Job 16:18
 Job 16:18 
New International Version (© 2011)
"Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest!

King James Bible
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

American Standard Version
O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no resting -place.

Young's Literal Translation
O earth, do not thou cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.

Job 16:18 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

O earth, cover not thou my blood - This is evidently an allusion to the murder of Abel, and the verse has been understood in two different ways:

1. Job here calls for justice against his destroyers. His blood is his life, which he considers as taken away by violence, and therefore calls for vengeance. Let my blood cry against my murderers, as the blood of Abel cried against Cain. My innocent life is taken away by violence, as his innocent life was; as therefore the earth was not permitted to cover his blood, so that his murderer should be concealed, let my death be avenged in the same way.

2. It has been supposed that the passage means that Job considered himself accused of shedding innocent blood; and, conscious of his own perfect innocence, he prays that the earth may not cover any blood shed by him. Thus Mr. Scott: -

"O earth, the blood accusing me reveal;

Its piercing voice in no recess conceal."

And this notion is followed by Mr. Good. But, with all deference to these learned men, I do not see that this meaning can be supported by the Hebrew text; nor was the passage so understood by any of the ancient versions. I therefore prefer the first sense, which is sufficiently natural, and quite in the manner of Job in his impassioned querulousness.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

O earth

Jeremiah 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.

cover not

Genesis 4:11 And now are you cursed from the earth, which has opened her mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand;

Nehemiah 4:5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before you...

Isaiah 26:21 For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity...

Ezekiel 24:7 For her blood is in the middle of her; she set it on the top of a rock; she poured it not on the ground, to cover it with dust;

let my cry

Job 27:9 Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?

Psalm 66:18,19 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me...

Isaiah 1:15 And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you: yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear...

Isaiah 58:9,10 Then shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am...

James 4:3,4 You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it on your lusts...

Job 16:18 Parallel Commentaries
Blood Cover Cry Earth Find Laid Rest Resting Resting-Place
Blood Cover Cry Earth Find Laid Rest Resting Resting-Place
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.

Job 16:18 Mobile Bible
Job 16:18 Bible Suite
Job 16:18 Biblia Paralela
Job 16:18 Chinese Bible

Bible Apps
Bible Hub


Job 16:17 yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure.
Job 16:19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.
Psalm 119:169 May my cry come before you, LORD; give me understanding according to your word.
Isaiah 26:21 See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed on it; the earth will conceal its slain no longer.