What Does Job 3:22 Mean in the King James?

Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?

Job 3:22 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The grave becomes a place to rejoice at finding, exposing how suffering can make death feel like the first relief in reach.

THE MEANING

This verse gives language to a state where pain has narrowed the horizon until finding a grave feels like joy. It leaves that darkness visible: the relief the speaker can name is bound to death.

THE ROOT

קֶבֶר

qever

GROWS FROM

קבר

q-b-r

to bury

The root carries the act of burying, while its branches name burial and the place of burial. The grave here is more than an abstract ending: it is the found place of laying away, and the speaker’s relief has narrowed to reaching it.

ALSO GROWS

qābar: to bury

קָבַר

The verb names the act behind the grave, keeping the verse’s image concrete.

qevurah: burial

קְבוּרָה

This related noun connects the grave to the act of being laid away.

THE PATTERN

Scripture gives unhidden language to moments when suffering makes death seem like relief.

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

1 Kings 19:4 · KJVThe speaker names death as the relief he wants when suffering leaves him feeling finished.

For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.

Psalm 88:3 · KJVThe verse gives direct language to a life pressed close to the grave by trouble.

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

2 Corinthians 1:8 · KJVIt names the point where distress exceeds a person’s strength and even life itself feels beyond hope.

THE THREAD

Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

Psalm 88:11 · KJV

Job’s speaker rejoices at finding the grave; Psalm 88 uses the same Hebrew word, ⁨קֶבֶר⁩ (qever, grave), in a stark question about whether faithful love is declared there. The shared word holds the longing for the grave beside the unanswered question of what can reach it.

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