Job 5:14

KJV

They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.

KJV (with Strong's)

They meet {H6298} with darkness {H2822} in the daytime {H3119}, and grope {H4959} in the noonday {H6672} as in the night {H3915}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They meet with darkness during the day, groping at noon like at night.

Berean Standard Bible

They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night.

American Standard Version

They meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 5:14, delivered by Eliphaz the Temanite, functions as a potent metaphor within his initial discourse to Job, asserting that divine justice inevitably confounds the wicked. This verse vividly portrays the utter disorientation and futility experienced by those who operate outside of God's wisdom and moral order, illustrating how their schemes, even those meticulously planned, are rendered ineffective, plunging them into a state of profound confusion akin to blindness in broad daylight. It underscores the principle that human cunning is no match for divine sovereignty, leading to a divinely imposed intellectual and spiritual obscurity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 5:14 is situated within Eliphaz's first major speech, which spans [Job 4](/job/4 "Job 4 - Eliphaz's First Speech") and [Job 5](/job/5 "Job 5 - Eliphaz's Continued Speech"). In the verses immediately preceding, Eliphaz details God's active intervention to frustrate the plans of the cunning and expose the deceit of the wicked. Specifically, [Job 5:12](/job/5-12 "Job 5:12 - God Disappoints the Devices of the Crafty") declares that God "disappointeth the devices of the crafty," and [Job 5:13](/job/5-13 "Job 5:13 - God Takes the Wise in Their Own Craftiness") adds that He "taketh the wise in their own craftiness." Verse 14 then serves as a direct, vivid consequence and illustration of this divine judgment. It describes the resultant state of those whose self-reliant and often malevolent schemes are divinely thwarted, emphasizing their inability to navigate even seemingly clear circumstances, a direct outcome of God's sovereign hand rendering their wisdom foolish. This verse thus climaxes Eliphaz's argument about God's righteous frustration of human evil.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the ancient Near East, a region where wisdom literature flourished, exploring themes of divine justice, the nature of suffering, and the pursuit of wisdom. Within this cultural backdrop, there was a prevalent belief, particularly among Job's friends, in the principle of divine retribution: that righteousness leads to prosperity and wickedness to suffering. Eliphaz's arguments, including the sentiment in Job 5:14, reflect this conventional wisdom theology. The imagery of "darkness" and "groping" was a common biblical motif to describe judgment, confusion, and spiritual blindness, seen in texts like [Deuteronomy 28:29](/deuteronomy/28-29 "Deuteronomy 28:29 - Curse of Groping at Noonday") where it describes a curse, or [Isaiah 59:10](/isaiah/59-10 "Isaiah 59:10 - Groping Like the Blind at Noonday") depicting the spiritual state of a sinful nation. The "noonday" was universally understood as the time of greatest clarity and visibility, making the disorientation described in the verse particularly striking and indicative of a profound, supernaturally imposed affliction.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Eliphaz's speech and the broader book of Job. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**, highlighting God's ultimate control over human affairs and His ability to confound even the most astute human plans. It asserts that no human wisdom or cunning can escape His scrutiny or overpower His will, reinforcing the idea that God is the supreme arbiter of justice, as also seen in [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10-11 "Psalm 33:10-11 - The Lord Frustrates the Plans of the Nations"). Secondly, it vividly illustrates **Spiritual Blindness**, using the imagery of "darkness in the daytime" and "groping in the noonday" to convey a state of profound spiritual and intellectual disorientation. This suggests that even in circumstances where clarity should be abundant, those alienated from God's truth are unable to find their way or make sound judgments, a concept echoed in the New Testament concerning those who prefer darkness to light, as seen in [John 3:19](/john/3-19 "John 3:19 - Men Loved Darkness Rather Than Light"). Finally, the verse emphasizes the **Futility of Wicked Schemes**, demonstrating the ultimate failure of those who devise evil or manipulative plans. Their attempts to gain advantage or deceive others are exposed and rendered ineffective by divine wisdom, leading to their own confusion and downfall, thereby affirming the principle that human craftiness is no match for divine wisdom.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Darkness (Hebrew, _chôshek_):** From H2822, this term is more than merely the absence of light; it frequently carries connotations of confusion, distress, misfortune, judgment, and even moral depravity in biblical contexts. Here, it signifies a state of profound mental and spiritual disorientation, a divinely imposed obscurity that prevents clear thought or action, leading to a metaphorical blindness.
* **Grope (Hebrew, _mâshash_):** From H4959, a primitive root meaning "to feel of; by implication, to grope." This word implies a desperate, aimless, and uncertain searching, characteristic of someone attempting to navigate in absolute darkness. It conveys a sense of helplessness and frantic confusion, emphasizing the inability to perceive or understand one's surroundings or path, despite the presence of light.
* **Noonday (Hebrew, _tsôhar_):** From H6672, referring to "a light (i.e. window); dual double light, i.e. noon." This word refers to the brightest part of the day, when the sun is at its zenith and visibility is at its maximum. Its inclusion creates a stark and powerful contrast with "darkness" and "groping," intensifying the irony and highlighting the unnatural, divinely-imposed nature of the confusion described.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They meet with darkness in the daytime":** This initial clause introduces the central paradox of the verse: those who are the subject of divine judgment encounter obscurity and confusion even when conditions should be most clear. "They" refers to the "crafty" and "wise" (in their own estimation) mentioned in the preceding verses ([Job 5:12-13](/job/5-12-13 "Job 5:12-13 - God Thwarts the Crafty and Wise")), whose plans God thwarts. The "daytime" represents circumstances that should offer clarity, insight, and ease of navigation. Yet, despite these optimal conditions, they are met with a profound lack of understanding or direction, a divinely ordained spiritual and intellectual blindness that renders their own wisdom useless.
* **"and grope in the noonday as in the night":** This second clause amplifies the imagery of the first, using a powerful simile to underscore the severity of their disorientation. "Grope" vividly depicts their aimless, fumbling attempts to find their way, characteristic of someone utterly lost. The phrase "in the noonday" reiterates the paradox: at the brightest hour, they are as lost and helpless as if it were pitch black "night." This emphasizes that their confusion is not due to external circumstances but is an internal, spiritual, or divinely imposed condition, rendering their own wisdom and cunning utterly ineffective and leading to their ultimate downfall.

