Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:26
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
26. Wholly different in life the two are alike in death; cf. Ecc 2:15 seq.
They shall lie down ] They lie down. Similarly, the worms cover.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
They shall lie down alike in the dust – The emphasis here is on the word alike – yachad. The idea is, that they should die in a similar manner. There would be no such difference in the mode of their death as to determine anything about their character or to show that one was the friend of God, and that the other was not. The friends of Job had maintained, that that could be certainly known by the divine dealings with people, either in their life, or in their death. Job combats this opinion, and says, that there is no such marked distinction in their life, nor is there any certain indication of their character in their death. Prosperity often attends the wicked as well as the righteous, and the death of the righteous and the wicked resemble each other.
And the worms shall cover them – Cover them both. They shall alike moulder back to dust. There is no distinction in the grave. There is no difference in the manner in which they moulder back to dust. No argument can be drawn respecting their character from the divine dealings toward them when in life – none from the manner of their death – none from the mode in which they moulder back to dust. On the reference to the worm here, see the notes at Job 14:11.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 26. They shall lie down alike in the dust] Death levels all distinctions, and the grave makes all equal. There may be a difference in the grave itself; but the human corpse is the same in all. Splendid monuments enshrine corruption; but the sod must lie close and heavy upon the putrefying carcass, to prevent it from becoming the bane of the living.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All these worldly differences are ended by death, and they lie in the grave without any distinction, till the time of general resurrection and judgment comes. So that no man can tell who is good, and who is bad, by any events which befall them in this life.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
26. (Ec9:2).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
They shall lie down alike in the dust,…. Such as have lived and died in great outward prosperity, or in more unhappy circumstances; these are levelled by death, and brought into the same state and condition; are laid on dusty beds, where there is no difference between them, their rest together is in the dust; here they dwell, and here they lie and sleep until they are awaked in the morning of the resurrection:
and the worms shall cover them; these are the companions alike unto them, and sweetly feed on the one as on the other; the earth is their bed, and worms are their covering; even such who used to lie on beds of down, and were covered with coverings of silk, have now the same bed and covering as those who used to lie on beds of straw, and scarce any thing to cover them; worms are spread under them, and are spread upon them; they are both their bed and their covering, Isa 14:11.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(26) They shall lie down alike in the dust.Not only, therefore, is the inequality of their life a stumbling-block, but so also is the equality which obliterates all distinction between them in death.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
26. Alike Together, side by side. Whatever life men live, one common fate awaits all to lie down together in the dust. What, then, argues Job, becomes of the law of retribution in this present life? The same difficulty perplexed the Preacher, Ecc 2:15.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 21:26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Ver. 26. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and worms, &c. ] Death and afflictions are common to them both, as Ecc 9:2-3 How then do ye pronounce me wicked, because afflicted, and free among the dead, free of that company? &c.
And the worms shall cover them
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
alike: Job 3:18, Job 3:19, Job 20:11, Ecc 9:2
the worms: Job 17:14, Job 19:26, Psa 49:14, Isa 14:11
Reciprocal: Gen 3:19 – and Act 13:36 – and saw
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
21:26 They shall lie down alike in {o} the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
(o) As concerning their bodies: and this he speaks according to the common judgment.