Job 3:21 — Word Study
WLCהַֽמְחַכִּ֣ים לַמָּ֣וֶת וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ וַֽ֝יַּחְפְּרֻ֗הוּ מִמַּטְמוֹנִֽים׃
BSAwho longchâkâh [wait patiently, yearn] for deathmâveth [physical or violent, the end of life] that does not comeʼayin and search for itchâphar▸ [dig, seek deeply] like hidden treasuremaṭmôwn [secret, concealed, valuables, riches]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַֽמְחַכִּ֣ים | those [who] long | Particle, verb piel participle (active) masculine plural |
| לַמָּ֣וֶת | for death | Preposition, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ | and there not [is] it | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| וַֽ֝יַּחְפְּרֻ֗הוּ | and they dug for it | Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
| מִמַּטְמוֹנִֽים׃ | more than hidden treasures | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure, |
| KJV | Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; |
| ASV | Who long for death, but it cometh not, And dig for it more than for hid treasures; |
| YLT | Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures. |
| WEB | who long for death, but it doesn’t come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures, |
| BBE | To those whose desire is for death, but it comes not; who are searching for it more than for secret wealth; |
Where they part company is in the expression of Job's longing for death — see How Translations Differ.
The structure features a main clause expressing the longing for death, followed by subordinate clauses that elaborate on the absence of death and the search for it.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
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 3:21
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 Lamentgenerated
Job 3:21 is part of Job's lament, where he expresses his anguish over the suffering he endures. He longs for death as a release from his pain, indicating a deep sense of hopelessness. This verse captures the intensity of his desire for relief and the futility he feels in searching for it, likening it to a treasure that remains hidden. It reflects the broader themes of suffering and the search for meaning in the midst of despair found throughout the book of Job.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 11:15 | If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now—if I have found favor in Your eyes—and let me not see my own wretchedness.” |
| 2 | 1 Kings 19:4 | while he himself traveled on 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.” |
| 3 | Jonah 4:3–8 | And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” |
| 4 | 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. |
| 5 | Proverbs 2:4 | if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 5 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חָכָה, ham.cha.Kimgenerated
The word חָכָה (chakah) is a piel participle that conveys the idea of waiting or longing. It is often used in contexts where one is expectantly waiting for something to happen, reflecting a deep yearning. In this verse, it emphasizes Job's profound desire for death, suggesting a sense of anticipation and hope for relief from his suffering.
This word appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible, indicating various forms of waiting, including waiting for God's intervention. Job's use of it here highlights his emotional state and the depth of his longing for an end to his pain.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the phrase long for death.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in this verse is חָכָה (chakah), which governs the entire clause. The structure consists of a main clause expressing the longing for death, followed by a subordinate clause that describes the search for it. This arrangement emphasizes Job's desperation and the futility of his quest.
The Hebrew word order places the subject and verb at the forefront, highlighting Job's emotional state and the urgency of his plea.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates חָכָה as ὁμείρονται (homeirontai), which carries the sense of yearning or desiring. This choice reflects a similar emotional tone, emphasizing the depth of longing Job feels for death.
The Greek term used in the Septuagint aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, maintaining the focus on the emotional aspect of waiting and longing.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 3:21 expresses Job's deep desire for death, which he feels is unattainable. He compares this longing to searching for hidden treasure, indicating the value he places on death as a release from his suffering. This verse is part of a larger lament where Job questions the purpose of life amidst his pain.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Job expresses a desire for relief from his suffering, viewing death as a release from his pain.
This comparison highlights the value he places on death, suggesting that it is something precious yet elusive.
The verse conveys deep anguish, despair, and a sense of futility in Job's search for relief from his suffering.
It reflects the broader themes of suffering, the search for meaning, and the longing for relief that permeate the book.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to long for something that feels unattainable in my own life?
- How can I relate to Job's feelings of despair and longing for relief?
- In what ways do I seek comfort or treasure in difficult times?
- How can I find hope in the midst of suffering, similar to Job's search for meaning?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early church recognized Job's lament as a profound expression of human suffering. Gregory the Dialogist quotes this verse to illustrate the desire for relief from worldly struggles.
