Job 10:22
New International Version
to the land of deepest night, of utter darkness and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

New Living Translation
It is a land as dark as midnight, a land of gloom and confusion, where even the light is dark as midnight.’”

English Standard Version
the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness.”

Berean Standard Bible
to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

King James Bible
A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

New King James Version
A land as dark as darkness itself, As the shadow of death, without any order, Where even the light is like darkness.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
The land of utter gloom like darkness itself, Of deep shadow without order, And it shines like darkness.”

NASB 1995
The land of utter gloom as darkness itself, Of deep shadow without order, And which shines as the darkness.”

NASB 1977
The land of utter gloom as darkness itself, Of deep shadow without order, And which shines as the darkness.”

Legacy Standard Bible
The land of utter gloom as the thick darkness itself, Of the shadow of death, without order, And which shines as the thick darkness.”

Amplified Bible
The [sunless] land of utter gloom as darkness itself, [The land] of the shadow of death, without order, And [where] it shines as [thick] darkness.”

Christian Standard Bible
It is a land of blackness like the deepest darkness, gloomy and chaotic, where even the light is like the darkness.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It is a land of blackness like the deepest darkness, gloomy and chaotic, where even the light is like the darkness.”

American Standard Version
The land dark as midnight, The land of the shadow of death, without any order, And where the light is as midnight.

Contemporary English Version
of darkness and despair, the place of no return.

English Revised Version
A land of thick darkness, as darkness itself; a land of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
to a dismal land of long shadows and confusion where light is as bright as darkness. I'll never return.' "

Good News Translation
a land of darkness, shadows, and confusion, where the light itself is darkness.

International Standard Version
It's a gloomy land, like deepest darkness; where there's no order, and where even the brightness is like darkness.'"

Majority Standard Bible
to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

NET Bible
to the land of utter darkness, like the deepest darkness, and the deepest shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness."

New Heart English Bible
the land dark as midnight, of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as midnight.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shades of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

World English Bible
the land dark as midnight, of the shadow of death, without any order, where the light is as midnight.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A land of obscurity as thick darkness, "" Death-shade—and no order, "" And the shining [is] as thick darkness.”

Young's Literal Translation
A land of obscurity as thick darkness, Death-shade -- and no order, And the shining is as thick darkness.'

Smith's Literal Translation
A land of darkness, as thick darkness; of the shadow of death, and not orders, and the brightness, as thick darkness.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A land of misery and darkness, where the shadow of death, and no order, but everlasting horror dwelleth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
a land of misery and darkness, where the shadow of death, and nothing else but everlasting horror, dwells.

New American Bible
The dark, disordered land where darkness is the only light.

New Revised Standard Version
the land of gloom and chaos, where light is like darkness.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A land of loneliness and deep darkness, and of the shadow of death, without any order or time; wearisome like a deep pit.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Of wasting away as deep darkness and shadows of death, and there are no ranks of generations in it, and there is languishing as deep darkness
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A land of thick darkness, as darkness itself; A land of the shadow of death, without any order, And where the light is as darkness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
to a land of perpetual darkness, where there is no light, neither can any one see the life of mortals.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Plea to God
21before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom, 22to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

Cross References
Isaiah 8:22
Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.

Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the dusky mountains. You wait for light, but He turns it into deep gloom and thick darkness.

Matthew 8:12
But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 22:13
Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:30
And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

John 3:19-20
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

John 12:35
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

2 Peter 2:17
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

Jude 1:13
They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

Revelation 16:10
And the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness, and men began to gnaw their tongues in anguish

Revelation 22:5
There will be no more night in the city, and they will have no need for the light of a lamp or of the sun. For the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.

Psalm 88:6
You have laid me in the lowest Pit, in the darkest of the depths.

Psalm 88:12
Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

Psalm 143:3
For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead.

Isaiah 60:2
For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you.


Treasury of Scripture

A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

Jump to Previous
Chaos Dark Darkness Death Death-Shade Deep Deepest Disorder Gloom Itself Light Midnight Night Obscurity Order Shades Shadow Shines Shining Thick Utter
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Chaos Dark Darkness Death Death-Shade Deep Deepest Disorder Gloom Itself Light Midnight Night Obscurity Order Shades Shadow Shines Shining Thick Utter
Job 10
1. Job, taking liberty of complaint, expostulates with God about his afflictions
18. He complains of life, and craves a little ease before death














to the land
The phrase "to the land" refers to a destination or realm that Job is describing. In the Hebrew context, "land" (אֶרֶץ, erets) often signifies a physical place but can also symbolize a state of being or existence. Here, it metaphorically represents the realm of the dead or Sheol, a place of separation from the living and from God. This reflects Job's deep despair and his perception of death as an inevitable journey to a place devoid of life and hope.

of utter darkness
The term "utter darkness" (אֵפֶל, 'ephêl) conveys a profound absence of light, both physically and spiritually. In the ancient Near Eastern context, darkness was often associated with chaos, evil, and the unknown. Job's use of this term underscores his feeling of being engulfed by overwhelming sorrow and confusion, as if he is entering a realm where God's presence and guidance are absent.

and deep shadow
"Deep shadow" (צַלְמָוֶת, tsalmaveth) is a Hebrew word that can be translated as "shadow of death." This term is used throughout the Old Testament to describe a place of extreme danger or distress. It evokes the imagery of a valley or a place where light barely penetrates, symbolizing Job's perception of his life as being on the brink of death, surrounded by fear and uncertainty.

where even the light
The phrase "where even the light" suggests a paradoxical situation where light, typically a symbol of hope and clarity, is ineffective. In Job's context, it implies that any potential for understanding or relief is obscured. This reflects his belief that his suffering is so profound that even the presence of light cannot dispel the darkness he feels.

is like darkness
The comparison "is like darkness" (כַּחֹשֶׁךְ, kachôshek) emphasizes the depth of Job's despair. In the Hebrew Bible, darkness often symbolizes ignorance, judgment, or divine absence. By stating that light is like darkness, Job expresses his perception that his situation is beyond redemption or comprehension, as if the very essence of hope has been inverted.

Verse 22. - A land of darkness, as darkness itself; or, a land of thick darkness (see the Revised Version). And of the shadow of death, without any order. The absence of order is a new and peculiar feature. We do not find it in the other accounts of Hades. But it lends additional horror and weirdness to the scene. And where the light is as darkness. Not, therefore, absolutely without light, but with such a light as Milton calls "darkness visible."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
to a land
אֶ֤רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of utter darkness,
עֵיפָ֨תָה ׀ (‘ê·p̄ā·ṯāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5890: Obscurity

of deep shadow
צַ֭לְמָוֶת (ṣal·mā·weṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6757: Death-like shadow, deep shadow

and disorder,
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

where even the light
וַתֹּ֥פַע (wat·tō·p̄a‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3313: To shine out or forth, to send out beams, cause to shine

is like
כְּמוֹ־ (kə·mōw-)
Preposition
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

darkness.”
אֹֽפֶל׃ (’ō·p̄el)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 652: Darkness, gloom


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OT Poetry: Job 10:22 The land dark as midnight (Jb)
Job 10:21
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