Job 12:25
They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
Original Language Analysis
חֹ֥שֶׁךְ
in the dark
H2822
חֹ֥שֶׁךְ
in the dark
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
2 of 6
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
וְלֹא
H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 6
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
א֑וֹר
without light
H216
א֑וֹר
without light
Strong's:
H216
Word #:
4 of 6
illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
Cross References
Job 5:14They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.Psalms 107:27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.Isaiah 24:20The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.Isaiah 19:14The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.
Historical Context
Ancient peoples relied heavily on leaders and wise counselors. Job's image of confused, staggering leaders would be profoundly disturbing, suggesting even the wise lack sure knowledge apart from divine revelation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does awareness of our limitations in understanding God's ways produce humility?
- Where do we place false confidence in human wisdom regarding suffering and divine purposes?
Analysis & Commentary
'They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.' Job describes leaders whom God confounds: they 'grope' (מְמַשְׁשׁוּ, memasheshu—feel about blindly) in 'dark' (חֹשֶׁךְ, choshek) without 'light' (אוֹר, or), staggering like drunkards (שִׁכּוֹר, shikkor). This inverts the friends' confidence—they think they see clearly while Job gropes. Job suggests all humans fumble in darkness regarding God's ways. This echoes Isaiah 29:9-14 and 1 Corinthians 1:20 where God confounds human wisdom. The image of staggering leaders warns against trusting human authority divorced from divine revelation. Only Scripture provides sure light (Psalm 119:105). Job anticipates God's own speech revealing human ignorance.