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Kretzmann's Popular Commentary

Job 21:21

For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, what does the wicked care about those whom he leaves behind, what interest has he in their welfare, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? As long as he can enjoy the full term of his life and have the full benefit of its pleasures, the selfish evildoer is satisfied. What comes after him does not bother him. Job implies, of course, that the wicked should therefore be punished during his life, for this very reason, but that events seldom take this just turn. Not only is it impossible, however, to judge God correctly in this respect; His present dealings with men are, in general, beyond the knowledge and teaching of men.

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See also Job 21:21 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Job 21:21. _FOR WHAT PLEASURE_ HATH _HE IN HIS HOUSE AFTER HIM_] What may happen to his posterity he neither knows nor cares for, as he is now numbered with the dead, and numbered with them bef...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    FOR WHAT PLEASURE HATH HE ... - That is, what happiness shall he have in his family? This, it seems to me, is designed to be a reference to their sentiments, or a statement by Job of what “they” maint...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 21 JOB'S REPLY _ 1. Hear my solemn words--then mock on (Job 21:1)_ 2. His testimony concerning the experiences of the wicked (Job 21:7) 3. Your answers are nothing but falsehoods (Job 21:27...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB 21. JOB'S REPLY. Zophar was graphic and vigorous, but had nothing to say. Nevertheless his speech suggests to Job his next argument. The facts are quite the opposite of what Zophar has said: the w...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The negative side of his theme is now illustrated by Job. In Job 21:7 he shewed that the wicked enjoy great, life-long prosperity; now he shews that they are free from calamity; such sudden and disast...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    This great mystery of the prosperity of the wicked in God's providence Job now unfolds on both its sides: first, they and all belonging to them prosper, and they die in peace, although in conscious go...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    A conceivable objection, and its answer by Job. The verses read, 19. God (say ye) layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it; 20. Let his own e...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    LO, THEIR GOOD IS NOT IN THEIR HAND— After the foregoing elegant description of the prosperity of some wicked men, Job proceeds, on the other hand, to confess what was likewise apparent in the ways of...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. Sometimes they suffer, but not regularly. (Job 21:17-22) TEXT 21:17-22 17 HOW OFT IS IT THAT THE LAMP OF THE WICKED IS PUT OUT? That their calamity cometh upon them? That _God_distributeth sorro...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _FOR WHAT PLEASURE HATH HE IN HIS HOUSE AFTER HIM, WHEN THE NUMBER OF HIS MONTHS IS CUT OFF IN THE MIDST?_ The argument of the friends, in proof of Job 21:20. What pleasure can he have from his house...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB'S SIXTH SPEECH Zophar, like the other friends, had insisted on the certain retribution for sin which befalls the wicked in this life. Now at length these views draw from Job a direct contradictio...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PLEASURE] better, 'interest.' 22-26. It is presumptuous for the friends to settle what are the rules by which God decides the fate of men, God who judges even the angels....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    God mattered more to Job than anything else. But Job would still complain about his situation. He agreed that God should punish evil people. But Job did not realise when God will punish them. Job alre...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JOB, A SERVANT OF GOD Job _KEITH SIMONS_ Words in boxes (except for words in brackets) are from the Bible. This commentary has been through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 21 JOB REPLIES TO ZOPHAR’S...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    כִּ֤י מַה ־חֶפְצֹ֣ו בְּ בֵיתֹ֣ו אַחֲרָ֑יו וּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    XVIII. ARE THE WAYS OF THE LORD EQUAL? Job 21:1 Job SPEAKS WITH less of personal distress and a more collected mind than before Job begins a reply to Zophar. His brave hope of vindication has forti...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “SHALL ANY TEACH GOD?” Job 21:1 After a brief introduction, in which he claims the right to reply, Job 21:1, Job brings forward a new argument. He affirms that his friends are wrong in assuming that...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Here, as in the first cycle, Job answered not merely Zophar, but the whole argument. First of all, he set over against their statement and illustrations the fact patent to all that often the wicked ar...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _And if. Hebrew, "when" he is cut off in the midst of his days: he does not regard the happiness or misery of those whom he leaves behind. (Haydock) --- The children are rather taken away for his puni...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (14) Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. (15) What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 4 THROUGH 31. As to the friends of Job, they do not call for any extended remarks. They urge the doctrine that God's earthly government is a full measure and...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR WHAT PLEASURE [HATH] HE IN HIS HOUSE AFTER HIM,.... As, on the one hand, the prosperity of his children after his decease gives him no pleasure and delight, so, on the other hand, the calamities a...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For what pleasure [hath] he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? Ver. 21. _For what pleasure hath he in his house after him?_] _Hoc est, Omnia impiorum, etia...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _What pleasure hath he in his house after him?_ As for what befalls his children when he is dead, he concerns not himself; he is not affected with their felicity or misery, irreligion commonly making...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB SILENCES ZOPHAR (vv.1-34). The callous cruelty of Zophar's speech would surely cause some men to be bitterly angry, but while Job was incensed by such treatment, he did not lose his temper. He...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    17-26 Job had described the prosperity of wicked people; in these verses he opposes this to what his friends had maintained about their certain ruin in this life. He reconciles this to the holiness a...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WHAT PLEASURE HATH HE IN HIS HOUSE AFTER HIM? or, _for what desire, or care, or study hath he for or concerning_ (as _beth_ is oft used) HIS HOUSE, i.e. his children? When he is dead and gone, he care...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 21:21 care H2656 household H1004 after H310 number H4557 months H2320 half H2686 (H8795) For what -...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Job's answer to Zophar in which he denies any secret sin. CHARACTERS: God, Job, three friends. CONCLUSION: The providences of God in the government of this world are sometimes hard to be u...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 21:2. _Consolations._ נחם _nicham,_ though mostly translated consolation, comfort &c., as in Isaiah 40:1; is in several places understood of a change of mind, or of repentance. So in Judges 21., w...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _But Job answered and said._ JOB’S THIRD ANSWER There is more logic and less passion in this address than in any of Job’s preceding speeches. He felt the dogma of the friends to be opposed-- I. To...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 21:1 Job’s response closes the second cycle of the dialogue with his friends. ⇐ ⇔...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _JOB’S REPLY TO ZOPHAR’S SECOND SPEECH_ The ungodly, instead of experiencing the miseries indicated by Zophar, often, perhaps generally, enjoy continued ease and prosperity in this life. I. INTRODUC...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JOB 21:1 Job answers Zophar, as he had answered Bildad, in a single not very lengthy chapter. After a few caustic introductory remarks (verses 2-4), he takes up the challenge which Zophar...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    By Chuck Smith This time shall we turn to the book of Job, chapter 21. Zophar has just concluded in chapter 20 his second speech in which, again, he sort of just gives some of the traditions and quote...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Ecclesiastes 2:18; Ecclesiastes 2:19; Job 14:21; Job 14:5; Luke 16:27

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    For, &c. — What delight can ye take in the thoughts of his posterity, when he is dying an untimely death? When that number of months, which by the course of nature, he might have lived, is cut off by...

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