Job 24:16

In the dark they dig through houses, [which] they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.

In the dark {H2822} they dig through {H2864} houses {H1004}, which they had marked {H2856} for themselves in the daytime {H3119}: they know {H3045} not the light {H216}.

When it's dark, they break into houses; in the daytime, they stay out of sight. [None of them] know the light.

In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves in, never to experience the light.

In the dark they dig through houses: They shut themselves up in the day-time; They know not the light.

Commentary

Job 24:16, from the King James Version, presents a vivid and stark image of the wicked's deliberate choice to operate under the cover of darkness, avoiding the light of truth and accountability. This verse is part of Job's passionate discourse where he grapples with the perplexing reality of injustice in the world, questioning why the wicked often seem to prosper while the righteous suffer.

Context

In Job chapter 24, Job continues his lament, expressing his bewilderment at the apparent delay of divine judgment against those who commit egregious sins. He describes various types of evildoers โ€“ including land-grabbers, oppressors, murderers, and, as in this verse, thieves and robbers. Job highlights their methods: they actively choose the night for their nefarious deeds, planning their crimes in the daytime and executing them when darkness provides concealment. This observation is part of his broader argument that God's justice, while ultimately sure, often seems slow or unseen in the immediate human experience, leading to his profound spiritual struggle. The passage paints a picture of a world where evil flourishes in the shadows, seemingly unchecked.

Key Themes

  • The Nature of Wickedness: This verse underscores that evil often thrives in secrecy and concealment. Wicked deeds are performed under the cover of darkness, shunning the light of day which represents truth, exposure, and divine scrutiny.
  • Rejection of Light and Truth: The phrase "they know not the light" implies more than mere ignorance; it suggests an active avoidance and a lack of affinity for what is good, honest, or righteous. The wicked prefer the moral obscurity that allows their actions to go unnoticed by human eyes. This resonates with the New Testament teaching that men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
  • Moral Blindness: Their inability or unwillingness to "know the light" highlights a spiritual and moral blindness. They are not merely performing acts of darkness but are fundamentally disconnected from the principles of righteousness.
  • Divine Justice (Implicit): While Job questions the timing of justice, the very description of these actions as "wicked" implies an ultimate standard of right and wrong, hinting at a coming day when all hidden deeds will be exposed, as seen in Luke 12:3.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "dig through houses" (Hebrew: ื—ึธืชึทืจ ื‘ึทึผื‘ึธึผืชึดึผื™ื - *chathar ba'battim*) refers to a common method of breaking into homes in ancient times, especially those constructed with mud-brick walls, which could be literally dug through. This emphasizes the determined and invasive nature of the theft. The concluding phrase, "they know not the light," uses the Hebrew word *yฤdaโ€˜* (ื™ึธื“ึทืข) for "know," which often implies an intimate, experiential knowledge or relationship, not just intellectual understanding. Thus, it suggests that these individuals have no affinity for, or communion with, light, truth, or righteousness; they are fundamentally estranged from it.

Practical Application

Job 24:16 serves as a timeless reminder of the nature of sin and its preference for secrecy. For believers, it highlights the importance of living in the light, embracing transparency, and avoiding the unfruitful works of darkness. It challenges us to be agents of light in a world that often seeks to hide evil. While Job wrestled with the apparent delay of justice, the verse implicitly calls for faith that God sees all, and that ultimately, all hidden things will be revealed. It encourages us to pray for those who "know not the light" and to live in a way that reflects God's truth.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 3:20 (6 votes)

    For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

  • Ephesians 5:11 (3 votes)

    And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].

  • Ephesians 5:13 (3 votes)

    But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

  • Exodus 22:2 (2 votes)

    If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, [there shall] no blood [be shed] for him.

  • Exodus 22:3 (2 votes)

    If the sun be risen upon him, [there shall be] blood [shed] for him; [for] he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

  • Job 24:13 (2 votes)

    ยถ They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

  • Ezekiel 12:5 (2 votes)

    Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.