Job 29:18
in Job 29So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand:
KJV
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
⋯
This verse in Job 29
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
However, in the bosom of my family, gives a good sense (Nu 24:21; Use "nest" for a secure dwelling. sand-- (Ge 22:17; But the Septuagint and Vulgate, and Jewish interpreters, favor the translation, "the phœnix bird." "Nest" in the parallel clause supports the reference to a bird.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+unbalanced-curly-quotes
This site's exposition
I will die in my nest
on Job 29:18-20
Job recalls what he told himself, “I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand”. Barnes reads the nest and the sand as permanence, a home undisturbed and days beyond counting. Gill takes “my bow is renewed in my hand” as the archer's figure for strength.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church3 voices
The words "I shall be perfected like the reeds," that is, I will end my days [by becoming full] of riches, by germinating and growing like the palm tree and the reeds and the [vegetables] planted along the edge of water. Henana says, "As the …
Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as a palm. What else is set forth in this place by the title of a 'nest,' but the tranquil rest of the faith whereby every infirm soul is nourished? For that multitude of the good, which shall be overtaken by the times of persecution, thought to accomplish the days of its nourishings, as in a nest, so in a place of repose.
Because of all these good works, he was confident that his prosperity would endure. He describes the continuity of his prosperity first in his own person, and so he says, "And I said, 'I will die in my little nest,'" because I hoped from my …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
(2.) That he should die in the same prosperous state in which he had lived. If such an expectation as this arise from a lively faith in the providence and promise of God, it is well, but if from a conceit of our own wisdom, and the stability of these earthly things, it is ill-grounded and turns into sin. We hope Job's confidence was like David's ( Ps. xxvii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Then I said, I shall die in my nest,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
I shall die in my nest - As I endeavored to live soberly and temperately, fearing God, and departing from evil, endeavoring to promote the welfare of all around me, it was natural for me to conclude that I should live long, be very prosperous, and see my posterity multiply as the sands on the seashore.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Then I said - So prosperous was I, and so permanent seemed my sources of happiness. I saw no reason why all this should not continue, and why the same respect and honor should not attend me to the grave. I shall die in my nest - I shall remain where I am, and in my present comforts, while I live. I shall then die surrounded by my family and friends, and encompassed with honors. A “nest” is an image of quietness, harmlessness, and comfort. So Spenser speaks of a nest: Fayre bosome! fraught with virtue’s richest tresure, The neast of love, the lodging of delight, The bowre of bliss, the paradise of pleasure. Sonnet LXXVI The image here expresses the firm hope of a long life, and of a peaceful and tranquil death. The Septuagint renders it, “My age shall grow old like the trunk of a palm tree” - στέλεχος φοίνικος stelechos phoinikos - I shall live long; compare Bochart, Hieroz. P. ii. Lib. vi. c. v. p. 820, for the reason of this translation. And I shall multiply my days as the sand - Herder renders this, “the Phoenix;” and observes that the Phoenix is obviously intended here, only through a double sense of the word, the figure of the bird is immediately changed for that of the palm-tree. The rabbis generally understand by the word here rendered “sand” (חול chôl) the Phoenix - a fabulous bird, much celebrated in ancient times. Osaia in the book “Bereshith Rabba,” or Commentary on Genesis, says of this bird, “that all animals obeyed the woman (in eating the forbidden fruit) except one bird only by the name of חול chûl, concerning which it is said in Job, ‘I will multiply my days as the כחול kechûl.’” Jannai adds to this, that “this bird lives a thousand years, and in the end of the thousand years, a fire goes forth from its nest, and burns it up, but there remains, as it were, an egg, from which again the members grow, and it rises to life:” compare Nonnus in Dionys. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And I said, I will perish with my nest Because of the propriety of my traits, I would think to myself that when I die, I would have my nest and my house established with me.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וָ֭אֹמַר | vaomar | and I said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| עִם־ | ʾim- | with | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| קִנִּ֣י | kini | nest my | H7064 → | |
| אֶגְוָ֑ע | ʾegva' | I will expire | H1478 → | 24 times |
| וְ֝כַח֗וֹל | vekhachol | and like <the> sand | H2344 → | |
| אַרְבֶּ֥ה | ʾarbeh | I will increase | H7235 → | 227 times |
| יָמִֽים׃ | yamim | days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
וָ֭אֹמַרand I said
vaomarH559 →5305 times
עִם־with
ʾim-H5973 →1050 times
קִנִּ֣יnest my
kiniH7064 →
אֶגְוָ֑עI will expire
ʾegva'H1478 →24 times
וְ֝כַח֗וֹלand like <the> sand
vekhacholH2344 →
אַרְבֶּ֥הI will increase
ʾarbehH7235 →227 times
יָמִֽים׃days
yamimH3117 →2304 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 91:16With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
it leads to
- Proverbs 3:2
for they will add length to your days, years and peace to your life.
- Proverbs 3:16
Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
- Psalms 21:4
He asked You for life, and You granted it— length of days, forever and ever.
- Psalms 50:23
He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who rights his way, I will show the salvation of God.”
- Isaiah 65:20–22
No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails…
- Proverbs 3:2
Through
Obadiah 1:4Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.
it leads to
- Amos 9:2
Though they dig down to Sheol, from there My hand will take them; and though they climb up to heaven, from there I will pull them down.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Habakkuk 2:9
Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!
- Job 20:6–7
Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,
- Amos 9:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Job
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Job; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XIX; Ishodad of Merv, COMMENTARY ON JOB 29:18; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.