Job 21:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Indeed, God continues to extend His grace to the unrighteous, illustrating that He harbors no animosity towards them, preventing them from claiming, ‘God despises us, therefore He will never grant us access to repentance.’ While He may discipline the righteous with great severity, His love is abundantly available to those who commit sin. Furthermore, the rewards that the virtuous might lament in this life are but anticipatory acknowledgments of the good deeds they have accomplished.

They enjoy their days in abundance, yet in an instant, they plunge into the depths of the grave (Job 21:13). Indeed, O favored one, you have articulated extensively about their delights, and now you assert that they swiftly descend to the underworld, underscoring that the entirety of one’s earthly existence amounts to a mere 'point' when it suddenly concludes. When a person reaches the ultimate end, they retain none of their past, as all moments have elapsed, and there is nothing awaiting them in the future, as no moment is left. In this way, life condenses into a singular instant—an isolated 'point' in time. The 'point' is marked in an instant, akin to a swift touch; it is as if one has merely grazed the essence of life, which has experienced both gain and loss.

I will speak with passion and briefly reflect on the trials that await me, for the anguish afflicting my body is beyond expression. Why do the unrighteous thrive and accumulate wealth? Their fields are abundant, they take pleasure in their offspring, they flourish without fear, and they face no divine retribution. Their livestock do not bear unfit or stillborn young; their wives do not suffer loss during childbirth. They exist with the carefreeness of cattle, untroubled by any concerns.

Job ceases to seek solace from his companions, desiring instead their silence so he can fully express his lament regarding his anguish (21: 1-6). Their attempts to illustrate how the wicked are punished after a brief period of happiness prove futile, as numerous cases exist where the wicked live and die in joy (7-13). They dismiss Divine Providence (14-15); the prospect of sudden death does not intimidate them (16-18), nor do they seem troubled by the unfortunate fate of their descendants (19-21). Who, in light of this, can dictate to God the distribution of joy and sorrow among humankind (22)? In the eyes of God, both the unjust and the just face the same end (23-26). Only Job's companions assert that the wicked must undoubtedly face doom (27-28).