Job 22:11

Or darkness, [that] thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

Or darkness {H2822}, that thou canst not see {H7200}; and abundance {H8229} of waters {H4325} cover {H3680} thee.

or darkness , so that you can't see, and a flood of water that covers you up!

it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

Job 22:11 is a poignant part of Eliphaz the Temanite's third and final speech to Job. In this verse, Eliphaz continues his relentless accusation, suggesting that Job's suffering—represented by "darkness" and "abundance of waters"—is a direct consequence of his hidden sins.

Context

Eliphaz, one of Job's three friends, operates under the theological assumption that great suffering is always a punishment for great sin. Throughout their dialogues, the friends attempt to convince Job to confess his alleged wickedness, believing that this is the only way he can be restored. In Job 22, Eliphaz escalates his accusations, implying Job is guilty of specific injustices like oppressing the poor and withholding water from the thirsty (Job 22:6-7). Verse 11 describes the perceived divine judgment Job is experiencing: a profound spiritual and physical obscurity, and an overwhelming flood of troubles, all attributed to God's righteous retribution against Job's supposed iniquity.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment (from Eliphaz's Perspective): Eliphaz interprets Job's intense hardship as clear evidence of God's hand of judgment. He sees the "darkness" and "waters" as the visible manifestation of divine wrath against Job's unconfessed sin. This highlights the flawed, simplistic theology of Job's friends, who struggled to comprehend suffering outside the direct sin-punishment framework.
  • Spiritual and Physical Obscurity: The "darkness" (Hebrew: choshek) signifies not just literal lack of light, but also distress, ignorance, despair, and an inability to perceive God's presence or way forward. It suggests a state of being lost and overwhelmed, both physically by circumstances and spiritually by a perceived abandonment from God. This concept of darkness as judgment is a recurring motif in biblical literature.
  • Overwhelming Calamity: The "abundance of waters" (Hebrew: shif'at mayim) is a powerful metaphor for a flood of troubles, overwhelming adversity, or a perilous situation from which there seems no escape. Similar imagery is used elsewhere to describe deep distress and chaos, such as in Psalm 69:1, where the psalmist cries out, "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul." This imagery conveys a sense of being drowned by misfortune.

Linguistic Insights

The terms used, "darkness" (חוֹשֶׁךְ, choshek) and "abundance of waters" (שִׁפְעַת מַיִם, shif'at mayim), are rich in biblical symbolism. Choshek frequently denotes chaos, judgment, and the absence of divine favor. Shif'at mayim, while literally meaning "abundance of waters," carries the strong metaphorical weight of overwhelming disaster, chaos, and even the depths of the underworld, reflecting a state of being utterly submerged by trouble.

Practical Application

Job 22:11, though spoken by a character whose theology is ultimately rebuked by God (Job 42:7), offers a cautionary tale. It reminds us of the danger of making swift, judgmental assessments of others' suffering. While sin can indeed lead to negative consequences, not all suffering is a direct punishment for specific transgressions. The book of Job ultimately teaches the complexity of suffering, the mystery of God's ways, and the importance of offering true comfort and empathy rather than false accusations and simplistic theological answers.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 69:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, [A Psalm] of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto [my] soul.

  • Psalms 69:2

    I sink in deep mire, where [there is] no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

  • Lamentations 3:54

    Waters flowed over mine head; [then] I said, I am cut off.

  • Jonah 2:3

    For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

  • Job 19:8

    ¶ He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

  • Psalms 124:4

    Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

  • Psalms 124:5

    Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

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