Which long for death, but it cometh not. For they desire to mortify themselves wholly, and to be entirely extinct of the life of temporal glory,Early Church Fathers on Job 3 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 3:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleWhich long for death, but it [cometh] not,.... Who earnestly desire, wistly look out, wish for, and expect it, and with open mouth gape for it, as a hungry man for his food, or as the fish for the
Read John Gill on Job 3 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryWhich long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 3 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. Desire and pray for it with as much earnestness as men dig for treasure. But it is observable that Job durst not lay violent hands upon himself, nor do any thing to hasten or procure his death; but notwithstanding all his miseries and complaints, he was contented to wait all the days of his appointed time, till his change came, .
Read Matthew Poole on Job 3 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 3:21 Which long for death, but it [cometh] not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;Ver. 21. Which long for death, but it cometh not] The bitter in soul long for death, those that are in pain or penury are apt to desire to be dispatched upon any terms, and would freely pardon them, they say, that would give them their passport. But these, for the most part, consider not the unsupportableness of the wrath to come, that eternity of extremity in hell, that death usually baleth at the heels of it; so that by death, whereof they are so desirous, they would but leap out of the frying pan into the fire, as Judas did: they do so, as the ass in the fable, who desired to die, that he might…
Read John Trapp on Job 3 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 21. Which long for death] They look to it as the end of all their miseries; and long more for a separation from life, than those who love gold do for a rich mine.
Read AdamClarke on Job 3 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges20–26. Why does God continue life to the wretched, who long for death? The vision of the peacefulness of death passes away, and Job awakens again to the consciousness of his real condition, and his words, which had sunk into calmness as he contemplated the peace of death, now seem to rise again like the storm after a lull, Wherefore gives He light to him that is in misery? He does not name though he alludes to God, and the indirect reference though partly due to reverence betrays a rising alienation in his heart. His question is one of anguish and impatience. His own condition throws its gloom over all human life, and he puts the question first generally, Job 3:20-22; there are many like…
Read Cambridge on Job 3 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleWhich long for death - Whose pain and anguish are so great that they would regard it as a privilege to die.
Read Albert Barnes on Job 3 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible21. Which long for death — Of the sufferings of the miserable slaves anciently employed in the Egyptian mines, to whom Hitzig and others think Job refers, Diodorus Siculus gives a long and most painful description.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 3 →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
who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,
who long for death, but it doesn’t come; and dig for it more than for hidden treasures,
who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure,
to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures,
Tyndale line
Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
Who long for death, but it cometh not, And dig for it more than for hid treasures;
Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
Who long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
Which long for death, and if it come not, they would euen search it more then treasures:
Strictly literal
Who long for death, and it [cometh] not, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;
Who are waiting for death, and it is not, And they seek it above hid treasures.
Who are waiting for death, and it is not, || And they seek it above hid treasures.
Who wait for death, which [cometh] not; and who dig for it sooner than for hidden treasures;
to one who longs for death without it coming; to one who digs for death more than for hidden treasure?
From the Latin
That look for death, and it cometh not, as they that dig for a treasure:
Simplified
those who are waiting for death that does not come and who are looking for death more desperately than hunting for treasure?
To those whose desire is for death, but it comes not; who are searching for it more than for secret wealth;
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 largely agree in their wording, with four out of five words matched. The Septuagint's translation reflects the same themes of longing and searching, though it presents them in a different syntactical order.
הַֽמְחַכִּ֣ים לַמָּ֣וֶת וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ וַֽ֝יַּחְפְּרֻ֗הוּ מִמַּטְמוֹנִֽים׃
4 of the 5 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 3:21
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.
חָכָה (chakah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to wait or await. It encompasses various nuances, including waiting in ambush or longing for something. The root suggests an idea of adhering or tarrying, and it appears in different forms, such as Qal and Piel, indicating different aspects of waiting.
[חָכָה] vb. wait, await
Qal waiting for him
Pi.
wait, tarry
wait (in ambush)
wait for, long for
base
H2442 [חָכָה] wait, await
2442 chakah khaw-kaw'
a primitive root (apparently akin to 2707 through the idea of
piercing); properly, to adhere to; hence, to await:--long,
tarry, wait.
see HEBREW for 02707
חָכָה (cha.khah) — to wait.
