Job 22:11
New International Version
why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.

New Living Translation
That is why you cannot see in the darkness, and waves of water cover you.

English Standard Version
or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

Berean Standard Bible
it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

King James Bible
Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

New King James Version
Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you.

New American Standard Bible
Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And a flood of water covers you.

NASB 1995
Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.

NASB 1977
Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And an abundance of water covers you.

Amplified Bible
Or darkness, so that you cannot see, And a flood of water covers you.

Christian Standard Bible
or darkness, so you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
or darkness, so you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

American Standard Version
Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

Contemporary English Version
blinded by darkness, and drowned in a flood.

English Revised Version
Or darkness, that thou canst not see, and abundance of waters cover thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[That is why] darkness surrounds you and you cannot see and a flood of water covers you.

Good News Translation
It has grown so dark that you cannot see, and a flood overwhelms you.

International Standard Version
you see nothing but darkness, and a flood of troubles drowns you."

Majority Standard Bible
it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.

NET Bible
why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.

New Heart English Bible
or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.

World English Bible
or darkness, so that you can not see, and floods of waters cover you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Or darkness—you do not see, "" And abundance of waters covers you.

Young's Literal Translation
Or darkness -- thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.

Smith's Literal Translation
Or darkness thou wilt not see; and abundance of waters shall cover thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And didst thou think that thou shouldst not see darkness, and that thou shouldst not be covered with the violence of overflowing waters?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And did you think that you would not see darkness and that you were not to be overwhelmed by the on-rush of overflowing waters?

New American Bible
Or darkness—you cannot see! A deluge of waters covers you.

New Revised Standard Version
or darkness so that you cannot see; a flood of water covers you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Where is the darkness, that you cannot see; and the flood of water that covers you?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
From where the darkness is, you have not seen, and pouring forth of waters will cover you
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Or darkness, that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The light has proved darkness to thee, and water has covered thee on thy lying down.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eliphaz Exhorts Job
10Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you; 11 it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you. 12Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!…

Cross References
Psalm 69:14-15
Rescue me from the mire and do not let me sink; deliver me from my foes and out of the deep waters. / Do not let the floods engulf me or the depths swallow me up; let not the Pit close its mouth over me.

Isaiah 59:9-10
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom. / Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead.

Psalm 18:4-5
The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. / The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.

Psalm 42:7
Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and waves have rolled over me.

Lamentations 3:54
The waters flowed over my head, and I thought I was going to die.

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.

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

Psalm 107:10-14
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains, / because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High. / He humbled their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. ...

Isaiah 50:10
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.

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 8:24-26
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was engulfed by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” / “You of little faith,” Jesus replied, “why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was perfectly calm.

Luke 8:23-25
As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. / The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. / “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

Mark 4:37-39
Soon a violent windstorm came up, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was being swamped. / But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, “Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?” / Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. “Silence!” He commanded. “Be still!” And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

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 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.


Treasury of Scripture

Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.

darkness

Job 18:6,18
The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him…

Job 19:8
He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

Proverbs 4:19
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

abundance

Psalm 42:7
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Psalm 69:1,2
To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul…

Psalm 124:4
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:

Jump to Previous
Abundance Cover Covered Covers Dark Darkened Darkness Flood Floods Light Mass Unable Water Waters
Jump to Next
Abundance Cover Covered Covers Dark Darkened Darkness Flood Floods Light Mass Unable Water Waters
Job 22
1. Eliphaz shows that man's goodness profits not God
5. He accuses Job of various sins
21. He exhorts him to repentance, with promises of mercy














it is so dark you cannot see
The phrase "it is so dark you cannot see" speaks to a profound spiritual and existential blindness. In the Hebrew context, darkness often symbolizes chaos, ignorance, or the absence of God's presence. The Hebrew word for darkness, "choshek," is used in Genesis to describe the state of the world before God said, "Let there be light." This darkness is not merely physical but represents a spiritual condition where one is unable to perceive truth or divine guidance. In the narrative of Job, this darkness can be seen as a metaphor for Job's suffering and confusion, where he struggles to understand the reasons behind his afflictions. From a conservative Christian perspective, this darkness can also be interpreted as the state of humanity without the light of Christ, who is described in the New Testament as the "light of the world" (John 8:12). The inability to see signifies a lack of spiritual insight or revelation, which can only be remedied by turning to God, who dispels darkness with His truth and presence.

and a flood of water covers you
The imagery of "a flood of water covers you" evokes a sense of overwhelming circumstances and judgment. In the ancient Near Eastern context, floods were often seen as symbols of chaos and destruction. The Hebrew word for flood, "sheteph," can imply a deluge that sweeps away everything in its path. This phrase can be understood as a representation of the trials and tribulations that engulf Job, leaving him feeling submerged and helpless. Historically, floods were feared for their power to destroy crops, homes, and lives, making them a potent metaphor for overwhelming adversity. In the biblical narrative, floods also carry connotations of divine judgment, as seen in the account of Noah. However, from a conservative Christian viewpoint, this flood can also be seen as a test of faith, where believers are called to trust in God's sovereignty and deliverance. The floodwaters, while threatening, are ultimately under God's control, and He promises to be with His people through the waters, as stated in Isaiah 43:2, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you." This assurance provides hope and encouragement, reminding believers that no matter how overwhelming the circumstances, God's presence and power are greater.

Verse 11. - Or darkness, that thou canst not see. Job had complained of the "darkness" that was "set in his paths" (Job 19:8), meaning probably his inability to discover the cause of his afflictions. And abundance of waters cover thee. The comparison of severe affliction to an overwhelming flood is very common in Scripture (see Psalm 42:7; Psalm 69:1-3, 14, 15; Psalm 124:4, 5; Lamentations 3:54, etc.). So Shakespeare speaks of "a sea of troubles."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
it is so dark
חֹ֥שֶׁךְ (ḥō·šeḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2822: The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness

you cannot
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

see,
תִרְאֶ֑ה (ṯir·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

and a flood
וְֽשִׁפְעַת־ (wə·šip̄·‘aṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8229: Abundance, quantity

of water
מַ֥יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

covers you.
תְּכַסֶּֽךָּ׃ (tə·ḵas·se·kā)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover


Links
Job 22:11 NIV
Job 22:11 NLT
Job 22:11 ESV
Job 22:11 NASB
Job 22:11 KJV

Job 22:11 BibleApps.com
Job 22:11 Biblia Paralela
Job 22:11 Chinese Bible
Job 22:11 French Bible
Job 22:11 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 22:11 Or darkness so that you can not (Jb)
Job 22:10
Top of Page
Top of Page