Job 26:6 kjv
Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
Job 26:6 nkjv
Sheol is naked before Him, And Destruction has no covering.
Job 26:6 niv
The realm of the dead is naked before God; Destruction lies uncovered.
Job 26:6 esv
Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.
Job 26:6 nlt
The underworld is naked in God's presence.
The place of destruction is uncovered.
Job 26 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 139:7-8 | Where can I go from your Spirit? ...If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there. | God's omnipresence extends to Sheol. |
| Prov 15:11 | Sheol and Abaddon are before the LORD; how much more the hearts of the children of men! | Directly parallels Job 26:6, extending omniscience to thoughts. |
| Heb 4:13 | No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him... | General principle of divine transparency. |
| 1 Chron 28:9 | ...for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan... | God knows inner thoughts and motives. |
| Jer 23:24 | Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. | Futility of hiding from God. |
| Amos 9:2 | If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb to heaven, from there I will bring them down. | God's power extends over all realms. |
| 1 Sam 2:6 | The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. | God's sovereignty over life, death, and Sheol. |
| Hos 13:14 | Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your sting? | God's ultimate victory over Sheol and Death. |
| Rev 1:18 | I am the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. | Christ's authority over death and the underworld. |
| Rom 14:9 | For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. | Christ's lordship over all who live or die. |
| Phil 2:10 | ...so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth... | Universal submission to Christ's authority, including the underworld. |
| Isa 40:28 | ...The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. | God's unlimited understanding. |
| Job 34:21 | For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. | God's constant observation of humanity. |
| Ps 94:11 | The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. | God knows human thoughts and their futility. |
| John 2:24-25 | But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them... for he himself knew what was in man. | Christ's perfect knowledge of human hearts. |
| Ps 139:4 | Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. | God's complete knowledge of human speech. |
| Ps 7:9 | ...God is a righteous judge, who tests the hearts and minds. | God's examination of inner being. |
| Isa 45:7 | I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things. | God's sovereign control over all events. |
| Deut 32:39 | See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive... | God alone has power over life and death. |
| Nah 1:3 | ...The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm... | God's power, also revealed in judgment. |
| Luke 12:2-3 | Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. | Truth always comes to light before God. |
Job 26 verses
Job 26 6 Meaning
Job 26:6 declares God's absolute omniscience and omnipotence over the deepest and most hidden realms of existence. It asserts that Sheol, the common grave or underworld where all humanity eventually goes, and Abaddon, the place of destruction and perishing, are completely exposed and transparent to God. No depth or hidden aspect of existence, even death itself, is beyond His divine sight, knowledge, or control.
Job 26 6 Context
Job 26:6 is part of Job’s concluding speech in response to Bildad (though Bildad is notably silent in chapters 25-26), culminating the first cycle of dialogues with his friends. In chapters 26, Job affirms the majesty, incomprehensibility, and vast power of God, echoing themes his friends have touched upon but elevating them to an awe-inspiring degree. He emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over creation, from the heavens above to the deepest parts of the earth, sea, and even the realm of the dead. This particular verse highlights God's omniscience and omnipresence, stating that nothing, not even the most concealed place of death and destruction, is hidden from Him. This stands as a declaration of God’s unmatched divine authority, asserting His absolute rule over every aspect of existence, including those traditionally seen as dark and mysterious. The cultural context likely includes ancient Near Eastern beliefs in a formidable, often chaotic, underworld. Job here presents the Israelite God, Yahweh, as uniquely in control of these feared domains, distinguishing Him from localized deities of the netherworld.
Job 26 6 Word analysis
- Sheol (שְׁאוֹל, shᵉ'ol): Refers to the common grave or underworld, the abode of the dead. It is not necessarily "hell" in the sense of eternal torment, but rather the general destination for all departed spirits, a shadowy and silent place from which human power cannot return. Its usage here emphasizes that even this profound, hidden realm is utterly transparent to God. The word itself suggests a place of insatiable desire ("asking" for more) or hollowness.
