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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 10:21 before I go--never to return--to a land of darkness and gloom,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/10-21.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/18_Job_10_21.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 10:21 - Job's Plea to God" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="before I go--never to return--to a land of darkness and gloom," /><script type="application/javascript" 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align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/10-20.htm" title="Job 10:20">◄</a> Job 10:21 <a href="/job/10-22.htm" title="Job 10:22">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/10.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/10.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />before I go to the place of no return, to the land of gloom and utter darkness,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/10.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />before I leave—never to return— for the land of darkness and utter gloom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/10.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />before I go—and I shall not return— to the land of darkness and deep shadow,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/10.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/10.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Before I go <i>whence</i> I shall not return, <i>even</i> to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/10.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Before I go <i>to the place from which</i> I shall not return, To the land of darkness and the shadow of death,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/10.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Before I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and deep shadow,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/10.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Before I go— and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and deep shadow,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/10.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Before I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and deep shadow;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/10.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Before I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and shadow of death,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/10.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Before I go—and I shall not return— To the land of darkness and the deep shadow [of death],<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/10.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />before I go to a land of darkness and gloom, never to return.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/10.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />before I go to a land of darkness and gloom, never to return. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/10.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Before I go whence I shall not return, Even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/10.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />before I travel to the land <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/10.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/10.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />before I go away to a land of darkness and gloom,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/10.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I am going soon and will never come back--going to a land that is dark and gloomy, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/10.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />before I go, never to return, leaving for the land of deep darkness and shadow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/10.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />before I go?never to return?to a land of darkness and gloom,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/10.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />before I depart, never to return, to the land of darkness and the deepest shadow, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/10.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />before I go where I shall not return from, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/10.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness, and the shades of death;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/10.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />before I go where I will not return from, to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death; <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/10.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Before I go, and do not return, "" To a land of darkness and death-shade,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/10.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Before I go, and return not, Unto a land of darkness and death-shade,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/10.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Before I shall go and turn back to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/10.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Before I go, and return no more, to a land that is dark and covered with the mist of death: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/10.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />before I depart and return no more to a land that is dark and covered with the fog of death,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/10.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Before I go whence I shall not return, to the land of darkness and of gloom, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/10.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />before I go, never to return, to the land of gloom and deep darkness,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/10.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Before I go from whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/10.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Before I shall go and I shall not return again, to the land of darkness and of the shadows of death<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/10.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Before I go whence I shall not return, Even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/10.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />before I go whence I shall not return, to a land of darkness and gloominess;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/10-21.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=1628" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/10.htm">Job's Plea to God</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">20</span>Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort, <span class="reftext">21</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2962.htm" title="2962: bə·ṭe·rem (Prep-b:: Adv) -- From an unused root apparently meaning to interrupt or suspend; properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before.">before</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: ’ê·lêḵ (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">I go—</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: wə·lō (Conj-w:: Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">never</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: ’ā·šūḇ (V-Qal-Imperf-1cs) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">to return—</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ’e·reṣ (N-fsc) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">a land</a> <a href="/hebrew/2822.htm" title="2822: ḥō·šeḵ (N-ms) -- From chashak; the dark; hence darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.">of darkness</a> <a href="/hebrew/6757.htm" title="6757: wə·ṣal·mā·weṯ (Conj-w:: N-ms) -- Death-like shadow, deep shadow. From tsel and maveth; shade of death, i.e. The grave.">and gloom,</a> </span><span class="reftext">22</span>to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/3-13.htm">Job 3:13-19</a></span><br />For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest / with kings and counselors of the earth, who built for themselves cities now in ruins, / or with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/7-9.htm">Job 7:9-10</a></span><br />As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. / He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/14-10.htm">Job 14:10-14</a></span><br />But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he? / As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry, / so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/17-13.htm">Job 17:13-16</a></span><br />If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, / and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’ / where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ecclesiastes/9-10.htm">Ecclesiastes 9:10</a></span><br />Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/88-10.htm">Psalm 88:10-12</a></span><br />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?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/39-13.htm">Psalm 39:13</a></span><br />Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may again be cheered before I depart and am no more.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/38-18.htm">Isaiah 38:18</a></span><br />For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/6-5.htm">Psalm 6:5</a></span><br />For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/49-14.htm">Psalm 49:14</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/103-14.htm">Psalm 103:14-16</a></span><br />For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust. / As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; / when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/12-2.htm">Daniel 12:2</a></span><br />And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/8-12.htm">Matthew 8:12</a></span><br />But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/22-13.htm">Matthew 22:13</a></span><br />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.