The Meaning of Job 21:18 Explained

Job 21:18

KJV: They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.

YLT: They are as straw before wind, And as chaff a hurricane hath stolen away,

Darby: Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

ASV: That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

They are as stubble  before  the wind,  and as chaff  that the storm  carrieth away. 

What does Job 21:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 21:1-34 - "shall Any Teach God?"
After a brief introduction, in which he claims the right to reply, Job 21:1-6, Job brings forward a new argument. He affirms that his friends are wrong in assuming that the connection between sin and suffering is invariable. On the contrary, he urges that wicked men often spend their lives in prosperity, on the farm, in the fold, and in the home, Job 21:10-11. Sounds of joy issue from their dwellings, Job 21:12. They die without prolonged torture, Job 21:13. From the contention of his friends, Job turns to the passer-by for confirmation of his words. Surely, he says, it is a matter of common observation that some wicked men do prosper and die in peace, Job 21:29.
With Job's answer the second colloquy ends. His friends have gained nothing by their arguments, but Job has learned much by his afflictions. On the dark background of his night the Morning Star has actually begun to shine. He appeals to God with greater confidence and even finds refuge in Him; but so far, though arguing his case, he has preserved a humble and reverent attitude. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 21

1  Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved
7  Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God
16  Sometimes their destruction is manifest
21  The happy and unhappy are alike in death
27  The judgment of the wicked is in another world

What do the individual words in Job 21:18 mean?

They are like straw before the wind and like chaff that carries away a storm
יִהְי֗וּ כְּתֶ֥בֶן לִפְנֵי־ ר֑וּחַ וּ֝כְמֹ֗ץ גְּנָבַ֥תּוּ סוּפָֽה

יִהְי֗וּ  They  are 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְּתֶ֥בֶן  like  straw 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: תֶּבֶן  
Sense: straw, stubble.
לִפְנֵי־  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
ר֑וּחַ  the  wind 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
וּ֝כְמֹ֗ץ  and  like  chaff 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹץ  
Sense: chaff.
גְּנָבַ֥תּוּ  that  carries  away 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּנַב  
Sense: to steal, steal away, carry away.
סוּפָֽה  a  storm 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: סוּפָה 
Sense: storm-wind.