The Meaning of Job 21:19 Explained

Job 21:19

KJV: God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.

YLT: God layeth up for his sons his sorrow, He giveth recompense unto him -- and he knoweth.

Darby: +God layeth up the punishment of his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know it:

ASV: Ye say , God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

God  layeth up  his iniquity  for his children:  he rewardeth  him, and he shall know  [it]. 

What does Job 21:19 Mean?

Study Notes

iniquity
i.e. the punishment of his iniquity.

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 21:19 mean?

[They say] God lays up for his children one's iniquity let Him recompense him that he may know [it]
אֱל֗וֹהַּ יִצְפֹּן־ לְבָנָ֥יו אוֹנ֑וֹ יְשַׁלֵּ֖ם אֵלָ֣יו וְיֵדָֽע

אֱל֗וֹהַּ  [They  say]  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹוהַּ  
Sense: God.
יִצְפֹּן־  lays  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָפַן 
Sense: to hide, treasure, treasure or store up.
לְבָנָ֥יו  for  his  children 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אוֹנ֑וֹ  one's  iniquity 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.
יְשַׁלֵּ֖ם  let  Him  recompense 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .
וְיֵדָֽע  that  he  may  know  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.