Job 24:17

For the morning [is] to them even as the shadow of death: if [one] know [them, they are in] the terrors of the shadow of death.

For the morning {H1242} is to them even as {H3162} the shadow of death {H6757}: if one know {H5234} them, they are in the terrors {H1091} of the shadow of death {H6757}.

For to all of them deep darkness is like morning, for the terrors of deep darkness are familiar to them.

For to them, deep darkness is their morning; surely they are friends with the terrors of darkness!

For the morning is to all of them as thick darkness; For they know the terrors of the thick darkness.

Context

Job 24:17 is part of Job's lengthy discourse (chapters 21-24) where he continues to grapple with the problem of evil and suffering, particularly the apparent prosperity of the wicked. In this chapter, Job describes various forms of injustice and oppression carried out by those who exploit the vulnerable and commit heinous acts under the cover of night. He highlights how these individuals thrive seemingly unpunished, causing immense distress to the righteous. Verse 17 specifically focuses on the psychological state of such evildoers, contrasting their fear of light with the common human anticipation of dawn.

Key Themes

  • Aversion to Light: The wicked, whose deeds are hidden in darkness, view the morning light not as a welcome return but as a threat. Light represents exposure, accountability, and the potential for their hidden sins to be revealed. This mirrors the biblical principle that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.
  • Guilt and Terror: The verse vividly portrays the inner turmoil and fear experienced by those who commit wicked acts. Their conscience, or the fear of discovery, makes the dawn a source of dread, equating it with the "shadow of death." This terror is amplified if they are recognized, suggesting the ultimate fear of public shame and divine judgment.
  • Divine Justice (Implicit): While Job struggles with the timing of God's justice, this verse subtly hints at the inherent self-punishment and fear that accompany a life of wickedness. Even if outwardly prosperous, the wicked live under a cloud of internal terror, anticipating the day their hidden deeds will be brought to light, as foretold in 1 Corinthians 4:5.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "shadow of death" is a powerful Hebrew term, tsalmaveth (צַלְמָוֶת). It literally means "deep darkness" or "darkness of death." It's not merely a physical shadow but a profound, oppressive gloom associated with danger, despair, and the grave. In this context, it emphasizes the profound dread and existential terror that the morning light brings to the wicked, making dawn feel as ominous as passing through a valley of death. This term is famously used in Psalm 23:4 to describe a place of extreme peril.

Practical Application

Job 24:17 serves as a poignant reminder that a life lived in darkness, marked by hidden sin and injustice, ultimately leads to internal fear and spiritual death, even if outward consequences are delayed. True peace and security come from living in the light of truth and righteousness, where one has nothing to hide. It encourages believers to embrace transparency and integrity, knowing that God's light exposes all things, and that ultimately, all hidden deeds will be revealed. For those who walk with God, the morning brings hope and renewal, not terror.

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.

  • Job 3:5

    Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

  • Psalms 73:18

    Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.

  • Psalms 73:19

    How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:10

    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:11

    Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

  • Jeremiah 2:26

    As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

  • Revelation 6:16

    And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

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