Job 22 28

Job 22:28 kjv

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.

Job 22:28 nkjv

You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.

Job 22:28 niv

What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways.

Job 22:28 esv

You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

Job 22:28 nlt

You will succeed in whatever you choose to do,
and light will shine on the road ahead of you.

Job 22 verses

Job 22 28 Meaning

Job 22:28 conveys a principle presented by Eliphaz: if a person turns back to God and declares a plan or desire, it will be established and confirmed by divine action, leading to clear direction, prosperity, and God's favor in their life. This is posited as a conditional promise for restoration.

Job 22 28 Context

Job 22:28 is spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite during his third and final speech to Job (Job 22:1-30). Throughout the Book of Job, Job's three friends argue that his immense suffering must be a direct result of hidden sin, based on the conventional wisdom of their time, which held that God always punishes the wicked and blesses the righteous. Eliphaz, acting as an accuser, implicitly suggests Job is guilty of unrighteousness (Job 22:5-11), then urges Job to return to God, repent, and reconcile (Job 22:21-27). This particular verse, Job 22:28, is part of Eliphaz's hopeful proposition of restoration: if Job follows his counsel, then blessing and divine favor will return. Eliphaz's words, while containing elements of general truth about God's character and principles of repentance and blessing, are ultimately a misapplication to Job's unique situation, as Job's suffering is not due to his sin but is part of a divine test. Historically, this type of 'retribution theology' was common, asserting a direct, immediate, and predictable cause-and-effect relationship between righteousness/wickedness and blessing/suffering. Eliphaz is essentially offering Job a legalistic formula for regaining prosperity.

Job 22 28 Word analysis

• You will declare (תִּגְזַר - tigzar): From the root גָּזַר (gazar), meaning "to cut off, divide, determine, decree, ordain, enact." This is an active verb, implying a firm decision, determination, or declaration. It suggests a personal, deliberate pronouncement of intent or a decision about a course of action. It's not passive, but a positive and definite statement.
• a thing (אוֹמֶר - 'omer): This word refers to "a word," "a saying," "a declaration," "a speech," or "a command." In this context, it signifies whatever one purposes, plans, or articulates with intention. It represents the object of the declaration – a purpose, desire, or petition.
• and it will be established (וְיָקָם - wəyāqām): From the root קוּם (qum), meaning "to stand, rise, arise, be confirmed, be enduring, be fulfilled." The conjunction "and" links the declaration directly to its outcome. "Established" indicates permanence, certainty, and divine confirmation or ratification. What is declared will stand firm and be brought to fruition.
• for you (לָךְ - lach): This dative pronoun emphasizes the personal benefit or fulfillment directed specifically to the one who declares. The establishment is not for general purposes but directly benefits the speaker.
• so (וְעַל - wə'al): This preposition "upon" or "over" acts here to introduce a consequent effect, linking the establishment of one's declaration to the subsequent shining of light.
• light (אוֹר - 'ōr): Hebrew "light," a multifaceted symbol. Here, it denotes prosperity, favor, understanding, success, happiness, divine guidance, or the manifestation of God's presence and blessing. It implies removal of obscurity, hardship, or darkness.
• will shine (נָגַהּ - nāgah): From the root נָגַהּ (naghah), meaning "to shine, glitter, sparkle, beam." It describes the active diffusion or emanation of light, suggesting radiance and clarity. The implied subject is "light," indicating it will naturally burst forth.
• on your ways (דְּרָכֶיךָ - dərākheyka): From the root דֶּרֶךְ (derekh), meaning "way, path, journey, course of life, conduct." "Ways" refers to one's actions, life decisions, daily conduct, and overall life path. The shining light signifies that one's journey and endeavors will be clear, prosperous, and divinely favored.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• You will declare a thing, and it will be established for you: This phrase captures the active nature of human intent and God's responsiveness when one is aligned with Him. It suggests that clear articulation of purpose, rooted in repentance and trust, can lead to its firm establishment. This isn't a human decree independent of God, but rather a principle that God honors the prayers and purposes of His repentant and righteous ones. It echoes themes of answered prayer and divine fulfillment of sincere intentions.
• so light will shine on your ways: This second clause describes the beneficial outcome and manifest evidence of the first. "Light" shining on "your ways" implies clear guidance, divine favor, visible success, joy, and the absence of spiritual or physical darkness (like hardship or confusion). It paints a picture of a blessed life where God illuminates and prospers every step.

Job 22 28 Bonus section

The active phrase "You will declare" has sometimes been misinterpreted in modern contexts to suggest a purely human ability to "decree" or "confess" things into existence independently of God's will. However, the original Hebrew context and broader biblical teaching show that such declarations are efficacious only when they are in alignment with divine purpose, are born out of a repentant heart, or are fervent prayers rooted in faith. The power is not inherent in the human word but in God's response to the righteous and submissive heart. Furthermore, while Eliphaz implies immediate, tangible material blessing, "light" can also signify spiritual insight, divine wisdom, peace amidst trials, or clarity of purpose, not just worldly success. The Book of Job itself, particularly God's speeches at the end, refutes the simplistic prosperity theology of Eliphaz and the friends, emphasizing God's mysterious sovereignty beyond human understanding.

Job 22 28 Commentary

Job 22:28 encapsulates Eliphaz’s formulaic advice to Job: repent and receive blessing. While flawed in its specific application to Job's suffering, the verse contains general spiritual principles. It posits that a sincere declaration or intention (often implying prayer or a righteous commitment) will find divine establishment. This "light" that follows symbolizes prosperity, guidance, joy, and God’s evident favor, contrasting with Job's current darkness of affliction. This passage should be understood within Eliphaz's worldview of rigid retribution; he believed that if one simply followed the steps (repent, pray, declare), blessings were guaranteed. However, a fuller biblical understanding clarifies that while God does honor the declarations of the righteous (often in prayer), the establishment of such declarations is always within the context of His sovereign will and purposes, and not a blank check for human desires. True light on one's path comes from aligning one's heart and intentions with God’s revealed truth and following His commandments, not merely speaking words into existence by human authority.

For example, when an individual, recognizing sin, genuinely declares their intent to walk righteously before God and makes that repentance, God establishes their new path with His grace. Or when a believer prays with a sincere heart, committing their plans to God (Prov 16:3), God can bring those plans to fruition in ways that clarify their path forward and bring prosperity.