Job 33 18

Job 33:18 kjv

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

Job 33:18 nkjv

He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

Job 33:18 niv

to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.

Job 33:18 esv

he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

Job 33:18 nlt

He protects them from the grave,
from crossing over the river of death.

Job 33 verses

Job 33 18 Meaning

Elihu explains that a primary purpose of God's engagement with humanity, whether through divine warnings or corrective suffering, is to preserve life. God actively restrains individuals from succumbing to the "pit," a potent metaphor for death, the grave, or profound destruction, and prevents their very existence from being terminated by the violent, perishing force symbolized by "the sword." This verse highlights God's merciful intention to redeem and deliver individuals from pathways that lead to ruin and ultimately, to their demise.

Job 33 18 Context

Immediate Context (Job 33:14-17): Elihu's speech here elaborates on how God communicates with humanity. He asserts that God speaks in multiple ways, through dreams, visions (verses 14-16), and through suffering or affliction (implied in the preceding and succeeding verses, expanding from verse 19 onwards). These divine interventions, according to Elihu, are not arbitrary but purposeful. The verse itself follows Elihu's statement that God warns man "to turn him aside from his deed, and cut off pride from man," directly linking divine warning to the purpose of preservation.

Chapter Context: Job chapter 33 marks the beginning of Elihu's first major discourse. Elihu presents himself as a wise intercessor, chosen to offer a different perspective than Job's three friends. He argues that God is righteous and far more complex in His dealings than Job understands, and that suffering is not solely punitive but can be corrective or disciplinary. Elihu's central argument is that God uses suffering and other forms of communication to refine people, turning them away from harmful paths and drawing them closer to Him, thus preserving them.

Historical/Cultural Context: In the ancient Near East, afflictions were commonly attributed to divine displeasure as a direct consequence of sin. While Job's friends largely adhered to this simplified view of retribution, Elihu introduces a more nuanced theological understanding. He suggests suffering can serve a remedial purpose, acting as a warning or discipline intended for an individual's betterment and salvation. The terms "pit" (shaḥath) and "sword" (shelaḥ) represent common, profound fears of that era – literal grave or violent death, which were understood as the ultimate forms of annihilation. The declaration that God intervenes to save from these fates was a powerful assertion of divine care and sovereign intervention.

Job 33 18 Word analysis

• He: Refers directly to God. Throughout Elihu's speech, God is presented as the active and sovereign agent who interacts with humanity for redemptive purposes (Job 33:14, 23). This indicates God's intentional involvement in human affairs.
• keeps back (יַחְשׂוֹךְ - yaḥśoḵ): Derived from the Hebrew root חָשַׂךְ (ḥāśakh). This verb in the Hiphil imperfect form denotes an active restraint, prevention, or preservation. It implies a deliberate, divine intervention to prevent a negative outcome, emphasizing God's proactive role as a protector rather than a passive observer.
• his soul (נַפְשׁוֹ - nap̄šōw): From nephesh. This fundamental Hebrew term refers to the totality of a living being—the person himself, his very life, breath, vitality, and inner self. It is broader than the modern English concept of "soul" as a distinct spiritual entity; here, it encapsulates the entirety of the individual's existence. God's preservation extends to the whole person.
• from the pit (מִשָּׁחַת - miššāḥaṯ): From shaḥath. This multifaceted Hebrew word can mean a literal pit (like a well or cistern), a dungeon, destruction, decay, or corruption. Most commonly, it serves as a metaphor for the grave, Sheol, or the ultimate realm of death and annihilation. Here, it signifies the profound forces of destruction and perhaps even spiritual ruin, indicating God's protection from ultimate loss and dissolution.
• and his life (וְחַיָּתוֹ - wəḥayyāṯōw): From ḥayyah. While nephesh refers to the living being, ḥayyah more specifically emphasizes the life-force, vitality, or duration of existence. Its pairing with nephesh in poetic parallelism underscores the comprehensive nature of the life God preserves, including both physical vitality and continued existence.
• from perishing (מֵעֲבוֹר - mēʿabôr): An infinitive construct from the verb ʿāvar. While literally meaning "to pass over" or "pass through," in this context, it conveys the idea of passing out of existence, entering a state of destruction, or being irrevocably lost. It highlights the serious nature of the threat from which God delivers.
• by the sword (בַּשָּׁלַח - baššelaḥ): From shelaḥ (or shelekh). This term refers to a weapon, typically a sword, spear, or other missile. It serves as a direct symbol of violent death, sudden annihilation, or destruction incurred through warfare or swift judgment. Its pairing with "the pit" broadens the scope of destructive dangers from which God offers deliverance.

Job 33 18 Words-group analysis

• "keeps back his soul from the pit": This phrase emphasizes God's active, divine intervention and restraint to prevent the entire person ("his soul") from reaching a state of total destruction or demise ("the pit"). It implies that God is deliberately withholding His creatures from pathways that lead to death, encompassing not only physical death but also deeper, potentially spiritual, ruin.
• "and his life from perishing by the sword": This serves as a powerful parallel, reiterating and expanding on the preceding idea. "His life" reinforces the concept of sustained existence and vitality, while "perishing by the sword" signifies a violent, decisive, and sudden end. The combination portrays God's comprehensive protection against both drawn-out decline (pit) and abrupt, lethal harm (sword), demonstrating His pervasive care and power to preserve against all forms of death-dealing forces.

Job 33 18 Bonus section

The specific choice of "pit" (shaḥath) as opposed to just "grave" or "Sheol" suggests a broader theological scope of God's saving act. Shaḥath often implies decay, corruption, or destruction that extends beyond mere physical death to spiritual or moral ruin. Therefore, God's intervention is not just about extending physical life but preventing a deeper, more profound kind of corruption or loss of one's essence. This points to the idea that God’s actions, whether warnings in dreams or periods of suffering, are preventative measures designed to rescue an individual from the self-inflicted damage of pride or sin, or from external forces of annihilation. Elihu introduces a critical element to the wisdom tradition by postulating suffering as a conduit of divine mercy and a means of turning people to salvation rather than solely as retribution. This proactive, saving aspect of God is a crucial counter-argument to Job’s despair and his friends' rigid theology.

Job 33 18 Commentary

Job 33:18 is Elihu's pivotal summary concerning God's compassionate and redemptive purpose behind divine interventions, including suffering and warnings. Elihu presents God as an active and benevolent protector who purposefully "keeps back" humanity from the precipice of ruin. The "pit" symbolizes comprehensive destruction—be it the literal grave, a state of spiritual decay, or ultimate ruin—while "the sword" denotes violent, immediate perishing. Together, these images represent the multifaceted forms of death and destruction that threaten human existence. The verse emphatically conveys that God's intent, even in difficult circumstances or through severe warnings, is always to save, preserve, and restore, revealing His steadfast commitment to guiding individuals away from self-destructive paths and toward life. It underpins a theology where God's discipline is ultimately an act of grace, aimed at deliverance.