Job 38:17
New International Version
Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?

New Living Translation
Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?

English Standard Version
Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

Berean Standard Bible
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

King James Bible
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?

New King James Version
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

New American Standard Bible
“Have the gates of death been revealed to you, And have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

NASB 1995
“Have the gates of death been revealed to you, Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

NASB 1977
“Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

Legacy Standard Bible
Have the gates of death been revealed to you, Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Amplified Bible
“Have the gates of death been revealed to you, Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

Christian Standard Bible
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

American Standard Version
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Contemporary English Version
Have you seen the gate to the world of the dead?

English Revised Version
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Have the gateways to death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gateways to total darkness?

Good News Translation
Has anyone ever shown you the gates that guard the dark world of the dead?

International Standard Version
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?

Majority Standard Bible
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

NET Bible
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of deepest darkness?

New Heart English Bible
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Webster's Bible Translation
Have the gates of death been opened to thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shades of death?

World English Bible
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Were the gates of death revealed to you? And do you see the gates of death-shade?

Young's Literal Translation
Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see?

Smith's Literal Translation
Were the gates of death uncovered to thee? and shalt thou see the gates of the shadow of death?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Have the gates of death been opened to thee, and hast thou seen the darksome doors?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Have the gates of death been opened to you, and have you seen the doors of darkness?

New American Bible
Have the gates of death been shown to you, or have you seen the gates of darkness?

New Revised Standard Version
Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Were the doors of death revealed to you and the doors of the shadows of death?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And do the gates of death open to thee for fear; and did the porters of hell quake when they saw thee?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Challenges Job
16Have you journeyed to the vents of the sea or walked in the trenches of the deep? 17Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? 18Have you surveyed the extent of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.…

Cross References
Psalm 9:13
Be merciful to me, O LORD; see how my enemies afflict me! Lift me up from the gates of death,

Psalm 107:18
They loathed all food and drew near to the gates of death.

Isaiah 38:10
I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.”

Isaiah 38:18
For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

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

Psalm 88:10-12
Do You work wonders for the dead? Do departed spirits rise up to praise You? Selah / Can Your loving devotion be proclaimed in the grave, Your faithfulness in Abaddon? / Will Your wonders be known in the darkness, or Your righteousness in the land of oblivion?

Psalm 49:14
Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.

Psalm 49:19
he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of day.

Proverbs 5:5
Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.

Proverbs 7:27
Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Ezekiel 31:14
This happened so that no other trees by the waters would become great in height and set their tops among the clouds, and no other well-watered trees would reach them in height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the depths of the earth, among the mortals who descend to the Pit.’

Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Revelation 1:18
the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.

Revelation 20:13-14
The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. / Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire.


Treasury of Scripture

Have the gates of death been opened to you? or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?

the gates

Psalm 9:13
Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

Psalm 107:18
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

Psalm 116:3
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.

the shadow

Job 3:5
Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

Job 12:22
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Jump to Previous
Dark Darkness Death Death-Shade Deep Door-Keepers Doors Gates Open Opened Revealed Shades Shadow Shown
Jump to Next
Dark Darkness Death Death-Shade Deep Door-Keepers Doors Gates Open Opened Revealed Shades Shadow Shown
Job 38
1. God challenges Job to answer
4. God, by his mighty works, convinces Job of ignorance
31. and weakness














Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
This phrase challenges human understanding of death and the afterlife. In biblical context, "gates of death" symbolize the entrance to Sheol, the realm of the dead. The imagery of gates suggests a boundary or transition from life to death, emphasizing the mystery and finality of death. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, death was often personified and seen as a powerful force. The rhetorical question implies that only God has knowledge and control over death, highlighting human limitations. This connects to other scriptures like Psalm 9:13 and Revelation 1:18, where God is depicted as having authority over death. Theologically, it points to the sovereignty of God and foreshadows Christ's victory over death through His resurrection.

Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
The "shadow of death" is a metaphor for extreme danger or the deepest darkness, often associated with suffering or the threat of death. This phrase is famously echoed in Psalm 23:4, where the psalmist expresses trust in God's protection even in the darkest times. The repetition of "gates" reinforces the idea of a threshold or passage, suggesting that such experiences are beyond human comprehension and control. Historically, the concept of the "shadow of death" would resonate with ancient audiences familiar with the perils of life, such as war, disease, and natural disasters. In a typological sense, this can be seen as a precursor to Christ's role as the light overcoming darkness, offering hope and salvation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Job
A righteous man tested by God through immense suffering, seeking understanding of his trials.

2. God
The Almighty Creator who responds to Job, emphasizing His sovereignty and wisdom.

3. Gates of Death
A metaphorical expression representing the boundary between life and death, symbolizing the unknown and the afterlife.

4. Shadow of Death
A term often used to describe deep darkness or peril, representing the fear and mystery surrounding death.

5. Heavenly Court
The setting of the initial chapters of Job, where God permits Satan to test Job's faith.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and Wisdom
God's questions to Job remind us of His ultimate authority and understanding, which surpass human comprehension.

The Mystery of Death
Death remains a mystery to humanity, but believers can trust in God's control and promises regarding life after death.

Faith in Uncertainty
Like Job, we may not have all the answers, but we are called to trust in God's wisdom and plan, even in the face of death.

Christ's Victory Over Death
Through Christ, believers have assurance and hope beyond the grave, as He has conquered death and holds its keys.

Comfort in God's Presence
In times of fear and darkness, God's presence provides comfort and guidance, as seen in the imagery of the "shadow of death."Verse 17. - Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? By "the gates of death," Sheol, the abode of the dead, seems to be intended (comp. Job 10:21, 22; Job 17:16). Has Job explored this region, and penetrated its secrets? Or is it as unknown to him as to the rest of mankind? The second hemistich - Or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? - is a mere echo of the first, adding an new idea.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Have the gates
שַׁעֲרֵי־ (ša·‘ă·rê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

of death
מָ֑וֶת (mā·weṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

been revealed
הֲנִגְל֣וּ (hă·niḡ·lū)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal

to you?
לְ֭ךָ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

Have you seen
תִּרְאֶֽה׃ (tir·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

the gates
וְשַׁעֲרֵ֖י (wə·ša·‘ă·rê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8179: An opening, door, gate

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


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OT Poetry: Job 38:17 Have the gates of death been revealed (Jb)
Job 38:16
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