Job 23:17
Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 8
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
2 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נִ֭צְמַתִּי
Because I was not cut off
H6789
נִ֭צְמַתִּי
Because I was not cut off
Strong's:
H6789
Word #:
3 of 8
to extirpate (literally or figuratively)
וּ֝מִפָּנַ֗י
before
H6440
וּ֝מִפָּנַ֗י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
4 of 8
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
חֹ֑שֶׁךְ
the darkness
H2822
חֹ֑שֶׁךְ
the darkness
Strong's:
H2822
Word #:
5 of 8
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
וּ֝מִפָּנַ֗י
before
H6440
וּ֝מִפָּנַ֗י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
6 of 8
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Historical Context
Darkness as divine judgment is a consistent biblical theme: Egypt's plague (Exodus 10:21-23), eschatological judgment (Joel 2:2, Zephaniah 1:15), and Christ's crucifixion (Matthew 27:45). Job experiences darkness as unrelieved present reality. Ancient Near Eastern cultures feared darkness as the realm of chaos and death, but Job's terror is theological—God is present in the darkness as Judge.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Christ's experience of darkness on the cross (Matthew 27:45-46) redeem suffering?
- What comfort does Job 23 offer to believers experiencing spiritual darkness?
- How should we respond when God doesn't 'cover' our suffering but allows us to experience it fully?
Analysis & Commentary
Because I was not cut off before the darkness (כִּי־לֹא נִצְמַתִּי מִפְּנֵי־חֹשֶׁךְ, ki-lo nitsmatiy mippene-choshek)—The verb tsamat (צָמַת) means "to be cut off, destroyed, silenced." Job wishes he had died before suffering began. The noun choshek (חֹשֶׁךְ, darkness) represents calamity, not physical night. The phrase neither hath he covered the darkness from my face (וּמִפָּנַי כִּסָּה־אֹפֶל) intensifies: God hasn't even veiled the horror. The word ophel (אֹפֶל) is thick darkness, gloom. Job experiences what Amos threatened: "the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light" (Amos 5:18).
This is proto-suicidal ideation, wishing for death over continued suffering. Job's righteous spirit prefers non-existence to experiencing God's wrath—the ultimate horror. Jeremiah echoed this: "cursed be the day wherein I was born" (Jeremiah 20:14). Only Christ transforms this: He entered ophel on the cross (Matthew 27:45), experiencing God-forsakenness so believers need never pray for death as relief from divine wrath.