Job 33:22

Verse Job 33:22. His soul draweth near unto the grave] נפש nephesh, soul, is here taken for the immortal spirit, as it is distinguished from חיה chaiyah, the animal life. The former draws near to the pit, שחת shachath, corruption; perhaps he meant dissipation, considering it merely as the breath. The latter draws near לממתים lamemithim, to the dead; i.e., to those who are already buried. Mr. Good translates it the Destinies; and supposes the same is meant among the HEBREWS by the Memithim, as among the GREEKS by their Μοιραι; the LATINS, by their Parcae; the GOTHS, by their Fatal Sisters; the SCANDINAVIANS, by their goddess Hela; and the ARABIANS, by Azrael, or the angel of death. I think, however, the signification given above is more natural.