1) to wait, wait for, await
1a) (Qal) to wait for
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to wait, tarry
1b2) to wait (in ambush)
1b3) to wait for, long for
Art | V-Piel — Particle · verb piel participle (active) masculine pluralHTd/Vprmpa
מָ֫וֶת (maveth) means 'death' and encompasses various aspects such as natural or violent death, the state of being dead, and the realm of the dead (hades). It can also refer to pestilence or ruin. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to die' and has an Aramaic equivalent, מוֹת (mot).
מָ֫וֶת 161 n.m. death
death, opp. life
death by violence
state of death or place of death
base
H4194 מָ֫וֶת death
4194 maveth maw'-veth
from 4191; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead,
their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence,
ruin:--(be) dead((-ly)), death, die(-d).
see HEBREW for 04191
מָ֫וֶת (ma.vet) — death.
1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead
1a) death
1b) death by violence (as a penalty)
1c) state of death, place of death
Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)
Prep | N-ms — Preposition · noun common masculine singular absoluteHRd/Ncmsa
(maweth; thanatos):
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND FIGURATIVE VIEW
The word "Death" is used in the sense of
(1) the process of dying (Ge 21:16);
(2) the period of decease (Ge 27:7);
(3) as a possible synonym for poison (2Ki 4:40);
(4) as descriptive of person in danger of perishing (Jud 15:18; "in deaths oft" 2Co 11:23). In this sense the shadow of death is a familiar expression in Job, the Psalms and the Prophets;
Death
May be simply defined as the termination of life. It is represented under a variety of aspects in Scripture: (1.) “The dust shall return to the earth as it was” (Eccl. 12:7).
(2.) “Thou takest away their breath, they die” (Ps. 104:29).
(3.) It is the dissolution of “our earthly house of this tabernacle” (2 Cor. 5:1); the “putting off this tabernacle” (2 Pet. 1:13, 14).
(4.) Being “unclothed” (2 Cor. 5:3, 4).
(5.) “Falling on sleep” (Ps. 76:5; Jer. 51:39;
Is taken in Scripture, first, for the separation of body and soul, the first death, Ge 25:11; secondly, for alienation from God, and exposure to his wrath, 1Jo 3:14, etc.; thirdly, for the second death, that of eternal damnation. Death was the penalty affixed to Adam’s transgression, Ge 2:17 3:19; and all his posterity are transgressors, and share the curse inflicted upon him. CHRIST is "our life." All believers share his life, spiritually and eternally; and though sin and bodily is taken away, and in the resurrection the last enemy shall be trampled under foot, Ro 5:12-21 1Co 15:1-58.
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 | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
חָפַר (chaphar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to dig or search for. It is a primitive root that conveys the idea of prying into something, exploring, or delving deeper. The entries consistently highlight its use in contexts related to digging and searching.
חָפַר vb. dig, search for
base
H2658 חָפַר dig, search for
2658 chaphar khaw-far'
a primitive root; properly, to pry into; by implication, to
delve, to explore:--dig, paw, search out, seek.
חָפַר (cha.phar) — to search.
1) to dig, search for
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to dig
1a2) to search, search out, explore
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHc/Vqw3mp/Sp3ms
מַטְמוֹן (matmown) refers to hidden or secret treasure, often implying a valuable or buried store of wealth. It is derived from a root meaning to hide. The term is consistently defined across entries, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
מַטְמוֹן n.m. hidden treasure, treasure
base
H4301 מַטְמוֹן hidden treasure, treasure
4301 matmown mat-mone'
or matmon {mat-mone'}; or matmun {mat-moon'}; from 2934; a
secret storehouse; hence, a secreted valuable (buried);
generally money:--hidden riches, (hid) treasure(-s).
see HEBREW for 02934
מַטְמוֹן (mat.mon) — treasure.
hidden treasure, treasure
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
Kings were wont to store their possessions and guard what they most valued in well-fortified cities, hence called treasure-cities, Ex 1:11; 1Ch 27:25; Ezr 5:17. "Treasures in the field," Jer 41:8, were provisions, etc., buried, as is the custom in many parts of the world, in subterranean pits. Numerous ruined granaries of this kind are still found in the vicinity of Bethshean. The "pilgrim fathers" in like manner found heaps of corn buried in the ground by the Indians. In consequence also of the great insecurity of property in the East, it seems to have been usual from the earliest times to hide in the ground gold and jewels; and the owners being killed or driven away, or…