Job 10:21

Authorized King James Version

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Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

Original Language Analysis

בְּטֶ֣רֶם H2962
בְּטֶ֣רֶם
Strong's: H2962
Word #: 1 of 8
properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
אֵ֭לֵךְ H1980
אֵ֭לֵךְ
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 2 of 8
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
וְלֹ֣א H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 3 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אָשׁ֑וּב whence I shall not return H7725
אָשׁ֑וּב whence I shall not return
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 4 of 8
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 5 of 8
near, with or among; often in general, to
אֶ֖רֶץ even to the land H776
אֶ֖רֶץ even to the land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 6 of 8
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
חֹ֣שֶׁךְ of darkness H2822
חֹ֣שֶׁךְ of darkness
Strong's: H2822
Word #: 7 of 8
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
וְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃ and the shadow of death H6757
וְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃ and the shadow of death
Strong's: H6757
Word #: 8 of 8
shade of death, i.e., the grave (figuratively, calamity)

Analysis & Commentary

Job contemplates approaching death: 'Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death.' The phrase 'whence I shall not return' (lo ashuv, לֹא אָשׁוּב) emphasizes death's irreversibility. 'Land of darkness' (erets choshek, אֶרֶץ חֹשֶׁךְ) and 'shadow of death' (tsalmaveth, צַלְמָוֶת) describe Sheol, the grave's dark realm. Job envisions imminent departure to the realm of death from which none return to earthly life.

Job's description reflects Old Testament's limited understanding of afterlife. Sheol was conceived as shadowy, joyless existence—not hell's punishment but death's darkness. The phrase 'land of darkness' suggests permanent separation from light, life, and God's active presence. Job sees death as final loss, lacking resurrection hope that later revelation provides.

Christ's resurrection transforms Job's dark vision. Death's 'land of no return' becomes transition to glory for believers. The 'shadow of death' becomes valley through which the Good Shepherd leads (Psalm 23:4). What Job perceives as permanent darkness becomes temporary passage to eternal light. Resurrection hope revolutionizes death from irreversible loss to temporary sleep before awakening.

Historical Context

Ancient Near Eastern underworld concepts portrayed afterlife as shadowy, diminished existence. Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and early Hebrew concepts shared this pessimism about post-mortem existence. Later biblical revelation, especially after Christ's resurrection, radically transforms this understanding.

Questions for Reflection