They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
In Hebrew the wording is that their soul dies in youth where the English renders it that they die in youth. The Latin version likewise has its word for soul, anima eorum, confirming that it is the soul itself that dies, whether soul is taken to mean the whole human composition or is taken as synonymous with spirit. Soul in the first half and life in the second half mean the whole man and his life, the person himself, not a separate immortal part. The soul is thus presented as mortal and able to die. It is subject to death by natural means as well as by violent means.
The verse belongs to Elihu's argument and reproof to Job in chapters 32 through 37. Its presence in the inspired book guarantees that the words were truly spoken, not that what is said is in itself true, since it comes from human wisdom and observation. It states a principle that is generally true, that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, but it was misapplied in Job's case. Affliction, adversity and suffering do not prove that a man is under the displeasure of God.
In Hebrew the wording is that their soul dies in youth where the English renders it that they die in youth. The Latin version likewise has its word for soul, anima eorum, confirming that it is the soul itself that dies, whether soul is taken to mean the whole human composition or is taken as synonymous with spirit. Soul in the first half and life in the second half mean the whole man and his life, the person himself, not a separate immortal part. The soul is thus presented as mortal and able to die. It is subject to death by natural means as well as by violent means.
The verse belongs to Elihu's argument and reproof to Job in chapters 32 through 37. Its presence in the inspired book guarantees that the words were truly spoken, not that what is said is in itself true, since it comes from human wisdom and observation. It states a principle that is generally true, that evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, but it was misapplied in Job's case. Affliction, adversity and suffering do not prove that a man is under the displeasure of God.