Job 4:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Their inner strength is pulled away, and they die without ever attaining wisdom.
What Does Job 4:21 Mean?
Eliphaz closes his recounted vision on a mournful note. Does not the excellency within mortals depart? Like a tent cord pulled up, the inner strength that held them is loosed, and they die, even without wisdom. The thought is that human life ends with its glory withdrawn and its understanding incomplete, dignity and insight alike slipping away at death. It is a somber conclusion meant to leave Job feeling small.
Taken alone, the verse sounds like a counsel of despair, as though life ends in emptiness and lost wisdom. Yet the very existence of this book testifies otherwise, for Job will seek and be given a wisdom that comes only from God. True wisdom is not lost at death for those who fear the Lord; it is found in Him, the source of understanding, who gives light and life that even the grave cannot take away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 4:21
What does Job 4:21 mean?
Their inner strength is pulled away, and they die without ever attaining wisdom.