Job 33:18

18 He spares also his soul from death, and him not to fall in war.

Job 33:18 Meaning and Commentary

Job 33:18

He keepeth back his soul from the pit
Or, "that he may keep back" ^F14; for this is another end and use of God's speaking unto men; it is to preserve them for the present from going down to the grave, the pit of corruption and destruction; so called because the bodies of men, being there laid, corrupt, and are entirely destroyed by worms, and turn to rottenness and dust; and to preserve them from the bottomless pit of everlasting ruin and destruction; for the Lord's people are reproved by him, that they may not be condemned with the world, ( 1 Corinthians 11:32 ) ;

and his life from perishing by the sword;
by the sword of men, which is one of God's sore judgments; or by the sword of the civil magistrate, the man spoken to being warned of God of committing these sins, which would bring him into the hands of such; or by the sword of divine justice; Jarchi interprets it of the sword of the angel of death; the word signifies a missive weapon, as a dart; so Mr. Broughton renders the words, "and his life from going on the dart": or, as another version has it, "lest it should go on under the cast of darts" ^F15; the darts of an enemy in war, or the fiery darts of Satan, ( Ephesians 6:16 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 (Kvxy) "ut prohibeat", Mercerus, Piscator.
F15 Tigurine version.

Job 33:18 In-Context

16 then opens he the understanding of men: he scares them with such fearful visions:

17 to turn a man from unrighteousness, and he delivers his body from a fall.

18 He spares also his soul from death, and him not to fall in war.

19 And again, he chastens him with sickness on his bed, and the multitude of his bones is benumbed.

20 And he shall not be able to take any food, though his soul shall desire meat;