Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version In the dark, thieves break into houses, but by day they shut themselves in; they want nothing to do with the light. New Living Translation Thieves break into houses at night and sleep in the daytime. They are not acquainted with the light. English Standard Version In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light. Berean Standard Bible In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light. King James Bible In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. New King James Version In the dark they break into houses Which they marked for themselves in the daytime; They do not know the light. New American Standard Bible “In the darkness they dig into houses, They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light. NASB 1995 “In the dark they dig into houses, They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light. NASB 1977 “In the dark they dig into houses, They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light. Legacy Standard Bible In the dark they dig into houses; They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light. Amplified Bible “In the dark they dig into [the penetrable walls of] houses; They shut themselves up by day; They do not know the light [of day]. Christian Standard Bible In the dark they break into houses; by day they lock themselves in, never experiencing the light. Holman Christian Standard Bible In the dark they break into houses; by day they lock themselves in, never experiencing the light. American Standard Version In the dark they dig through houses: They shut themselves up in the day-time; They know not the light. Contemporary English Version Robbers hide during the day, then break in after dark because they reject the light. English Revised Version In the dark they dig through houses: they shut themselves up in the daytime; they know not the light. GOD'S WORD® Translation In the dark, they break into houses, [but] by day they lock themselves in. They do not [even] know the light, Good News Translation At night thieves break into houses, but by day they hide and avoid the light. International Standard Version They break into houses in the dark; during the day they remained sealed in. They don't know daylight. Majority Standard Bible In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light. NET Bible In the dark the robber breaks into houses, but by day they shut themselves in; they do not know the light. New Heart English Bible In the dark they dig through houses. They shut themselves up in the daytime. They do not know the light. Webster's Bible Translation In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the day-time: they know not the light. World English Bible In the dark they dig through houses. They shut themselves up in the daytime. They don’t know the light. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHe has dug in the darkness—houses; By day they shut themselves up, "" They have not known light. Young's Literal Translation He hath dug in the darkness -- houses; By day they shut themselves up, They have not known light. Smith's Literal Translation To break through houses in darkness in the day they shut up for themselves: they knew not light. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleHe diggeth through houses in the dark, as in the day they had appointed for themselves, and they have not known the light. Catholic Public Domain Version He passes through houses in the nighttime, just as they had agreed among themselves in the daytime; and they are ignorant of the light. New American Bible in the dark he breaks into houses; By day they shut themselves in; they do not know the light. New Revised Standard Version In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIn darkness he breaks into houses which he has marked in the daytime. The wicked know not the light. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated He breaks into houses in darkness and by day marks them so that they will not see the light OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917In the dark they dig through houses; They shut themselves up in the day-time; They know not the light. Brenton Septuagint Translation In darkness he digs through houses: by day they conceal themselves securely: they know not the light. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job: Judgment for the Wicked…15The eye of the adulterer watches for twilight. Thinking, ‘No eye will see me,’ he covers his face. 16In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light. 17For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!… Cross References John 3:19-20 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. Ephesians 5:11-13 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. / For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. / But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. Luke 12:2-3 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. / What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops. 1 Thessalonians 5:7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. Romans 13:12-13 The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. / Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Matthew 6:22-23 The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. / But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Proverbs 7:9-10 at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night. / Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. Isaiah 29:15 Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?” Micah 2:1 Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. Jeremiah 23:24 “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD. Amos 5:12-13 