Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. New Living Translation Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere. English Standard Version yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face. Berean Standard Bible Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. King James Bible Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. New King James Version Because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, And He did not hide deep darkness from my face. New American Standard Bible But I am not destroyed by darkness, Nor by deep gloom which covers me. NASB 1995 But I am not silenced by the darkness, Nor deep gloom which covers me. NASB 1977 But I am not silenced by the darkness, Nor deep gloom which covers me. Legacy Standard Bible But I am not silenced by the darkness, Nor thick darkness which covers me. Amplified Bible But I am not silenced by the darkness [of these woes that fell on me], Nor by the thick darkness which covers my face. Christian Standard Bible Yet I am not destroyed by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. Holman Christian Standard Bible Yet I am not destroyed by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. American Standard Version Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face. Contemporary English Version God has covered me with darkness, but I refuse to be silent. English Revised Version Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face. GOD'S WORD® Translation But I am not silenced by the dark or by the thick darkness that covers my face. International Standard Version Nevertheless, I haven't been silenced because of the darkness, even when thick darkness obscures my vision." Majority Standard Bible Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. NET Bible Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness, because of the thick darkness that covered my face. New Heart English Bible Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face. Webster's Bible Translation Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. World English Bible Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor I have not been cut off before darkness, "" And before me He covered thick darkness.” Young's Literal Translation For I have not been cut off before darkness, And before me He covered thick darkness. Smith's Literal Translation For I was not cut off from the face of darkness, and he covered misfortune from my face. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor I have not perished because of the darkness that hangs over me, neither hath the mist covered my face. Catholic Public Domain Version Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face. New American Bible Yes, would that I had vanished in darkness, hidden by the thick gloom before me. New Revised Standard Version If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face! Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBecause I was not silenced before the darkness, and before the covering of the blackness. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Because I was not silenced by the presence of the darkness and by the presence of the veil of gloom OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did He cover the thick darkness from my face. Brenton Septuagint Translation For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered me before my face. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job Longs for God…16God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. 17Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face. Cross References Psalm 88:6-7 You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths. / Your wrath weighs heavily upon me; all Your waves have submerged me. Selah Lamentations 3:2-6 He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light. / Indeed, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long. / He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones. ... Isaiah 50:10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God. Psalm 143:3 For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread? Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. Psalm 139:11-12 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”— / even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You. Jeremiah 13:16 Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness. Micah 7:8-9 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. / Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD, until He argues my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His righteousness. John 12:35-36 Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. / While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of light.” After Jesus had spoken these things, He went away and was hidden from them. Matthew 4:16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. John 1:5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 1 John 1:5-7 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. / If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. / But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Treasury of Scripture Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered the darkness from my face. cut off Job 6:9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! 2 Kings 22:20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again. Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. the darkness from Job 15:22 He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword. Job 18:6,18 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him… Job 19:8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths. Jump to Previous Black Cover Covered Covering Covers Cut Dark Darkness Deep Face Gloom Hemmed Hidden Night Overcome Silenced ThickJump to Next Black Cover Covered Covering Covers Cut Dark Darkness Deep Face Gloom Hemmed Hidden Night Overcome Silenced ThickJob 23 1. Job longs to appear before God6. in confidence of his mercy 8. God, who is invisible, observes our ways 11. Job's innocence 13. God's decree is immutable Yet I am not silenced by the darkness In this phrase, Job expresses his determination to continue speaking despite the overwhelming darkness he feels. The "darkness" here symbolizes the intense suffering and confusion Job is experiencing. In biblical literature, darkness often represents chaos, evil, or judgment (Genesis 1:2, Exodus 10:21-23). Job's refusal to be silenced suggests a deep faith and perseverance, reminiscent of the psalmists who cry out to God in times of distress (Psalm 22:1-2). This persistence in seeking God despite suffering can be seen as a type of Christ, who also endured suffering and darkness but remained faithful (Matthew 27:46). by the thick darkness that covers my face Persons / Places / Events 1. JobThe central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and integrity who undergoes severe trials and suffering. Job is known for his patience and perseverance in the face of adversity. 2. God The omnipotent and omniscient Creator, who allows Job to be tested by Satan to demonstrate Job's faithfulness. 3. Darkness Symbolic of suffering, confusion, and the absence of understanding. In this context, it represents the trials and tribulations Job is experiencing. 4. Friends of Job Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Job's friends play a significant role in the account, offering misguided counsel and failing to understand Job's plight. 5. Satan The adversary who challenges Job's faithfulness, suggesting that Job is only righteous because of his prosperity and protection from God. Teaching Points Perseverance in TrialsJob's refusal to be silenced by darkness teaches us the importance of maintaining our faith and integrity even when we face severe trials and confusion. Faith Beyond Understanding Job's experience highlights that faith does not always require understanding. We can trust God's character and promises even when we cannot see the way forward. The Reality of Spiritual Darkness Acknowledge that spiritual darkness and suffering are real and can be overwhelming, but they do not have the final say over our lives. God's Presence in Darkness Even when we feel surrounded by darkness, God is present. Our circumstances do not dictate God's proximity or care for us. Encouragement to Speak Truth Like Job, we should not be silenced by our circumstances but continue to speak truth and seek understanding from God.Verse 17. - Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. Job complains of two things: (1) That he was not cut off (i.e. removed from earth) before the great darkness fell upon his life (comp. Job 3:11-13). (2) That he was not "covered,' i.e. sheltered and protected, by the love and care of God when the dark days came. . . . Hebrew Yetכִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction I am not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no silenced נִ֭צְמַתִּי (niṣ·mat·tî) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 6789: To put an end to, exterminate by מִפְּנֵי־ (mip·pə·nê-) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 6440: The face the darkness, חֹ֑שֶׁךְ (ḥō·šeḵ) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness by the thick darkness אֹֽפֶל׃ (’ō·p̄el) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 652: Darkness, gloom that covers כִּסָּה־ (kis·sāh-) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover my face. וּ֝מִפָּנַ֗י (ū·mip·pā·nay) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular Strong's 6440: The face Links Job 23:17 NIVJob 23:17 NLT Job 23:17 ESV Job 23:17 NASB Job 23:17 KJV Job 23:17 BibleApps.com Job 23:17 Biblia Paralela Job 23:17 Chinese Bible Job 23:17 French Bible Job 23:17 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 23:17 Because I was not cut off before (Jb) |
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