- is naked (עָרוֹם, ‘arôm): Literally "exposed," "bare," "uncovered." This word signifies complete vulnerability and an absolute lack of concealment. It implies that nothing in Sheol is hidden; all is laid bare for God's inspection. This state of 'nakedness' emphasizes total visibility to God.
- before Him (לְנֶגְדּוֹ, lᵉnegdō): Signifies in His presence, directly opposite to Him, in His full view. This prepositional phrase emphasizes direct, immediate access and unhindered sight, implying not only seeing but also intimate knowledge and authority.
- and Abaddon (וַאֲבַדּוֹן, wa'avaddon): Literally "destruction" or "place of destruction." It is often parallel to Sheol, indicating the most severe and destructive aspects of the underworld or the deepest depths of perdition. In the Septuagint, it is translated by apoleia (destruction). Its presence alongside Sheol highlights that not only the general realm of the dead but also the most intense aspect of death's destructive power is entirely open to God. In some biblical contexts (Rev 9:11), it can also refer to an angel associated with the bottomless pit. Here, it is primarily the place itself.
- has no covering (מַכְסֶה אֵין, makhseh ‘ein): "No hiding place" or "lacking concealment." `makhseh` means a covering, shelter, or refuge, and `’ein` means "not" or "no." This phrase strongly reinforces "naked," serving as a parallel idiom. It leaves no room for anything to be hidden or obscured from God's perfect sight and knowledge, even in the deepest, most inaccessible places of dissolution.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Sheol is naked before Him": This phrase conveys that the entirety of the unseen world of the dead, with all its secrets and inhabitants, is completely revealed to God. There are no mysteries, no hidden individuals, no forgotten events within this realm that escape His omniscient gaze. It speaks to God's ultimate mastery over death.
- "and Abaddon has no covering": This parallels the first part, intensifying the assertion. Abaddon, representing the ultimate point of decay and annihilation, is also laid bare. It signifies that even where life is utterly extinguished and reduced to dust, God's sight penetrates, His knowledge is complete, and His authority extends. The repeated emphasis on "no hiding place" underscores God's absolute transparency. These two clauses together paint a comprehensive picture of God's dominion over the grave, destruction, and all associated mysteries, making them fully knowable and controllable by Him alone. This negates any pagan notions of a death god ruling an impenetrable underworld.
Job 26 6 Bonus section
The parallelism between "Sheol is naked" and "Abaddon has no covering" is a common Hebrew poetic device that reinforces and intensifies the core message. It moves from the general realm of the dead to its most destructive and perhaps fearful aspect, affirming God's total dominion over both. This assertion is part of Job's magnificent discourse on God's power (Job 26:5-14), showcasing that despite his immense suffering, Job still possesses a deep, profound understanding and awe of God's unmatched attributes. He uses descriptions of God's power over chaos and the underworld to highlight divine incomprehensibility and wisdom, subtly preparing the way for God's own discourse in Job 38-41. This verse, therefore, serves as a powerful testament to God's immanence and transcendence simultaneously – He is beyond human comprehension yet fully present and knowledgeable even in the most obscure depths.
Job 26 6 Commentary
Job 26:6 stands as a profound theological statement by Job, affirming God’s absolute sovereignty and omniscience. In a context where human understanding is limited, Job attributes to God an awareness that penetrates even the deepest, darkest, and most hidden recesses of creation – namely, Sheol (the realm of the dead) and Abaddon (the place of destruction). This signifies that God is not limited by earthly boundaries or even the seemingly impenetrable veil of death. There are no secrets in the afterlife, no souls unknown, and no destinies unordained before Him. This truth would have served as a powerful declaration against ancient pagan beliefs that often posited separate, autonomous deities or realms beyond the primary god's control. Job asserts Yahweh's unique and comprehensive dominion over every facet of existence, including the finality of death and dissolution. For a believer, this brings both comfort and conviction: comfort in knowing that no loved one is lost from God's sight even in death, and conviction that no secret sin or hidden motive can escape His scrutiny, implying ultimate justice.