Job 21:17
How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.
Original Language Analysis
כַּמָּ֤ה׀
H4100
כַּמָּ֤ה׀
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
1 of 10
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
נֵר
How oft is the candle
H5216
נֵר
How oft is the candle
Strong's:
H5216
Word #:
2 of 10
a lamp (i.e., the burner) or light (literally or figuratively)
רְשָׁ֘עִ֤ים
of the wicked
H7563
רְשָׁ֘עִ֤ים
of the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
3 of 10
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
יִדְעָ֗ךְ
put out
H1846
יִדְעָ֗ךְ
put out
Strong's:
H1846
Word #:
4 of 10
to be extinguished; figuratively, to expire or be dried up
וְיָבֹ֣א
and how oft cometh
H935
וְיָבֹ֣א
and how oft cometh
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
5 of 10
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עָלֵ֣ימוֹ
H5921
עָלֵ֣ימוֹ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 10
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֵידָ֑ם
their destruction
H343
אֵידָ֑ם
their destruction
Strong's:
H343
Word #:
7 of 10
oppression; by implication misfortune, ruin
Historical Context
The 'candle' metaphor represents life's light. Ancient observation confirmed what Job states - the wicked often die peacefully, not in calamity.
Questions for Reflection
- What do you do with observations that challenge your theology?
- How do you maintain faith when evidence seems to contradict doctrine?
Analysis & Commentary
Job's rhetorical question: 'How oft is the candle of the wicked put out? and how oft cometh their destruction upon them?' challenges the friends' certainty. Job observes that wicked destruction is not as frequent as claimed, undermining simplistic cause-and-effect theology.