Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Parallel translations
- WEB Their child is established with them in their sight, their offspring before their eyes.
- KJV Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
- NKJV Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.
- NASB “Their descendants endure with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes,
- NLT They live to see their children grow up and settle down, and they enjoy their grandchildren.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Job notes that the wicked often see their children firmly established around them, a sign of blessing in that culture. Their families thrive before their eyes.
Overview
Continuing his argument, Job points to the secure descendants of the ungodly as evidence against the friends' theology. In the ancient world a flourishing line of offspring was treated as proof of divine favor (cf. Ps 127:3-5). Job's point is not that this is right, but that observed life is more complex than his friends allow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Prov 17:6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
- Job 20:28The possessions of his house will be removed, flowing away on the day of God’s wrath.
- Ps 17:14from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.
- Job 20:10His sons will seek the favor of the poor, for his own hands must return his wealth.
- Job 5:3–4I have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed.
- Job 18:19He has no offspring or posterity among his people, no survivor where he once lived.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Job's cry for a mediator who can lay his hand on both God and man, and his confidence that 'my Redeemer lives' and will stand on the earth, reaches forward to Jesus the living Redeemer.
How Job 21:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.