Job 24 17

Job 24:17 kjv

For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

Job 24:17 nkjv

For the morning is the same to them as the shadow of death; If someone recognizes them, They are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

Job 24:17 niv

For all of them, midnight is their morning; they make friends with the terrors of darkness.

Job 24:17 esv

For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.

Job 24:17 nlt

The black night is their morning.
They ally themselves with the terrors of the darkness.

Job 24 verses

Job 24 17 Meaning

Job 24:17 depicts the grim reality and moral perversion of the wicked, asserting that for them, the light of morning is perceived as intensely dreadful, comparable to the "shadow of death." While most people welcome dawn for its promise of new beginnings and visibility, those whose deeds are evil dread it because light exposes their hidden actions. The verse further explains that these individuals are deeply familiar with or accustomed to the horrors inherent in a life of profound moral darkness. Their preferred environment is concealment and night, and they know the inherent anxieties, dangers, and potential consequences that accompany their ungodly lifestyle.

Job 24 17 Context

Job 24 is part of Job’s extended argument with his friends concerning divine justice and the problem of evil. Unlike his friends who steadfastly maintain the conventional retribution theology—that God punishes the wicked immediately and blesses the righteous—Job argues that wicked people often prosper and commit egregious acts without apparent swift divine judgment. Job 24 details various injustices committed by ruthless individuals: removing landmarks, stealing livestock, exploiting the poor, murdering, and committing adultery. Job points out that these perpetrators frequently operate under the cloak of darkness and escape human detection or immediate divine retribution. Verse 17 specifically emphasizes the preference of these wicked individuals for obscurity, portraying how their moral compass is so inverted that they perceive what is normally a source of comfort (morning light) as a source of terror, while operating comfortably in deep darkness. This challenges the friends' simplistic understanding of God's immediate judgment in the temporal realm.

Job 24 17 Word analysis

• For the morning: In Hebrew, bōqeḏ (בֹּקֶר) means 'morning' or 'daybreak'. This word typically signifies the advent of light, renewal, and security after the perils of night. However, for the wicked, as Job describes, its meaning is entirely inverted. It is a symbol of their impending exposure and judgment, becoming something terrifying rather than comforting.

• is to them even as the shadow of death: The Hebrew phrase for 'shadow of death' is ṣalmāvet (צַלְמָוֶת). This is a strong, archaic term meaning "deep darkness," "thick darkness," "utter gloom," or "gloom of death." It describes a place or state of profound danger, distress, or death itself. It's more than a mere shadow; it's a terrifying, suffocating darkness. For the wicked, the revealing light of morning brings about a feeling of intense dread comparable to the darkest moments of peril or even the grave, contrasting sharply with their comfort in actual darkness.

• if one know them: The Hebrew is yakkīrūm (יַכִּירֻוּ), derived from the verb nākar (נָכַר), meaning "to know," "recognize," or "discern." This phrase has seen various interpretations. Some ancient versions and the KJV render it "if one know them" or "if they should recognize," implying that exposure to detection fills them with terror. This understanding fits the immediate context where the wicked strive for secrecy.

• they are in the terrors: The word is ballāhôt (בַּלָּהוֹת), which means "horrors," "terrors," or "sudden destructions." It conveys extreme fright or a state of dread.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death": This entire phrase vividly portrays the moral inversion of the wicked. What is light, safety, and hope for others is their ultimate dread. They thrive in secrecy and the cloak of night, and the approaching dawn, which symbolizes revelation and accountability, becomes as terrifying and fatal as death itself. This highlights their deep spiritual depravity and their active rebellion against all that is good and transparent.
  • "if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death" / "for they know the terrors of deep darkness": This second part clarifies the internal state or external consequence for the wicked.
    • The interpretation "if one know them" suggests that detection or recognition brings immediate overwhelming terror, as their whole existence relies on anonymity for their wicked deeds. Exposure by light (morning) brings this terror, casting them into the "shadow of death" (imminent doom).
    • The alternative, and widely accepted, modern translation, "for they know the terrors of deep darkness," implies that even as they prefer to operate within profound moral darkness, they are not immune to the intrinsic terrors that come with such a life. They are intimately familiar with the fear, anxiety, and dread that are the inevitable companions of their evil deeds, even in their preferred habitat of moral obscurity. Their very environment is saturated with inherent terrors. This points to the idea that the "shadow of death" isn't just something they avoid; it's the very moral atmosphere they live in, and they are acutely aware of its terrifying aspects.

Job 24 17 Bonus section

The consistent biblical portrayal of light representing God, truth, righteousness, and revelation, and darkness symbolizing sin, ignorance, evil, and judgment, is crucial for understanding Job 24:17. God Himself is frequently referred to as light (e.g., 1 Jn 1:5, Ps 27:1). Therefore, for the wicked, the aversion to morning light is ultimately an aversion to God and His inherent justice. The terror they experience when faced with light foreshadows the ultimate judgment, when every hidden deed will be brought to light before the Divine Judge (Ecc 12:14, Lk 8:17). Job's statement is not merely an observation of human behavior but a profound theological insight into the nature of sin's relationship with God's perfect light.

Job 24 17 Commentary

Job 24:17 serves as a poignant illustration of the spiritual condition of those committed to wickedness. For ordinary people, the morning light brings clarity, comfort, and the ability to conduct righteous work. But for the wicked, the return of light is not a welcome event; it is akin to stepping into the deepest, most terrifying gloom, the "shadow of death." This is because their actions—whether theft, violence, or adultery, as Job described earlier in the chapter—are deeds of darkness, requiring concealment. Light is their enemy, threatening to expose their hidden transgressions and bring them to justice, whether human or divine.

The latter part of the verse, interpreted as "for they know the terrors of deep darkness," underscores that while these individuals may operate stealthily and outwardly appear successful in their dark enterprises, they are not untouched by their chosen path. They are deeply acquainted with the anxiety, dread, and peril that are inherent in a life of moral depravity and constant hiding. Their comfort in physical darkness ironically masks an inner spiritual darkness filled with terrors that are intimately known to them, hinting at the internal consequences of a life lived in rebellion against the divine light.

Examples of this principle in daily life could include: a dishonest person who constantly fears being caught; someone who performs secret injustices and dreads any investigation; or an individual whose actions are morally indefensible, always operating "behind closed doors," and viewing accountability as their greatest threat.