Job 22:14

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Thick clouds [are] a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The clouds veil him off, so that he can't see; he just wanders around in heaven.'

Berean Standard Bible:

Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’

American Standard Version:

Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Thick clouds^{H5645} are a covering^{H5643} to him, that he seeth^{H7200} not; and he walketh^{H1980} in the circuit^{H2329} of heaven^{H8064}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Job 22:14

Job 22:14 is a part of the dialogue in the Book of Job, a poetic and philosophical exploration of the problem of human suffering and divine justice. The verse is spoken by Eliphaz, one of Job's three friends who come to comfort him after he loses his wealth, children, and health. In the context of the book, Job is a righteous man who is tested by God, and his friends struggle to understand why such calamities have befallen him.

The verse itself uses vivid imagery to describe the inaccessibility and transcendence of God. Eliphaz suggests that God is hidden from human sight by "thick clouds," implying that God's ways are beyond human comprehension. The phrase "he walketh in the circuit of heaven" reflects the ancient Near Eastern belief that God dwells in the heavens and traverses the celestial realm, emphasizing God's sovereignty over creation and the limits of human understanding.

Eliphaz's words are meant to convey that God's actions and judgments are often obscured from human perception, and thus, Job should not expect to understand the reasons behind his suffering. This aligns with the broader themes of the Book of Job, which questions the simplistic notion that suffering is always a direct result of sin and challenges the human inclination to demand rational explanations for the inscrutable works of the divine.

Historically, the Book of Job is thought to have been written during or after the Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE) and reflects the wisdom literature tradition of the ancient Near East. It grapples with theodicy—the justice of God—and offers a profound meditation on faith, the nature of God, and the human condition. Job 22:14 captures the essence of this struggle, highlighting the mystery that surrounds divine providence and the limitations of human wisdom.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5645
   There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָב
   Transliteration: ʻâb
   Pronunciation: awb
   Description: (masculine and feminine); from עוּב; properly, an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, 2 Chronicles 4:17); specifically, a (scud) cloud; also a copse; clay, (thick) cloud, [idiom] thick, thicket. Compare עֲבִי.
   
2. Strong's Number: H5643
   There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סֵתֶר
   Transliteration: çêther
   Pronunciation: say'-ther
   Description: or (feminine) סִתְרָה; (Deuteronomy [32:38), from סָתַר; a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense); backbiting, covering, covert, [idiom] disguise(-th), hiding place, privily, protection, secret(-ly, place).
   
3. Strong's Number: H7200
   There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָאָה
   Transliteration: râʼâh
   Pronunciation: raw-aw'
   Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1980
   There are 468 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָלַךְ
   Transliteration: hâlak
   Pronunciation: haw-lak'
   Description: akin to יָלַךְ; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively); (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, [idiom] more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), [phrase] send, speedily, spread, still, surely, [phrase] tale-bearer, [phrase] travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, [idiom] be weak, whirl.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2329
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חוּג
   Transliteration: chûwg
   Pronunciation: khoog
   Description: from חוּג; a circle; circle, circuit, compass.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8064
   There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
   Transliteration: shâmayim
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
   Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).