For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate. / Therefore, the prudent keep silent in such times, for the days are evil. Psalm 10:8-9 He lies in wait near the villages; in ambush he slays the innocent; his eyes watch in stealth for the helpless. / He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net. Psalm 64:5-6 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say. / They devise injustice and say, “We have perfected a secret plan.” For the inner man and the heart are mysterious. Proverbs 4:16-17 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall. / For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. Proverbs 1:11-12 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. Treasury of Scripture In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. in the dark Exodus 22:2,3 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him… Ezekiel 12:5-7,12 Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby… Matthew 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. they know Job 24:13 They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof. Job 38:12,13 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; … John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Jump to Previous Break Dark Darkness Daytime Day-Time Dig Dug Holes Houses Light Makes Marked Shut Shutting Themselves Walls WantJump to Next Break Dark Darkness Daytime Day-Time Dig Dug Holes Houses Light Makes Marked Shut Shutting Themselves Walls WantJob 24 1. Wickedness often goes unpunished17. There is a secret judgment for the wicked In the dark they dig through houses; This phrase highlights the actions of those who commit crimes under the cover of darkness. In ancient times, homes were often constructed with mud bricks or stone, making it feasible for thieves to dig through walls to gain entry. The darkness symbolizes evil and secrecy, a common biblical motif (John 3:19-20). The act of digging through houses indicates premeditated and deliberate sin, contrasting with the light, which represents truth and righteousness (1 John 1:5-7). by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobThe central figure of the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who endures immense suffering and questions the justice of God. 2. The Wicked In this context, those who commit crimes under the cover of darkness, representing moral and spiritual darkness. 3. Darkness and Light Symbolic elements representing evil and good, ignorance and knowledge, or sin and righteousness. Teaching Points The Nature of SinSin often seeks the cover of darkness to avoid exposure and accountability. This reflects the human tendency to hide wrongdoing rather than confront it. The Illusion of Secrecy While the wicked may believe they can hide their actions, God sees all. This serves as a reminder that nothing is hidden from God's sight. The Call to Live in the Light Christians are called to live transparently and righteously, as children of the light, rejecting the deeds of darkness. The Consequences of Darkness Living in spiritual darkness leads to separation from God and a lack of true understanding and wisdom. The Hope of Redemption Even those who have lived in darkness can find redemption and transformation through Christ, who is the Light of the World.(16) Which they had marked for themselves in the daytime.--Or, as some understand, they seal (i.e., shut) themselves up in the daytime. It is said that it is still the custom in Eastern cities for such persons to endeavour to obtain access to the harem in female attire. They know not the light.--Compared with Job 24:13, shows strongly the different usage of the expression in the two cases. Verse 16. - In the dark they dig through houses. In ancient times, burglary commonly took this form. Windows were few, and high up in the walls; doors were strongly fastened with bolts and bars. But the walls, being of clay, or rubble, or sun-dried brick, were weak and easily penetrable. This was especially the case with party walls; and if burglars entered an unoccupied house, nothing was easier than to break through the slight partition which separated it from the house next door. The Greek word for "burglar" is τοιχώρυχος" he who digs through a wall." Which they had marked for themselves in the daytime; rather, they shut themselves up in the daytime; literally, they seal themselves up; the meaning being that they carefully keep themselves close. Professor Lee, however, defends the Authorized Version. They know not the light; i.e. they avoid it, keep away from it, will have nothing to do with it.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew In the darkבַּחֹ֗שֶׁךְ (ba·ḥō·šeḵ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness they dig through חָתַ֥ר (ḥā·ṯar) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2864: To force a, passage, as by burglary, with oars houses; בָּ֫תִּ֥ים (bāt·tîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1004: A house by day יוֹמָ֥ם (yō·w·mām) Adverb Strong's 3119: Daytime, by day they shut themselves in, חִתְּמוּ־ (ḥit·tə·mū-) Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 2856: To seal, affix a seal, seal up never לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no to experience יָ֥דְעוּ (yā·ḏə·‘ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3045: To know the light. אֽוֹר׃ (’ō·wr) Noun - common singular Strong's 216: Illumination, luminary Links Job 24:16 NIVJob 24:16 NLT Job 24:16 ESV Job 24:16 NASB Job 24:16 KJV Job 24:16 BibleApps.com Job 24:16 Biblia Paralela Job 24:16 Chinese Bible Job 24:16 French Bible Job 24:16 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 24:16 In the dark they dig through houses (Jb) |
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