Job 11 18

Job 11:18 kjv

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

Job 11:18 nkjv

And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.

Job 11:18 niv

You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Job 11:18 esv

And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.

Job 11:18 nlt

Having hope will give you courage.
You will be protected and will rest in safety.

Job 11 verses

Job 11 18 Meaning

Job 11:18, spoken by Zophar to Job, articulates a conditional promise of security and rest, contingent upon Job's repentance and return to God. It posits that genuine hope, arising from putting away iniquity and turning to the Almighty, will lead to a sense of unshakeable security, enabling one to survey their surroundings without fear and settle into lasting peace. This "hope" is portrayed as an expectation that grounds confidence in present and future safety, stemming from divine favor.

Job 11 18 Context

Job 11:18 is found within Zophar the Naamathite's first discourse to Job, where he stands as the most dogmatic and aggressive of Job's three friends. Zophar accuses Job of being a liar and mocks his claims of righteousness, asserting that God's wisdom is unfathomable and Job's suffering must be a direct consequence of unconfessed sin. He posits a simplistic view of divine retribution, where immediate prosperity follows immediate repentance and unrepentant wickedness always leads to destruction. This specific verse, therefore, represents Zophar's offer of conditional hope: if Job were to sincerely repent (as detailed in Job 11:13-17), he would experience divine favor, security, and an untroubled existence. The historical and cultural context is crucial here: the friends operate within a traditional, prevailing wisdom belief system where suffering is almost always attributed to personal sin, a direct challenge to the reality of Job's situation where his suffering is not due to his sin, but for reasons beyond human understanding. Zophar’s polemic is directed at Job's perceived impious complaints against God's justice, framing Job as needing to conform to the established order of cause and effect.

Job 11 18 Word analysis

• And you will feel secure, / וְבָטַחְתָּ (wə·ḇā·ṭaḥ·tā):

  • "And you will feel secure": From the Hebrew root בָּטַח (bāṭaḥ), meaning to trust, be confident, to feel secure, to rely upon. This verb suggests an internal state of quiet assurance and external safety. It implies freedom from anxiety and fear, rooted in confidence that one is safe from harm. In the biblical context, bāṭaḥ often denotes trust specifically in God.
  • Significance: This is not a superficial feeling but a deep-seated confidence born from a perceived restoration of right relationship with God. Zophar envisions a tangible outcome of Job's supposed repentance.

• because there is hope; / כִּי־יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה (kî-yêš tiq·wāh):

  • "because": Kî (כִּי), a common Hebrew particle, introduces the reason or explanation for the preceding statement.
  • "there is": Yēš (יֵשׁ), a Hebrew existential particle indicating existence, "there is."
  • "hope": תִּקְוָה (tiqwāh), from the root קָוָה (qāvāh), meaning to wait, hope, expect. Tiqwāh literally means a "cord" or "line," suggesting something that ties or binds one to the future, a lifeline, an expectation. It carries a sense of confident expectation for a positive outcome, often linked to divine intervention or promise.
  • Significance: This hope is presented by Zophar as the foundation for security. For Job, it means hope for the restoration of his life and standing if he would repent. For the broader biblical reader, true hope is anchored in God's character and promises, providing stability even amidst adversity.

• you will look around / וְחָפַרְתָּ (wə·ḥā·p̄ar·tā):

  • "you will look around": From the root חָפַר (ḥāpar), meaning to dig, to search, to spy out, to investigate thoroughly. The Piel stem (here in the converted imperfect) often denotes an intensive or repeated action. In this context, it suggests an active surveying or exploring of one's surroundings, specifically looking for any hidden danger or threat.
  • Significance: This vivid image portrays someone able to inspect their environment with calmness, finding no cause for alarm. It underlines a palpable sense of peace where previously fear might have compelled anxious searching for signs of misfortune. It implies a thoroughness of discovery resulting in reassurance.

• and rest in safety. / לָבֶטַח וְיָשַׁבְתָּ (lā·ḇe·ṭaḥ wə·yā·šaḇ·tā):

  • "and rest": From the root יָשַׁב (yāšab), meaning to sit, dwell, remain, settle down. It implies a stable, permanent, and undisturbed dwelling.
  • "in safety": בֶּטַח (beṭaḥ), the noun form of the root בָּטַח (bāṭaḥ). It means security, safety, confidence. It indicates a state of assured protection and well-being.
  • Significance: This phrase culminates the promise. The act of "sitting down" implies a cessation of wandering, flight, or anxiety. It signifies establishing oneself permanently and comfortably, guaranteed by the surrounding "safety." It reflects a deep and untroubled peace, confirming the previous feelings of security and hope.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "you will feel secure, because there is hope": This establishes a causal link between the inner state of hope and the outward experience of security. Zophar is stating that a rectified relationship with God provides an anchor of confident expectation, leading to practical and psychological safety.
  • "you will look around and rest in safety": This second clause offers a detailed image of the security. It's not passive, but a conscious act of surveying the world without finding any threat, followed by the complete relaxation of "resting in safety." This paints a picture of a profound peace where the former anxiety (which was Job's constant companion) is replaced by serene confidence.

Job 11 18 Bonus section

While Zophar intends to humble Job through a threat of judgment if he does not repent, followed by a conditional promise of restoration, the underlying principles of hope and security are biblically affirmed, albeit not always in the simplistic cause-and-effect Zophar portrays. The Book of Job itself goes on to demonstrate that true security and hope for Job did not come from an immediate cessation of suffering via an action he was expected to take, but through a deeper, unmerited divine encounter (Job 42:10-17). The "hope" Zophar speaks of here is worldly and conditional, contrasted with a steadfast hope in God that transcends immediate circumstances (Rom 5:5; Heb 6:19). The emphasis on external rest and safety also contrasts with the New Testament concept of rest found spiritually in Christ regardless of outward circumstance (Mt 11:28-30). Zophar misses that suffering itself can sometimes be part of God's greater plan, refining faith rather than merely punishing sin.

Job 11 18 Commentary

Zophar's words in Job 11:18 articulate a principle that is true in a general sense: sincere turning to God does bring peace and security. However, he misapplies this principle to Job. Zophar’s commentary is typical of ancient wisdom thinking which struggled with innocent suffering, unable to grasp a scenario where one's trials are not directly proportional to their sins. He presents hope (تִּקְוָה, tiqwāh) not merely as an optimistic wish, but as a foundational confidence arising from reconciliation, a lifeline for a settled life. The "looking around" (חָפַר, ḥāpar) signifies an absence of dread, allowing for peaceful surveying of one's circumstances, while "resting in safety" (בֶּטַח, beṭaḥ) denotes a profound, undisturbed peace of dwelling. Despite Zophar's flawed premise concerning Job's guilt, the verse contains a universal truth: genuine hope, particularly hope fixed on God, yields a state of internal security and enables an external peace that overcomes fear, ultimately leading to spiritual and emotional rest. Practically, for the believer, this means placing trust in God's faithfulness even amidst current trials, knowing that ultimate rest and security are found in Him.