New International Versionbefore I go to the place of no return, to the land of gloom and utter darkness,
New Living Translationbefore I leave—never to return— for the land of darkness and utter gloom.
English Standard Versionbefore I go—and I shall not return— to the land of darkness and deep shadow,
Berean Standard Biblebefore I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom,
King James BibleBefore I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
New King James VersionBefore I go to the place from which I shall not return, To the land of darkness and the shadow of death,
New American Standard BibleBefore I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and deep shadow,
NASB 1995Before I go— and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and deep shadow,
NASB 1977Before I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and deep shadow;
Legacy Standard BibleBefore I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and shadow of death,
Amplified BibleBefore I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and the deep shadow [of death],
Christian Standard Biblebefore I go to a land of darkness and gloom, never to return.
Holman Christian Standard Biblebefore I go to a land of darkness and gloom, never to return.
American Standard VersionBefore I go whence I shall not return, Even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
Contemporary English Versionbefore I travel to the land
English Revised VersionBefore I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
GOD'S WORD® Translationbefore I go away to a land of darkness and gloom,
Good News TranslationI am going soon and will never come back--going to a land that is dark and gloomy,
International Standard Versionbefore I go, never to return, leaving for the land of deep darkness and shadow.
NET Biblebefore I depart, never to return, to the land of darkness and the deepest shadow,
New Heart English Biblebefore I go where I shall not return from, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
Webster's Bible TranslationBefore I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness, and the shades of death; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblebefore I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom,
World English Biblebefore I go where I will not return from, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death; Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionBefore I go, and do not return, "" To a land of darkness and death-shade,
Young's Literal Translation Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,
Smith's Literal TranslationBefore I shall go and turn back to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBefore I go, and return no more, to a land that is dark and covered with the mist of death:
Catholic Public Domain Versionbefore I depart and return no more to a land that is dark and covered with the fog of death,
New American BibleBefore I go whence I shall not return, to the land of darkness and of gloom,
New Revised Standard Versionbefore I go, never to return, to the land of gloom and deep darkness, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBefore I go from whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedBefore I shall go and I shall not return again, to the land of darkness and of the shadows of death OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Before I go whence I shall not return, Even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
Brenton Septuagint Translationbefore I go whence I shall not return, to a land of darkness and gloominess;
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Job's Plea to God… 20Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort, 21beforeI go—neverto return—toa landof darknessand gloom,22to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”…
Cross References Job 3:13-19For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest / with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins, / or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. ...
Job 7:9-10As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. / He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
Job 14:10-14But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he? / As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry, / so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep. ...
Job 17:13-16If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, / and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’ / where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? ...
Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
Psalm 88:10-12Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah / Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? / Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?
Psalm 39:13Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”
Isaiah 38:18For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.
Psalm 6:5For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?
Psalm 49:14Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
Psalm 103:14-16For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust. / As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; / when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.
Daniel 12:2And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Matthew 8:12But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Matthew 22:13Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
John 11:11-14After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.” / His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.” / They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus. ...
Treasury of Scripture Before I go from where I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; I go whence Job 7:8-10 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me nomore: thine eyesare upon me, and Iam not… Job 14:10-14 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and whereis he? … 2 Samuel 12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. the land 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. Psalm 88:6,11,12 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps… the shadow. 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. Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thouart with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Jeremiah 2:6 Neither said they, Whereis the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? Jump to Previous BlackDarkDarknessDeathDeath-ShadeDeepGloomShadesShadowWhenceJump to Next BlackDarkDarknessDeathDeath-ShadeDeepGloomShadesShadowWhenceJob 10 1.Job, taking liberty of complaint, expostulates with God about his afflictions18.He complains of life, and craves a little ease before deathbefore I go—never to return—This phrase reflects Job's deep despair and his belief in the finality of death. In the context of the ancient Near Eastern understanding, death was often seen as a one-way journey with no return. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that life is transient ( Psalm 39:4-5) and emphasizes the urgency of living righteously. Job's lament here is a cry of hopelessness, contrasting with later biblical revelations of resurrection and eternal life ( 1 Corinthians 15:20-22). to a land of darkness and gloom,
The "land of darkness and gloom" refers to Sheol, the abode of the dead in Hebrew thought. It is depicted as a shadowy place, devoid of light and joy (Psalm 88:12). This imagery underscores the somber view of death prevalent in the Old Testament. The darkness symbolizes separation from God, who is light (1John 1:5). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is presented as the light of the world (John 8:12), offering hope and redemption from the darkness of sin and death. This contrast highlights the progression of revelation from the Old to the New Testament, where the hope of resurrection and eternal life becomes more explicit. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and his quest for understanding the reasons behind it. 2. Land of Darkness and GloomThis phrase refers to Sheol, the abode of the dead in ancient Hebrew thought. It is depicted as a place of darkness, devoid of the light and life found in the land of the living. 3. Job's SufferingThe context of this verse is Job's lament over his suffering and his desire to understand why he is enduring such pain. He expresses a sense of hopelessness and despair. Teaching Points Understanding SufferingJob's lament highlights the human struggle to understand suffering. It is important to acknowledge our emotions and bring them before God, seeking His wisdom and comfort. The Reality of DeathJob's reference to the "land of darkness" reminds us of the reality of death. As Christians, we are called to live with an eternal perspective, understanding that our hope lies beyond this life. Hope in DespairEven in moments of deep despair, like Job's, we can find hope in God's promises. The New Testament reveals the hope of resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ. The Importance of CommunityJob's account underscores the need for supportive community during times of suffering. We are called to bear one another's burdens and offer encouragement and prayer. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Job 10
What are the torments of Sheol?
Where is the Land of Uz located?
What is the "valley of the shadow of death"?
If Genesis describes the creation of the sun on the fourth day, how were there 'days' before the sun existed?Verse 21. - Before I go whence I shall not return (comp. Job 7:9; and see 2 Samuel 12:23). Even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death. Job's idea of the receptacle of the dead, while it has some analogies with the Egyptian under-world, and even more with the Greek and Roman conceptions of Hades or Orcus, was probably derived from Babylonia, or Chaldea, on which the land that he inhabited bordered ( Job 1:17). It was within the earth, consequently dark and sunless (compare the Umbrae of the Romans, and Euripides's νέκρων κευθμῶνα καὶ σκότου πύλας), deep ( Job 11:8), dreary, fastened with belts and bars ( Job 17:16). The Babylonians spoke of it as "the abode of darkness and famine, where earth was men's food, and their nourishment clay; where light was not seen, but in darkness they dwelt; where ghosts, like birds, fluttered their wings; and where, on the doors and on the door-posts, the dust lay undisturbed" (Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, vol. 1. p. 118).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew beforeבְּטֶ֣רֶם(bə·ṭe·rem)Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 2962:Non-occurrence, not yet, beforeI go—אֵ֭לֵךְ(’ê·lêḵ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1980:To go, come, walkneverוְלֹ֣א(wə·lō)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noto return—אָשׁ֑וּב(’ā·šūḇ)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7725:To turn back, in, to retreat, againtoאֶל־(’el-)Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, toa landאֶ֖רֶץ(’e·reṣ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776:Earth, landof darknessחֹ֣שֶׁךְ(ḥō·šeḵ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822:The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickednessand gloom,וְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃(wə·ṣal·mā·weṯ)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6757:Death-like shadow, deep shadow
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OT Poetry: Job 10:21 Before I go where I shall not (Jb) |
