Job 33:18
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
Original Language Analysis
יַחְשֹׂ֣ךְ
He keepeth back
H2820
יַחְשֹׂ֣ךְ
He keepeth back
Strong's:
H2820
Word #:
1 of 7
to restrain or (reflexive) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe
נַ֭פְשׁוֹ
his soul
H5315
נַ֭פְשׁוֹ
his soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
2 of 7
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
מִנִּי
H4480
מִנִּי
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
3 of 7
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
שָׁ֑חַת
from the pit
H7845
שָׁ֑חַת
from the pit
Strong's:
H7845
Word #:
4 of 7
a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively, destruction
וְ֝חַיָּת֗וֹ
and his life
H2416
וְ֝חַיָּת֗וֹ
and his life
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
5 of 7
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
Cross References
Job 33:30To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.Job 33:28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern cultures viewed premature or violent death as divine disfavor. Elihu counters this by presenting God's corrective suffering as life-preserving rather than life-destroying. The 'pit' (šāḥaṯ) in ancient cosmology represented Sheol, the realm of the dead, often depicted as a literal underground cavern. Weapons like the sword or spear symbolized the ultimate threat to mortal existence in a warrior culture.
Questions for Reflection
- How have you experienced God's protective discipline that kept you from spiritual or physical destruction?
- What does it mean that God's hardest mercies are sometimes His greatest kindnesses in preserving our souls?
- How does this verse shape your understanding of suffering as potentially preventative rather than punitive?
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Analysis & Commentary
He keepeth back his soul from the pit (yāḥŏśēk napšô min-šāḥaṯ, יָחֹשֶׂךְ נַפְשׁוֹ מִן־שָׁחַת)—The verb ḥāśak means to withhold, restrain, or hold back, depicting God actively preventing the soul (nepeš, the life-force or inner being) from descending into šāḥaṯ (the pit, grave, or place of corruption). This Hebrew term for 'pit' appears in Psalm 16:10, prophetically applied to Christ's resurrection: 'neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.' God's preserving action rescues from premature death and spiritual destruction.
And his life from perishing by the sword (weḥayyātô mē'ăḇôr bašālaḥ, וְחַיָּתוֹ מֵעֲבֹר בַּשָּׁלַח)—The phrase 'perishing by the sword' uses 'āḇar (to pass over, cross over) with šelaḥ (spear, javelin, or weapon). The imagery suggests violent death in warfare or judgment. God's intervention spares physical life from destruction. This protective theology anticipates New Testament teaching that God numbers our days (Matthew 10:29-31) and sovereign providence shields believers until their appointed time.