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/11-11.htm">John 11:11-14</a></span><br />After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.” / His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.” / They thought that Jesus was talking about actual sleep, but He was speaking about the death of Lazarus. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Before I go from where I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;</p><p class="hdg">I go whence</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/7-8.htm">Job 7:8-10</a></b></br> The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no <i>more</i>: thine eyes <i>are</i> upon me, and I <i>am</i> not… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/14-10.htm">Job 14:10-14</a></b></br> But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where <i>is</i> he? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/12-23.htm">2 Samuel 12:23</a></b></br> But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.</p><p class="hdg">the land</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/3-5.htm">Job 3:5</a></b></br> Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/88-6.htm">Psalm 88:6,11,12</a></b></br> Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps… </p><p class="hdg">the shadow.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/3-5.htm">Job 3:5</a></b></br> Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/23-4.htm">Psalm 23:4</a></b></br> Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou <i>art</i> with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/2-6.htm">Jeremiah 2:6</a></b></br> Neither said they, Where <i>is</i> the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/6-16.htm">Black</a> <a href="/job/6-16.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/job/5-14.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/job/9-23.htm">Death</a> <a href="/job/3-5.htm">Death-Shade</a> <a href="/job/7-12.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/job/3-5.htm">Gloom</a> <a href="/job/7-2.htm">Shades</a> <a href="/job/8-9.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/job/2-2.htm">Whence</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/23-17.htm">Black</a> <a href="/job/10-22.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/job/10-22.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/job/10-22.htm">Death</a> <a href="/job/10-22.htm">Death-Shade</a> <a href="/job/10-22.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/job/10-22.htm">Gloom</a> <a href="/job/10-22.htm">Shades</a> <a href="/job/10-22.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/job/16-22.htm">Whence</a><div class="vheading2">Job 10</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/10-1.htm">Job, taking liberty of complaint, expostulates with God about his afflictions</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/10-18.htm">He complains of life, and craves a little ease before death</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/10.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/10.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>before I go—never to return—</b><br>This phrase reflects Job's deep despair and his belief in the finality of death. In the context of the ancient Near Eastern understanding, death was often seen as a one-way journey with no return. This aligns with the broader biblical theme that life is transient (<a href="/psalms/39-4.htm">Psalm 39:4-5</a>) and emphasizes the urgency of living righteously. Job's lament here is a cry of hopelessness, contrasting with later biblical revelations of resurrection and eternal life (<a href="/1_corinthians/15-20.htm">1 Corinthians 15:20-22</a>).<p><b>to a land of darkness and gloom,</b><br>The "land of darkness and gloom" refers to Sheol, the abode of the dead in Hebrew thought. It is depicted as a shadowy place, devoid of light and joy (<a href="/psalms/88-12.htm">Psalm 88:12</a>). This imagery underscores the somber view of death prevalent in the Old Testament. The darkness symbolizes separation from God, who is light (1 <a href="/john/1-5.htm">John 1:5</a>). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is presented as the light of the world (<a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>), offering hope and redemption from the darkness of sin and death. This contrast highlights the progression of revelation from the Old to the New Testament, where the hope of resurrection and eternal life becomes more explicit.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and his quest for understanding the reasons behind it.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/l/land_of_darkness_and_gloom.htm">Land of Darkness and Gloom</a></b><br>This phrase refers to Sheol, the abode of the dead in ancient Hebrew thought. It is depicted as a place of darkness, devoid of the light and life found in the land of the living.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/job's_suffering.htm">Job's Suffering</a></b><br>The context of this verse is Job's lament over his suffering and his desire to understand why he is enduring such pain. He expresses a sense of hopelessness and despair.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_suffering.htm">Understanding Suffering</a></b><br>Job's lament highlights the human struggle to understand suffering. It is important to acknowledge our emotions and bring them before God, seeking His wisdom and comfort.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_death.htm">The Reality of Death</a></b><br>Job's reference to the "land of darkness" reminds us of the reality of death. As Christians, we are called to live with an eternal perspective, understanding that our hope lies beyond this life.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/hope_in_despair.htm">Hope in Despair</a></b><br>Even in moments of deep despair, like Job's, we can find hope in God's promises. The New Testament reveals the hope of resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_community.htm">The Importance of Community</a></b><br>Job's account underscores the need for supportive community during times of suffering. We are called to bear one another's burdens and offer encouragement and prayer.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_10.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 10</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_is_the_new_man_in_the_story.htm">What are the torments of Sheol?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_felix_in_the_bible.htm">Where is the Land of Uz located?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_'valley_of_death'.htm">What is the "valley of the shadow of death"?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_were_days_counted_before_the_sun.htm">If Genesis describes the creation of the sun on the fourth day, how were there 'days' before the sun existed?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/10.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 21.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Before I go whence I shall not return</span> (comp. <a href="/job/7-9.htm">Job 7:9</a>; and see <a href="/2_samuel/12-23.htm">2 Samuel 12:23</a>). <span class="cmt_word">Even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death</span>. Job's idea of the receptacle of the dead, while it has some analogies with the Egyptian under-world, and even more with the Greek and Roman conceptions of Hades or Orcus, was probably derived from Babylonia, or Chaldea, on which the land that he inhabited bordered (<a href="/job/1-17.htm">Job 1:17</a>). It was within the earth, consequently dark and sunless (compare the <span class="accented">Umbrae</span> of the Romans, and Euripides's <span class="greek">νέκρων κευθμῶνα καὶ σκότου πύλας</span>), deep (<a href="/job/11-8.htm">Job 11:8</a>), dreary, fastened with belts and bars (<a href="/job/17-16.htm">Job 17:16</a>). The Babylonians spoke of it as "the abode of darkness and famine, where earth was men's food, and their nourishment clay; where light was not seen, but in darkness they dwelt; where ghosts, like birds, fluttered their wings; and where, on the doors and on the door-posts, the dust lay undisturbed" (Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, vol. 1. p. 118). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/10-21.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">before</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּטֶ֣רֶם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ṭe·rem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2962.htm">Strong's 2962: </a> </span><span class="str2">Non-occurrence, not yet, before</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I go—</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵ֭לֵךְ</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lêḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">never</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to return—</span><br /><span class="heb">אָשׁ֑וּב</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·šūḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> </span><span class="str2">To turn back, in, to retreat, again</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶל־</span> <span class="translit">(’el-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a land</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶ֖רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of darkness</span><br /><span class="heb">חֹ֣שֶׁךְ</span> <span class="translit">(ḥō·šeḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2822.htm">Strong's 2822: </a> </span><span class="str2">The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and gloom,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְצַלְמָֽוֶת׃</span> <span class="translit">(wə·ṣal·mā·weṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6757.htm">Strong's 6757: </a> </span><span class="str2">Death-like shadow, deep shadow</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/10-21.htm">OT Poetry: Job 10:21 Before I go where I shall not (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/10-20.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 10:20"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 10:20" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/10-22.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 10:22"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 10:22" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>