Job 27:19
The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
Original Language Analysis
יִ֭שְׁכַּב
man shall lie down
H7901
יִ֭שְׁכַּב
man shall lie down
Strong's:
H7901
Word #:
2 of 7
to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 7
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֵאָסֵ֑ף
but he shall not be gathered
H622
יֵאָסֵ֑ף
but he shall not be gathered
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
4 of 7
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
עֵינָ֖יו
his eyes
H5869
עֵינָ֖יו
his eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
5 of 7
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Cross References
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature frequently addressed the sudden reversal of fortune. Wealth provided no ultimate security against divine judgment, plague, war, or robbery. Job's original audience, living in unstable times, would recognize this reality. The phrase "he is not" recalls biblical language for sudden death or disappearance, emphasizing the transitory nature of human life and possessions.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the reality of sudden loss challenge our confidence in material security?
- What does it mean to hold wealth as a steward rather than an owner, prepared for sudden reversal?
- How can we cultivate contentment that doesn't depend on maintaining our current circumstances?
Analysis & Commentary
The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered—the verse describes sudden reversal. The verb שָׁכַב (shakhav, lie down) can mean sleeping or dying; here it suggests going to bed wealthy. But he shall not be gathered uses אָסַף (asaf, gather/be gathered), often referring to being gathered to one's ancestors in honorable death (Genesis 25:8, 35:29). The negation suggests either no honorable burial or no gathering of wealth—interpretations differ. He openeth his eyes, and he is not echoes Psalm 37:10, 36—the wicked vanish suddenly. The Hebrew וְאֵינֶנּוּ (ve'eynennu, "and he is not") indicates complete disappearance, like Enoch who "was not, for God took him" (Genesis 5:24), but here it's judgment, not translation.
The dramatic image captures sudden loss: a rich man goes to sleep wealthy but wakes to find everything gone—or worse, dies without warning, unable to enjoy his wealth. This describes Job's own experience: he was prosperous one day, devastated the next. The irony is profound—Job describes the wicked's fate while having experienced it himself.