Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
They desperately wish for death, but it doesn't come; they search for it more eagerly than people search for buried treasure.
Job is describing people who are in such deep pain that they desperately want to die, seeking death more passionately than others seek wealth.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Job, which is set in the ancient Near East during the patriarchal period, Job is a righteous man enduring immense suffering after losing his wealth, health, and family as part of a divine test allowed by God. In Job 3:21, as he sits in his anguish, Job expresses a deep desire for death as an escape from his pain, comparing it to searching for buried treasures, which highlights the cultural view of death as a potential release in times of unrelenting hardship. This verse fits into the broader biblical narrative that grapples with the problem of innocent suffering and God's sovereignty.
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