They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Job 21:26 belongs to the arguments or colloquies between Job and his three friends in chapters 3-31 on the cause and object of human suffering. It is part of Job's answer teaching that the wicked prosper in this life while facing punishment in the future. The book containing it is inspired and true narrative about a real man Job, though not every word spoken in it is true, and it must be studied as a whole and not mutilated by taking out only parts.
The verse means that all people dying in very different circumstances lie down alike in the dust and are covered by worms, whether good and bad, prosperous and afflicted, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, young and old, bond and free. Death brings all to the same grave, sheol or hades, a land of darkness. Bodies remain in the grave until the day of destruction, when the wicked are brought forth for the day of wrath, so their punishment follows the resurrection. Therefore the meeting of the rich man and Lazarus after death cannot take place immediately after death, but only at the resurrection when rewards are given and the wicked finally see the righteous in the kingdom.
Job 21:26 belongs to the arguments or colloquies between Job and his three friends in chapters 3-31 on the cause and object of human suffering. It is part of Job's answer teaching that the wicked prosper in this life while facing punishment in the future. The book containing it is inspired and true narrative about a real man Job, though not every word spoken in it is true, and it must be studied as a whole and not mutilated by taking out only parts.
The verse means that all people dying in very different circumstances lie down alike in the dust and are covered by worms, whether good and bad, prosperous and afflicted, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, young and old, bond and free. Death brings all to the same grave, sheol or hades, a land of darkness. Bodies remain in the grave until the day of destruction, when the wicked are brought forth for the day of wrath, so their punishment follows the resurrection. Therefore the meeting of the rich man and Lazarus after death cannot take place immediately after death, but only at the resurrection when rewards are given and the wicked finally see the righteous in the kingdom.