Job 15 22

Job 15:22 kjv

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.

Job 15:22 nkjv

He does not believe that he will return from darkness, For a sword is waiting for him.

Job 15:22 niv

He despairs of escaping the realm of darkness; he is marked for the sword.

Job 15:22 esv

He does not believe that he will return out of darkness, and he is marked for the sword.

Job 15:22 nlt

They dare not go out into the darkness
for fear they will be murdered.

Job 15 verses

Job 15 22 Meaning

Job 15:22 describes the inner turmoil and impending doom of the wicked man as perceived by Eliphaz. It conveys that such a person lives without hope of escaping their troubles, specifically "darkness" representing their affliction and moral state, and faces certain destruction, metaphorically "looked for by the sword," implying that judgment is an inescapable, active pursuer. The verse paints a picture of spiritual and physical demise stemming from their ungodliness.

Job 15 22 Context

Job 15:22 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite’s second speech (Job 15:1-35). Having already accused Job in chapter 4, Eliphaz returns to criticize Job for what he perceives as impious words and claims of blamelessness. Throughout this speech, Eliphaz strongly asserts that the wicked are punished by God and cannot escape their just desserts. Verses 20-35 of chapter 15 vividly describe the torment, insecurity, and ultimate destruction awaiting the wicked. Eliphaz draws on traditional wisdom to make his case, asserting a direct, predictable link between sin and suffering. His words about the wicked man are meant to implicitly condemn Job and compel him to confess a sin that, according to Eliphaz’s theology, must be the cause of his intense suffering. Eliphaz presents a rigid view of divine justice, where the "darkness" of sin inevitably leads to the "sword" of divine judgment.

Job 15 22 Word analysis

• He: (Refers to the "wicked man" introduced in Job 15:20-21, as defined by Eliphaz). This is a general archetype within Eliphaz's theology, representing anyone who is not upright, implying Job.
• does not believe: (לֹא יַאֲמִין - lo ya'amin).
  • לא (lo): Hebrew negative particle, meaning "not."
  • יאמין (ya'amin): Third person masculine singular imperfect Qal (or Hiphil, common in this root for "believe/trust") from the root אָמַן ('aman). The root means to be firm, steady, trustworthy; in the Hiphil stem, it means to trust, believe, confirm, have faith. Here, it implies a lack of conviction or faith that escape is possible, or perhaps a refusal to acknowledge the need for repentance or turning. This "unbelief" is not about God's existence, but about the possibility of changing their dreadful fate or returning to a state of ease. It speaks to a deep spiritual despair or blindness, where the wicked do not anticipate a turnaround.
• that he will return: (כִּי יָשׁוּב - ki yashuv).
  • כי (ki): Conjunction, meaning "that," "for," or "indeed."
  • ישוב (yashuv): Third person masculine singular imperfect from the root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to return," "turn back," "repent," or "turn away." In this context, it implies a return from misfortune, difficulty, or a state of suffering. The wicked man lacks the belief that his condition will improve or that he will ever revert to a state of well-being.
• from darkness: (מֵחֹשֶׁךְ - mechoshekh).
  • מֵ (me): Preposition "from."
  • חשך (choshekh): Hebrew for "darkness," a potent biblical symbol. In Scripture, "darkness" can signify:
    • Calamity, affliction, distress (Isa 5:30; Lam 3:2).
    • Spiritual ignorance, moral depravity, evil (Prov 2:13; Jn 3:19).
    • Divine judgment, separation from God (Pss 105:28; Zeph 1:15; Matt 8:12).
    • The shadow of death or the grave (Job 10:21-22).For the wicked, this represents a life shadowed by inner dread, outer judgment, and ultimately, eternal separation from God's light.
• and he is looked for: (וְצָפוּי - v'tsaphuy).
  • וְ (v', "and").
  • צָפוּי (tsaphuy): Passive participle (masculine singular) from the root צָפָה (tsapah). This root means to "watch," "look out," "spy out," "lie in wait." In the passive, "he is being watched for" or "he is an object of observation." The nuance here suggests that the "sword" (next word) is actively waiting, even ambushing, the wicked man. There is an inescapable and preordained doom awaiting him, it is looking for him with a purpose.
• by the sword: (חֶרֶב - cherev).
  • חרב (cherev): Hebrew for "sword." Biblically, the sword is a common symbol of:
    • War, battle, violent death (Jer 9:16).
    • Divine judgment and punishment (Lev 26:25; Isa 34:5; Ezek 14:17).
    • The instrument of justice or wrath.
  • Here, it personifies divine judgment or inescapable calamity, actively seeking out the wicked.

Words-group analysis:

• He does not believe that he will return from darkness: This phrase vividly portrays the psychological and spiritual state of the wicked. They live in a perpetual state of dread and despair because they see no light at the end of their tunnel of affliction. Their "unbelief" is not about a lack of religious conviction in God’s existence, but a lack of hope or assurance that their circumstances will ever improve or that they can escape the consequences of their actions. This spiritual blindness prevents them from turning (שוב) towards repentance or hope. The "darkness" here encapsulates their misery, their evil ways, and the ominous shadow of impending judgment.
• and he is looked for by the sword: This is powerful imagery indicating unavoidable, imminent doom. The sword is not just present; it is actively awaiting, watching, seeking its target—the wicked man. This depicts a judgment that is not accidental or avoidable but an inescapable, pre-ordained consequence. The passive construction emphasizes the wicked man's helplessness and the relentless, almost sentient, nature of the impending judgment. It underscores a certainty of punishment, which Eliphaz applies to Job's situation.

Job 15 22 Bonus section

Eliphaz's pronouncements, while misdirected concerning Job, contain echoes of divine truth about the unrepentant wicked. His imagery of "darkness" aligns with later biblical portrayals of spiritual death, ignorance, and separation from God, which are the antithesis of the light, knowledge, and life found in Christ. The concept of the "sword" personified as an active agent of judgment foreshadows New Testament teachings where God’s justice is meted out. Eliphaz, like many wisdom teachers, attributes the wicked's plight to their inherent inability to escape their condition, highlighting a key aspect of humanity's lost state prior to divine intervention. This underscores the need for a savior to rescue individuals from their inherent darkness and the looming "sword" of judgment, which ultimately points to Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life who saves from this hopeless fate.

Job 15 22 Commentary

Eliphaz's words in Job 15:22 underscore a common Old Testament principle: the wicked face certain judgment and live in constant apprehension. He postulates that the ungodly are caught in a cycle of despair, believing there is no relief or escape ("return") from their state of spiritual and literal "darkness." This darkness encompasses not only the adversity they face but also their moral depravity and spiritual estrangement from God's light. More chillingly, the "sword" actively "looks for" them, portraying an imminent and inescapable judgment. This is not a passive waiting for fate but an active, searching pursuit, signifying divine wrath against sin. While Eliphaz's description accurately depicts the eventual fate of those truly estranged from God, his fundamental error lies in its rigid application to Job. He uses this theological truth to justify his conclusion that Job, experiencing great suffering, must be fundamentally wicked, thus misapplying a general principle to a specific, unique case of blameless suffering. This verse highlights the profound hopelessness of those without God's redemptive intervention, contrasting sharply with the hope found in Christ, who delivers from darkness and the sword of judgment for those who believe.