Job 4 13

Job 4:13 kjv

In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

Job 4:13 nkjv

In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falls on men,

Job 4:13 niv

Amid disquieting dreams in the night, when deep sleep falls on people,

Job 4:13 esv

Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,

Job 4:13 nlt

It came to me in a disturbing vision at night,
when people are in a deep sleep.

Job 4 verses

Job 4 13 Meaning

Job 4:13 details the setting for a revelatory experience Eliphaz is about to describe, one he believes is from God. It occurred "In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men." This indicates a moment of intense, possibly unsettling internal contemplation or "thoughts" (Hebrew: s'ippim), arising during or after vivid "visions" (Hebrew: ḥezyonot) experienced specifically during the "night" (Hebrew: laylah). The vision coincided with a "deep sleep" (Hebrew: tardemah), suggesting a state of profound unconsciousness, often associated in Scripture with a divine or extraordinary intervention that precedes significant encounters or revelations, removing the ordinary perceptions of the external world to allow for a spiritual encounter. Eliphaz recounts this vision as foundational proof for his rigid theological argument concerning the justice of God and the fate of the wicked.

Job 4 13 Context

Job 4:13 opens the description of a revelatory experience recounted by Eliphaz, the first of Job's three friends to speak. Following Job's lament and despair, Eliphaz attempts to offer comfort and explanation based on conventional wisdom and a rigid understanding of divine justice. The verses preceding 4:13 (Job 4:1-12) show Eliphaz chastising Job for his impatience and reminding him that true justice dictates the righteous prosper while the wicked suffer. He implies Job's suffering must therefore indicate hidden sin. Verse 13 transitions from Eliphaz's general theological framework to what he considers a direct, personal, and terrifying divine confirmation of his beliefs, intending to add unchallengeable weight to his argument. The overall literary context is a theological debate where human wisdom (Eliphaz) confronts inexplicable suffering (Job) before God's own ultimate revelation. The cultural context views dreams and night visions as legitimate channels for divine communication in the ancient Near East, making Eliphaz's recounting powerful for his listeners, even if his interpretation is flawed.

Job 4 13 Word analysis

• In thoughts (בִּשְׂעִפִּים - bish'ippim):

  • Literally "in my disquieting thoughts," "amidst musings."
  • From the root סָעַף (sa'aph), meaning to divide, branch off, often suggesting distracting or unsettling thoughts, anxieties, or musings that fragment the mind.
  • Significance: Eliphaz's mind was not tranquil but already preoccupied or troubled, which might have influenced the nature or interpretation of his subsequent vision. It suggests an internal preparation for the terror that follows.

• from the visions (מֵחֶזְיֹנוֹת - mekhazyōnot):

  • Literally "from visions of."
  • חֶזְיֹנוֹת (ḥezyōnot) plural of חִזָּיוֹן (ḥizzayon), a "vision," specifically one that appears in a dream or trance, often indicative of a divine revelation. This is a common word for prophetic or revelatory experiences.
  • Significance: It frames the experience as something perceived rather than just imagined, given externally. Yet, its conjunction with "thoughts" could imply a blending of subjective reflection with the objective vision.

• of the night (לַיְלָה - laylah):

  • Common Hebrew word for "night."
  • Significance: Night is often the time associated with dreams, mysteries, fear, and direct divine communication or supernatural occurrences (e.g., God appearing to Abram, Jacob's ladder, Nebuchadnezzar's dreams). It sets a mood of solemnity and heightened spiritual receptivity or vulnerability.

• when deep sleep (בִּנְפֹל תַּרְדֵּמָה - bînpol tardēmah):

  • "When falling tardemah."
  • תַּרְדֵּמָה (tardemah): a deep, trance-like sleep, often divinely induced, described as distinct from ordinary sleep. It is typically associated with special divine interventions, often preparatory to significant revelations or events (e.g., Gen 2:21, 15:12; 1 Sam 26:12).
  • Significance: The use of tardemah emphasizes the supernatural, irresistible nature of this sleep. It implies Eliphaz was in a state beyond his normal consciousness, perhaps suggesting he felt God had specifically put him in this state to receive the revelation.

• falleth on men (עַל־אֲנָשִׁים - ʿal-ʾǎnāšîm):

  • "Upon men," referring to humanity generally or particular individuals.
  • Significance: This phrase universalizes the experience, making it sound like a common occurrence or a typical means of divine address, thus lending authority to Eliphaz's claim. It also highlights that this profound state can overcome any human.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "In thoughts from the visions of the night": This phrase merges internal mental state ("thoughts") with external, sensory-like perception ("visions") happening during a specific time ("night"). It suggests a dynamic interplay where his mind was actively processing or being shaped by the visions experienced in the darkness, setting the stage for what Eliphaz considered a profound, terrifying revelation. The disquieting nature of his 'thoughts' hints at the unsettling content of the coming vision.
  • "when deep sleep falleth on men": This indicates the physical and spiritual state under which the experience occurred. The "deep sleep" implies a suspension of normal faculties, a divinely orchestrated moment of profound unconsciousness, suggesting the vision was not a product of Eliphaz's waking mind but imposed by a higher power. It universalizes the state as one that overtakes humanity, reinforcing the idea of divine prerogative over human consciousness.

Job 4 13 Bonus section

• The Nature of Eliphaz's Vision: Scholars often debate whether Eliphaz's vision was a genuine divine encounter, a demonic one, or merely a vivid, fear-induced dream. The language used, particularly "deep sleep" (tardemah), parallels moments of authentic divine encounter in Scripture. However, the "trembling" and "shivering" (Job 4:14) suggest an overwhelming terror that seems disproportionate to God's usual revealing presence, which often instills awe but also comfort or clear instruction. The absence of an explicit divine message, only an internal question, further adds ambiguity. This vision confirms Eliphaz's already held convictions rather than challenging or expanding them, typical of misinterpretations of divine encounters.
• The Contrast with Job's Experience: Job 7:14 shows Job complaining about being scared and terrified by dreams and visions, possibly from his anguish or the devil. This parallel highlights how unsettling nocturnal experiences can be, regardless of their source. The difference lies in Job's inability to reconcile his suffering with the conventional wisdom his friends promote, even when presented with a "divine" vision.
• The Human Attempt to Explain God: Eliphaz's recounting of his vision is a testament to humanity's natural inclination to seek ultimate answers, often validating existing beliefs. He attributes what he saw and felt directly to God, providing a powerful rhetorical device for his argument. This highlights the danger of presuming personal experiences are direct divine decrees, especially when those interpretations are used to judge or condemn others without true understanding.

Job 4 13 Commentary

Job 4:13 serves as a pivotal introduction to Eliphaz's core argument against Job. It sets the scene for a "divine" experience, one that Eliphaz presents as irrefutable evidence of God's ways, bolstering his contention that the wicked suffer and the righteous prosper. By invoking a "deep sleep" and "visions of the night," Eliphaz claims a profound, supernatural source for his revelation. However, the mention of "thoughts" and their disquieting nature may subtly hint that this was not a pure, direct word from God, but perhaps filtered through Eliphaz's own preconceived theological biases or even an unsettling encounter with a lesser spirit (as Job 4:14-16 suggests). The terror Eliphaz describes experiencing stands in stark contrast to the often comforting or instructive nature of true divine revelations. While God does communicate through dreams and visions, the nature and outcome of Eliphaz's vision reinforce his rigid, unforgiving theology rather than bringing new insight or compassion. His reliance on this personal, terrifying experience, interpreted through his existing worldview, foreshadows the limits of human wisdom to fully comprehend divine actions, a central theme of Job.