Job 34 22

Job 34:22 kjv

There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

Job 34:22 nkjv

There is no darkness nor shadow of death Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

Job 34:22 niv

There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness, where evildoers can hide.

Job 34:22 esv

There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.

Job 34:22 nlt

No darkness is thick enough
to hide the wicked from his eyes.

Job 34 verses

Job 34 22 Meaning

This verse declares that no place, however obscure or profoundly dark, can provide concealment for those who commit wickedness. Elihu, speaking on behalf of God’s absolute knowledge and omnipresence, asserts that God's sight penetrates all depths, rendering any attempt by evildoers to hide their actions or themselves entirely futile. God perceives everything, leaving no deed unseen and no transgressor able to escape His notice or impending judgment.

Job 34 22 Context

Job 34 is part of Elihu's third speech, a passionate defense of God's absolute righteousness and justice. Elihu takes a prominent role in addressing what he perceives as Job's unfair accusations against God. He maintains that God, being almighty and sovereign, cannot be unjust or partial. The immediate preceding verse, Job 34:21, states, "For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps." Verse 22 builds directly upon this, asserting that because God's eyes are always watchful, there is absolutely no sanctuary, no matter how deep or dark, where evildoers can escape His penetrating gaze. Elihu’s argument counters the ancient Near Eastern skepticism regarding divine justice when the righteous suffer and the wicked seem to prosper. He emphasizes God's omniscience as the foundation of His unfailing equity, implying that hidden sins will inevitably face divine retribution.

Job 34 22 Word analysis

• There is no (אֵין - ʾên): This term signifies an absolute negation. It emphatically states a complete absence or impossibility, setting a definitive boundary for what follows. Here, it denotes an absolute lack of any place for concealment.
• gloom (חֹשֶׁךְ - choshek): This Hebrew term refers to literal darkness, obscurity, or shadows. It can also metaphorically represent confusion, distress, evil, or ignorance. In this context, it speaks of any degree of visual or spiritual obscurity where one might attempt to hide.
• or deep darkness (וְצַלְמָוֶת - ve-tsalmävet): The prefixed ve- means "and" or "or." Tsalmävet is a highly intense term, often translated as "shadow of death," "deadly shadow," or "deepest darkness." It describes the most profound, dense, and terrifying darkness, akin to the dark realm of Sheol or death itself. Its inclusion stresses that even the most impenetrable and death-like obscurity cannot veil one from God. This term underscores God's ability to see into the most profound and secret recesses, even where death holds sway.
• where: This word refers to the location or condition in which something might happen. It points to any specific place or state of being.
• evildoers (פֹעֲלֵי אָוֶן - pōʿălê ʾāwen):
  • פֹעֲלֵי (pōʿălê): Literally "doers of" or "workers of." It denotes those whose consistent activity and practice are characterized by something. This indicates not merely occasional wrong acts, but a characteristic way of life or profession of doing evil.
  • אָוֶן (ʾāwen): Means "iniquity," "trouble," "wickedness," "vanity," or "mischief." It encompasses moral perversity and harmful actions, often leading to suffering or destruction. Combined, "doers of iniquity" clearly identifies those who actively and persistently practice evil.
• may hide themselves (יִסָּתְרוּ - yissāthrû): This is from the Hithpael imperfect form of the verb סָתַר (sāthar), meaning "to hide." The Hithpael stem denotes reflexive action ("hide themselves") or reciprocal action. This emphasizes their own futile effort or attempt to conceal themselves from divine notice, highlighting the active but ultimately unsuccessful nature of their evasion.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "no gloom or deep darkness": This phrase cumulatively emphasizes the utter impossibility of concealment. "Gloom" represents ordinary obscurity, while "deep darkness" denotes an absolute, impenetrable form of darkness, even that associated with death itself. No degree or type of obscurity provides a refuge from God.
• "where evildoers may hide themselves": This highlights the intentional, yet doomed, attempts of those who habitually practice wickedness to escape consequences. It underscores that God's omnipresent gaze is specifically directed at all human deeds, making the self-deceptive effort to hide pointless.

Job 34 22 Bonus section

This verse carries a polemical thrust against any pagan or ancient Near Eastern deity concepts that were confined to specific locales or possessed limited knowledge. In contrast to localized idols, the God of Israel is depicted as omnipresent and omniscient, whose authority and sight span every dimension, even those thought to be outside human or divine reach. This also establishes a biblical principle of God being light and having no darkness in Him, meaning sin cannot dwell hidden in His presence, as emphasized in John 1:5. Furthermore, the futile attempt to hide is a recurring theme from the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve tried to hide from God (Gen 3:8), a pattern continued by every human who attempts to conceal their wrongdoing from their Creator.

Job 34 22 Commentary

Elihu's declaration in Job 34:22 is a powerful affirmation of God's absolute knowledge and unblemished justice. Building upon the previous verse that states God's eyes are upon every man's steps, Elihu emphatically denies the possibility of any effective hiding place for the wicked. Neither natural obscurity (choshek) nor the most profound, death-like shadow (tsalmävet) can conceal the "doers of iniquity" from the divine gaze. This statement serves as a refutation of any implicit thought, perhaps from Job, that God might be unaware of the hidden details of human suffering or hidden acts of injustice.

The verse clarifies that God’s justice is infallible because His knowledge is infinite and all-encompassing. Unlike human judges who are limited by what they can see or discover, God sees all actions, motives, and intentions, even those concealed from human perception. This offers both a stern warning to those who think they can commit wrongs without consequence and a comfort to the afflicted, assuring them that God observes all oppression and injustice, even if seemingly unseen by the world. It means that divine retribution or blessing will ultimately be administered with perfect equity, for there are no secrets from the One who sits as supreme Judge. This truth necessitates a life lived in integrity, for every deed is laid bare before God.