Job 33:18
New International Version
to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword.

New Living Translation
He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.

English Standard Version
he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

Berean Standard Bible
to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

King James Bible
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

New King James Version
He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

New American Standard Bible
He keeps his soul back from the pit, And his life from perishing by the spear.

NASB 1995
He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over into Sheol.

NASB 1977
He keeps back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over into Sheol.

Legacy Standard Bible
He holds back his soul from the pit, And his life from passing over to death by a weapon.

Amplified Bible
He holds back his soul from the pit [of destruction], And his life from passing over into Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

Christian Standard Bible
God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river of death.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
God spares his soul from the Pit, his life from crossing the river of death.

American Standard Version
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

Contemporary English Version
and to protect us from being swept away to the world of the dead.

English Revised Version
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He keeps their souls from the pit and their lives from crossing the River [of Death].

Good News Translation
He will not let them be destroyed; he saves them from death itself.

International Standard Version
sparing his soul from the Pit and his life from violent death.

Majority Standard Bible
to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.

NET Bible
He spares a person's life from corruption, his very life from crossing over the river.

New Heart English Bible
He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

Webster's Bible Translation
He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

World English Bible
He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
He keeps back his soul from corruption, "" And his life from passing away by a dart.

Young's Literal Translation
He keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.

Smith's Literal Translation
He will keep back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the spear.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Rescuing his soul from corruption : and his life from passing to the sword.

Catholic Public Domain Version
rescuing his soul from corruption and his life from passing away by the sword.

New American Bible
He holds his soul from the pit, his life from passing to the grave.

New Revised Standard Version
to spare their souls from the Pit, their lives from traversing the River.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He spares his soul from corruption, and his life from perdition.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He will save his soul from corruption and his life from destruction
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
That He may keep back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He spares also his soul from death, and suffers him not to fall in war.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Elihu Rebukes Job
17to turn a man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, 18to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword. 19A man is also chastened on his bed with pain and constant distress in his bones,…

Cross References
Psalm 103:4
who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion,

Psalm 56:13
For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalm 116:8
For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

Proverbs 15:24
The path of life leads upward for the wise, that he may avoid going down to Sheol.

Isaiah 38:17
Surely for my own welfare I had such great anguish; but Your love has delivered me from the pit of oblivion, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

Psalm 49:15
But God will redeem my life from Sheol, for He will surely take me to Himself. Selah

Psalm 30:3
O LORD, You pulled me up from Sheol; You spared me from descending into the Pit.

Psalm 86:13
For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.

Psalm 107:14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains.

Psalm 40:2
He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

2 Corinthians 1:10
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,

Colossians 1:13
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,

2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 1:10
and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.

Romans 7:24-25
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? / Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.


Treasury of Scripture

He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

keepeth

Acts 16:27-33
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled…

Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

2 Peter 3:9,15
The 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…

perishing.

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Corruption Dart Destruction Keepeth Keeps Life Passing Perishing Pit Preserve Sheol Soul Sword Underworld
Job 33
1. Elihu offers himself instead of God to reason with Job
8. He excuses God from giving man an account of his ways, by his greatness
14. God calls man to repentance by visions, by afflictions, and by his ministry
31. He incites Job to attention














to preserve his soul
The phrase "to preserve his soul" speaks to God's protective and redemptive nature. The Hebrew word for "soul" is "nephesh," which refers to the life force or the very essence of a person. In the context of Job, this highlights God's desire to safeguard the innermost being of an individual. The preservation of the soul is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing God's sovereignty and His intimate involvement in the lives of His people. This preservation is not merely physical but spiritual, ensuring that one's relationship with God remains intact despite life's trials.

from the Pit
The "Pit" in Hebrew is "shachath," often understood as a metaphor for destruction or Sheol, the realm of the dead. In ancient Near Eastern thought, the Pit represents a place of no return, a symbol of ultimate despair and separation from the living. God's intervention to save a soul from the Pit underscores His power over life and death. It reflects the hope of deliverance and the promise of resurrection, themes that resonate throughout the Bible, pointing to God's ultimate victory over death through Christ.

and his life
The word "life" here is "chay," which encompasses not just physical existence but a state of well-being and vitality. In the biblical context, life is a gift from God, and its preservation is a testament to His grace and mercy. This phrase reminds believers that God is the sustainer of life, actively involved in the protection and flourishing of His creation. It calls Christians to trust in God's providence, knowing that He holds their lives in His hands.

from perishing by the sword
The imagery of "perishing by the sword" conveys the threat of violent death, a common fear in the ancient world. The sword symbolizes human conflict and the consequences of living in a fallen world. God's promise to protect from such peril highlights His role as a divine warrior and protector. This assurance is a source of comfort, reminding believers that God is their shield against both physical and spiritual dangers. It encourages a reliance on God's strength and a commitment to living righteously, trusting in His ultimate justice and deliverance.

Verse 18. - He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. By these interpositions God may even save a man from utter ruin, when, but for them, he would have rushed upon it. He may cause a person -to give up designs or enterprises which would have brought him into danger, and perhaps led to his being slain with the sword.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
to preserve
יַחְשֹׂ֣ךְ (yaḥ·śōḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2820: To restrain, refrain, to refuse, spare, preserve, to observe

his soul
נַ֭פְשׁוֹ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

from
מִנִּי־ (min·nî-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the Pit,
שָׁ֑חַת (šā·ḥaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7845: A pit, destruction

and his life
וְ֝חַיָּת֗וֹ (wə·ḥay·yā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

from perishing
מֵעֲבֹ֥ר (mê·‘ă·ḇōr)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

by the sword.
בַּשָּֽׁלַח׃ (baš·šā·laḥ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7973: A missile of attack, spear, a shoot of growth, branch


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OT Poetry: Job 33:18 He keeps back his soul (Jb)
Job 33:17
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