Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
A land of darkness - The word used here ( ‛êyphâh ) is different from that rendered "darkness" ׁ chôshek in the previous verse. That is the common word to denote darkness; this seldom occurs. It is derived from ּ ‛ûph , to fly; and then to cover as with wings; and hence, the noun means that which is shaded or dark; Amos 4:13; compare Job 17:13; Isaiah 8:22; Isaiah 9:1.
As darkness itself - This is still another word 'ôphel though in our common version but one term is used. We have not the means in our language of marking different degrees of obscurity with the accuracy with which the Hebrews did it. The word used here 'ôphel denotes a THICK darkness - such as exists when the sun is set - from 'aphêl , to go down, to set. It is poetic, and is used to denote intense and deep darkness; see Job 3:6.
And of the shadow of death - I would prefer reading this as connected with the previous word - "the deep darkness of the shadow of death." The Hebrew will bear this, and indeed it is the obvious construction.
Without any order - The word rendered order ( sedārı̂ym ) is in the plural. It is from , obsolete, to place in a row or order, to arrange. The meaning is, that everything was mingled together as in chaos, and all was confusion. Milton has used similar language:
- "A vast immeasurable abyss."
- "dark, wasteful, wild."
Ovid uses similar language in speaking of chaos: "Unus chaos, rudis indigestaque moles."
And where the light is as darkness - This is a very striking and graphic expression. It means that there is no pure and clear light. Even all the light that shines there is dark, sombre, gloomy - like the little light of a total eclipse, which seems to be darkness itself, and which only serves to render the darkness more distressing. Compare Milton:
"A dungeon horrible on all sides round,
As one great furnace flamed, yet from those flames
No light; but rather darkness visible
Served only to discover sights of woe."
Par. Lost, 1.
The Hebrew here literally is, "And it shines forth ( yatopha‛ ) as darkness:" that is, the very shining of the light there, if there is any, is like darkness! Such was the view of Job of the abodes of the dead - even of the pious dead. No wonder he shrank back from it, and wished to live. Such is the prospect of the grave to man, until Christianity comes and reveals a brighter world beyond the grave - a world that is all light. That darkness is now scattered. A clear light shines even around the grave, and beyond there is a world where all is light, and where "there is no night," and where all is one bright eternal day; Revelation 21:23; Revelation 22:5. O had Job been favored with these views of heaven, he would not have thus feared to die!
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Job 3:5
Job 3:5
Job 3:26
Job 7:9
Job 12:22
Job 14:7
Job 17:13
Job 17:16
Job 19:27
Job 26:6
Job 33:28
Job 38:17
Job 38:17
Psalms 6:5
Psalms 9:13
Psalms 9:17
Psalms 16:10
Psalms 23:4
Psalms 31:17
Psalms 49:14
Psalms 55:15
Psalms 56:13
Psalms 86:13
Psalms 88:3
Psalms 88:6
Psalms 88:12
Psalms 107:40
Psalms 116:3
Isaiah 5:14
Amos 5:8
Luke 16:23
2 Peter 2:4
Revelation 1:18
Revelation 5:13
Revelation 6:8
Revelation 20:3
Revelation 20:13
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