Job 3 23

Job 3:23 kjv

Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

Job 3:23 nkjv

Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in?

Job 3:23 niv

Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

Job 3:23 esv

Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?

Job 3:23 nlt

Why is life given to those with no future,
those God has surrounded with difficulties?

Job 3 verses

Job 3 23 Meaning

Job 3:23 conveys Job's profound despair as he laments his continued existence. He questions why life, represented by "light," is granted to someone like him, whose understanding of God's ways and a path to deliverance is utterly "hidden." He further feels imprisoned, perceiving that God Himself has "hedged him in," trapping him without hope or clear direction. It is a desperate cry from a man who sees no reason to live while experiencing immense, unexplainable suffering and believing God to be his antagonist.

Job 3 23 Context

Job 3:23 is part of Job's initial lament, immediately following the seven days of silent mourning with his friends. This chapter marks Job's first utterance since his unimaginable suffering began, cursing the day he was born rather than his oppressors or God. His previous statement of faith (Job 1:21) gives way to deep anguish and a profound desire for non-existence, viewing death as an escape from torment and a state of tranquil rest. This verse articulates his confusion and sense of divine abandonment, wrestling with why he, a righteous man whose understanding of his affliction is entirely veiled, continues to live when death seems a merciful release. He perceives God not as a protector but as a forceful confine.

Job 3 23 Word analysis

• Why is light given:
  • Why: Expresses profound bewilderment, questioning divine rationale for his continued painful existence. It's a lament, not an accusation in a strictly legal sense, but a raw cry of desperation.
  • Light: Hebrew: 'or. Symbolizes life, existence, wellbeing, hope, knowledge, or clarity. Job sees continued life as a burden, wishing he had never been born (Job 3:3, 11-12). He doesn't want the "light" (life) if it's filled with suffering and lack of understanding.
  • Given: Implies divine bestowment. Job perceives his life as an unwelcome gift from God in his current state of suffering.
• to a man: Hebrew: geḇer. Refers to a strong, able-bodied man, emphasizing the irony of his profound weakness and helplessness. It highlights Job as a specific individual, wrestling with his personal destiny.
• whose way is hidden:
  • whose way: Hebrew: derek. Signifies one's path, course of life, destiny, conduct, or even understanding/knowledge. Job's "way" implies his personal experience and understanding of God's dealings with him. He cannot comprehend why he suffers.
  • is hidden: Hebrew: nistarah (from satar - to hide, conceal). In the Niphal passive form, it means "that which has been hidden from him" or "is beyond his comprehension." Job's suffering lacks clear explanation or purpose from his perspective; he doesn't see a clear path out or a reason for his ordeal. This is the antithesis of walking in God's clear path or seeing God's purpose.
• and whom God has hedged in:
  • and whom God: Hebrew: 'Eloah. This divine name often appears in the book of Job, emphasizing God's transcendence and sovereign power. Job directly attributes his condition to God's doing.
  • has hedged in: Hebrew: wayyasek (from sakak - to hedge, fence, shut in). This verb can imply protection (as in Job 1:10, where Satan accuses God of protecting Job with a hedge). However, in this context, and especially in the Niphal stem (similar to "hidden"), it portrays God as a confining force, an imprisoner who has closed Job off from the world, from hope, and from escape. Job feels completely trapped by God's actions, experiencing this divine control not as safety but as inescapable oppression. He is unable to move forward or find relief.
  • in (ba'ădo): Literally "around him" or "on every side." This preposition reinforces the totality of his confinement, indicating there is no egress or direction for him.

Job 3 23 Bonus section

The "hidden way" (derekh nistar) is a core lament not only for Job's physical suffering but his spiritual and existential agony. It speaks to the human need for meaning, purpose, and comprehension, especially in affliction. For Job, his spiritual vision is as clouded as his future is dark. The irony of the hedge is profound; what was a source of divine favor and protection in chapter 1 (from Satan's perspective) becomes an inescapable prison in chapter 3 (from Job's perspective). This highlights the subjective nature of human perception of God's actions, particularly under duress. Job's wrestling points to a deeper reality that God's ways are indeed inscrutable, often beyond human logic or conventional theological frameworks, preparing the ground for God's later, majestic revelations.

Job 3 23 Commentary

Job 3:23 encapsulates the profound despair of a man whose traditional understanding of God and the world has been shattered. Job questions the very gift of life when it is devoid of purpose and clarity. He sees his current path as entirely obscured, with no explanation for his suffering, no vision for relief, and no insight into divine justice. The conventional theology of his time (retribution principle) offers no comfort, as he believes himself innocent yet experiences the curse of the guilty. Most poignantly, he perceives God not as a benevolent guardian but as an active agent in his misery, "hedging him in" with impenetrable barriers. This image inverts the earlier notion of God's protective hedge (Job 1:10), showing Job's shift from faith to perceiving God as his oppressor. The verse underscores the human cry for understanding in suffering and the tragic isolation one can feel when seemingly abandoned or directly afflicted by the very One who is supposed to provide direction and safety.