Job 3:5

Authorized King James Version

Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
יִגְאָלֻ֡הוּ
stain
to redeem (according to the middle eastern law of kinship), i.e., to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his wido
#2
חֹ֣שֶׁךְ
Let darkness
the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness
#3
וְ֭צַלְמָוֶת
and the shadow of death
shade of death, i.e., the grave (figuratively, calamity)
#4
תִּשְׁכָּן
dwell
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
#5
עָלָ֣יו
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#6
עֲנָנָ֑ה
it let a cloud
cloudiness
#7
יְ֝בַֽעֲתֻ֗הוּ
terrify
to fear
#8
כִּֽמְרִ֥ירֵי
upon it let the blackness
obscuration (as if from shrinkage of light, i.e., an eclipse (only in plural)
#9
יֽוֹם׃
of the day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood divine revelation. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection