See BUTTER and CHEESE.
מֹחַ (moach) means 'marrow' and is derived from a related word. It is used in the context of prosperity in Job 21:24, where it appears in a construct form.
מֹחַ n.m. marrow;—only cstr. Jb 21:24 fig. of prosperity.
ref
H4221 מֹחַ
4221 moach mo'-akh
from the same as 4220; fat, i.e. marrow:--marrow.
see HEBREW for 04220
מֹחַ (mo.ach) — marrow.
marrow
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular constructHC/Ncmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
עֶ֫צֶם (etsem) primarily means 'bone' but extends to concepts of substance and self. It can refer to the physical body, limbs, or essence. The word is derived from a root related to strength, indicating a connection between physicality and identity.
עֶ֫צֶם 125 n.f. bone, substance, self
base
H6106 עֶ֫צֶם bone, substance, self
6106 `etsem eh'tsem
from 6105; a bone (as strong); by extension, the body;
figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.) selfsame:--body,
bone, X life, (self-)same, strength, X very.
see HEBREW for 06105
עֶ֫צֶם (e.tsem) — bone.
: bone/limb
1) bone, essence, substance
1a) bone
1a1) body, limbs, members, external body
1b) bone (of animal)
1c) substance, self
עֶ֫צֶם (e.tsem) — bone: same.
: same/very
1) bone, essence, substance
1a) bone
1a1) body, limbs, members, external body
1b) bone (of animal)
1c) substance, self
עֶ֫צֶם (e.tsem) — bone: body.
: body
1) bone, essence, substance
1a) bone
1a1) body, limbs, members, external body
1b) bone (of animal)
1c) substance, self
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word שָׁקָה (sha.qah) is a primitive root meaning to cause to drink or to water. It covers the act of giving drink to both animals and plants, as well as the concept of irrigation. The entries indicate various grammatical forms, including Hiphil, Pual, and Niphal, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
[שָׁקָה] vb. Hiph. cause to drink water, give to drink
Hiph. water, irrigate, ground
water, give drink to
Pu. the marrow of his bones is watered, (refreshed, invigorated).
base
H8248 שָׁקָה Hiph. cause to drink water, give to drink
8248 shaqah shaw-kaw'
a primitive root; to quaff, i.e. (causatively) to irrigate or
furnish a potion to:--cause to (give, give to, let, make to)
drink, drown, moisten, water. See 7937, 8354.
see HEBREW for 07937
see HEBREW for 08354
שָׁקָה (sha.qah) — to water: watering.
: watering(ANIMALS/PLANTS)
1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to water, irrigate
1a2) to water, give drink to
1b) (Pual) to be watered
1c) (Niphal) variant
שָׁקָה (sha.qah) — to water: drink.
: drink(PEOPLE)
1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to water, irrigate
1a2) to water, give drink to
1b) (Pual) to be watered
1c) (Niphal) variant
שָׁקָה (sha.qah) — to water: cupbearer.
: cupbearer
1) to give to drink, irrigate, drink, water, cause to drink water
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to water, irrigate
1a2) to water, give drink to
1b) (Pual) to be watered
1c) (Niphal) variant
V-Pual-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Pual · imperfect third person masculine singularHVPi3ms