#### Literary Devices
Job 5:14 is rich in literary devices that enhance its impact and convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Irony**, as the verse describes individuals experiencing darkness and confusion precisely "in the daytime" and "in the noonday," the times of greatest light and clarity. This stark contrast highlights the unnatural and divinely orchestrated nature of their disorientation, emphasizing that their blindness is not circumstantial but a direct consequence of their actions and God's judgment. **Metaphor** is also central, as "darkness" and "groping" serve as metaphors for spiritual and intellectual confusion, a lack of divine wisdom, and the futility of human schemes when opposed to God's will. The physical act of groping in the dark symbolizes their inability to discern truth or find a path forward in life. Furthermore, vivid **Imagery** is employed to create a powerful mental picture of utter helplessness and disorientation. The sensory details of "darkness," "daytime," "groping," and "noonday" combine to evoke a strong sense of bewilderment and the terrifying experience of being lost even when all should be clear, powerfully communicating the divine frustration of human craftiness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly speaks to the theological principle of divine justice and the futility of human wisdom apart from God. It asserts that God is sovereign over all human endeavors, capable of turning the schemes of the wicked into their own undoing. The "darkness in the daytime" symbolizes a spiritual blindness that prevents those who rely on their own cunning from perceiving divine truth or navigating life according to God's righteous standards. This disorientation is not merely a natural consequence but a divine judgment, demonstrating that true wisdom and clear direction come only from God. It serves as a warning against self-reliance and a testament to God's unyielding control over the destinies of individuals and nations, affirming that His light alone can truly illuminate the path.

