Job 21:26
New International Version
Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.

New Living Translation
But both are buried in the same dust, both eaten by the same maggots.

English Standard Version
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.

Berean Standard Bible
But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.

King James Bible
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

New King James Version
They lie down alike in the dust, And worms cover them.

New American Standard Bible
“Together they lie down in the dust, And maggots cover them.

NASB 1995
“Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them.

NASB 1977
“Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Together they lie down in the dust, And worms cover them.

Amplified Bible
“Together they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.

Christian Standard Bible
But they both lie in the dust, and worms cover them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But they both lie in the dust, and worms cover them.

American Standard Version
They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.

Contemporary English Version
But we all end up dead, beneath a blanket of worms.

English Revised Version
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worm covereth them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them.

Good News Translation
But all alike die and are buried; they all are covered with worms.

International Standard Version
They both lie down in the dust; and worms cover them."

Majority Standard Bible
But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.

NET Bible
Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover over them both.

New Heart English Bible
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.

Webster's Bible Translation
They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

World English Bible
They lie down alike in the dust. The worm covers them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Together they lie down on the dust, "" And the worm covers them over.

Young's Literal Translation
Together -- on the dust they lie down, And the worm doth cover them over.

Smith's Literal Translation
They will lie down together upon the dust, and the worm shall cover over them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And yet they shall sleep together in the dust, and worms shall cover them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And yet they will sleep together in the dust, and worms will cover them.

New American Bible
Alike they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both.

New Revised Standard Version
They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
They shall lie down in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They lie down together on the Earth, and worms will cover them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But they lie down in the earth together, and corruption covers them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: God will Punish the Wicked
25Yet another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, having never tasted prosperity. 26But together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them both. 27Behold, I know your thoughts full well, the schemes by which you would wrong me.…

Cross References
Ecclesiastes 9:2-3
It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so it is for the one who refuses to take a vow. / This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun: There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they join the dead.

Psalm 49:10-14
For it is clear that wise men die, and the foolish and the senseless both perish and leave their wealth to others. / Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes. / But a man, despite his wealth, cannot endure; he is like the beasts that perish. ...

Ecclesiastes 3:19-20
For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Man has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. / All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

Psalm 73:3-5
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. / They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. / They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men.

Luke 16:22-23
One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried. / In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.

Ecclesiastes 8:14
There is a futility that is done on the earth: There are righteous men who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked men who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Romans 2:6-11
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” / To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. / But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. ...

Psalm 39:5-6
You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah / Surely every man goes about like a phantom; surely he bustles in vain; he heaps up riches not knowing who will haul them away.

1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

Ecclesiastes 7:15
In my futile life I have seen both of these: A righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.

Psalm 37:35-36
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, / yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

Hebrews 9:27
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Isaiah 14:11
Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.

James 1:10-11
But the one who is rich should exult in his low position, because he will pass away like a flower of the field. / For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its flower falls and its beauty is lost. So too, the rich man will fade away in the midst of his pursuits.


Treasury of Scripture

They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.

alike

Job 3:18,19
There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor…

Job 20:11
His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.

Ecclesiastes 9:2
All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.

the worms

Job 17:14
I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

Job 19:26
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Psalm 49:14
Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

Jump to Previous
Alike Cover Covered Covereth Covers Dust Lie Side Together Worm Worms
Jump to Next
Alike Cover Covered Covereth Covers Dust Lie Side Together Worm Worms
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














But together they lie down in the dust
This phrase highlights the inevitability of death for all people, regardless of their status or righteousness. In the context of Job, it underscores the theme of human mortality and the futility of earthly distinctions. The "dust" is a reference to Genesis 3:19, where God tells Adam, "For dust you are and to dust you will return," emphasizing the return to the earth from which humanity was created. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of death as a return to the earth, a common belief in the cultures surrounding Israel. The phrase also echoes Ecclesiastes 3:20, which states, "All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return," reinforcing the idea of universal mortality.

and worms cover them both
This imagery of worms is a vivid depiction of the physical decay that follows death, a common motif in ancient literature to describe the corruption of the body. It serves as a humbling reminder of the physical consequences of sin and the curse of death introduced in Genesis. The covering by worms symbolizes the complete consumption and decomposition of the body, a fate shared by all, regardless of their earthly life. This can be connected to Isaiah 14:11, where the prophet describes the fate of the proud king of Babylon: "Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers." This imagery is also a stark contrast to the hope of resurrection and eternal life found in the New Testament, where believers are promised a new, incorruptible body through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
The central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who undergoes severe trials and suffering. He is the speaker in this verse, expressing his observations about life and death.

2. Friends of Job
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Job's friends are significant in the context of the chapter. They have been arguing that suffering is a direct result of sin, which Job disputes.

3. The Dust
Symbolic of death and the grave, representing the final resting place of all humans regardless of their earthly status.

4. Worms
A metaphor for decay and the physical reality of death, emphasizing the equality of all people in death.

5. The Righteous and the Wicked
Implicit in the verse is the comparison between the righteous and the wicked, both of whom ultimately face the same physical end.
Teaching Points
The Universality of Death
Death is the great equalizer, affecting both the righteous and the wicked. This should humble us and remind us of our mortality.

The Futility of Earthly Status
Earthly wealth, power, and status do not alter the inevitability of death. Our focus should be on eternal values rather than temporary achievements.

The Hope Beyond the Grave
While Job emphasizes the physical reality of death, Christians can find hope in the resurrection and eternal life promised through Jesus Christ.

The Importance of Perspective
Understanding the temporary nature of life can help us prioritize our relationship with God and our service to others.

The Call to Live Righteously
Knowing that death comes to all, we are encouraged to live lives that honor God, trusting in His justice and mercy.(26) They shall lie down alike in the dust.--Not only, therefore, is the inequality of their life a stumbling-block, but so also is the equality which obliterates all distinction between them in death.

Verse 26. - They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. However different the circumstances of their life, men are alike in their death. One event happens to all. All die, are laid in the dust, and become the prey of worms.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But together
יַ֭חַד (ya·ḥaḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly

they lie down
יִשְׁכָּ֑בוּ (yiš·kā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7901: To lie down

in
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the dust,
עָפָ֣ר (‘ā·p̄ār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6083: Dust, clay, earth, mud

and worms
וְ֝רִמָּ֗ה (wə·rim·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7415: A maggot

cover
תְּכַסֶּ֥ה (tə·ḵas·seh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

them [both].
עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


Links
Job 21:26 NIV
Job 21:26 NLT
Job 21:26 ESV
Job 21:26 NASB
Job 21:26 KJV

Job 21:26 BibleApps.com
Job 21:26 Biblia Paralela
Job 21:26 Chinese Bible
Job 21:26 French Bible
Job 21:26 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 21:26 They lie down alike in the dust (Jb)
Job 21:25
Top of Page
Top of Page