There is a question as to what is the proper subject of the verb. Grammatically a feminine plural subject is demanded, but there is none present or conveniently to be supplied by the context. Some consider “bars,” a masculine noun, as the subject, and translate the clause thus: “Shall the bars of the grave go down?” Others go back to “hope,” a feminine singular (v. 15), and speak of the hope as descending to the bars of she’ol.

Job’s speech ends on the note of complete despair. The grave seems to be his only hope.