* [Deuteronomy 28:29](/deuteronomy/28-29 "Descriptive Title")
* [Isaiah 59:10](/isaiah/59-10 "Descriptive Title")
* [Proverbs 4:19](/proverbs/4-19 "Descriptive Title")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 5:14 offers a timeless and sobering reminder that true wisdom and clear guidance flow exclusively from God. For believers, it serves as an encouragement to cultivate a deep reliance on divine insight, rather than trusting in human cleverness, manipulation, or self-serving strategies. It underscores the profound truth that attempting to navigate life or achieve goals apart from God's principles inevitably leads to profound disorientation, confusion, and the ultimate collapse of even the most meticulously planned human endeavors. This verse challenges us to examine the sources of our wisdom and the foundations of our plans. Are we seeking God's light, found in His Word and through prayer, to illuminate our path? Or are we, even inadvertently, relying on our own limited understanding, risking a spiritual blindness that renders us unable to discern truth even in the clearest of circumstances? To walk with clarity, purpose, and genuine success, especially amidst life's complexities, we must continually seek God's illuminating presence and His divine wisdom, allowing Him to be the true compass for our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be relying on human cunning or self-sufficiency instead of divine wisdom?**
* **How does the imagery of "groping in the noonday" challenge your understanding of true clarity and insight in your own spiritual walk?**
* **What practical steps can you take to ensure your path is illuminated by God's truth, actively preventing spiritual disorientation and fostering genuine discernment?**

### FAQ
**Does Eliphaz's statement in Job 5:14 accurately describe Job's situation?**

Answer: While Eliphaz's description of the wicked meeting with darkness and groping in the noonday is a powerful theological statement about divine justice, it does not accurately describe Job's specific situation. Eliphaz, like Job's other friends, operates under the assumption of a direct, one-to-one correlation between sin and suffering. He believes Job's immense suffering must be a consequence of some hidden wickedness, and thus, Job is experiencing the "darkness in the daytime" due to his sin. However, the book of Job ultimately refutes this simplistic theology of retribution. The narrative reveals that Job is righteous, and his suffering is part of a divine test, not a punishment for sin. Therefore, while the verse speaks to a general principle of divine judgment against the truly wicked who rely on their own craftiness, applying it directly to Job's innocent suffering is a misapplication within the context of the book's larger theological message, which explores the complexities of suffering beyond simple cause-and-effect.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 5:14, with its vivid portrayal of spiritual blindness and the futility of human wisdom apart from God, finds its ultimate fulfillment and counterpoint in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "darkness in the daytime" that befalls the wicked speaks to humanity's inherent inability to perceive divine truth without divine illumination. Humanity, in its fallen state, often "grope[s] in the noonday as in the night," unable to find true purpose or direction despite the light of creation and conscience. Christ, however, declares Himself to be the "light of the world" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "Jesus, the Light of the World")), who illuminates every person coming into the world ([John 1:9](/john/1-9 "The True Light")). He came to scatter the darkness of sin and ignorance, offering true sight to those who were spiritually blind ([John 9:5](/john/9-5 "Jesus Gives Sight to the Blind")). The wisdom of this world, which Eliphaz describes as being confounded by God, is indeed foolishness in God's sight ([1 Corinthians 1:20](/1_corinthians/1-20 "The Wisdom of the World is Foolishness")). In Christ, "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "In Christ are Hidden All Treasures of Wisdom")). He is the true wisdom of God ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "Christ, the Power and Wisdom of God")), who perfectly embodies divine insight and reveals the path of life, preventing those who follow Him from stumbling in darkness ([John 12:46](/john/12-46 "Jesus Came as Light")). Thus, what Job 5:14 describes as a judgment upon the wicked, Christ transforms into an invitation to walk in His illuminating truth, overcoming the spiritual blindness that afflicts humanity and guiding believers into eternal light.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 12:25

They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like [a] drunken [man].

Deuteronomy 28:29

And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee].

Isaiah 59:10

We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if [we had] no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; [we are] in desolate places as dead [men].

Proverbs 4:19

The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

Amos 8:9

And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: