Job 33:28

28 Forsooth he hath delivered his soul, that it should not go into perishing, but that he living should see light. (then he hath saved his soul, so that he shall not perish, but that in living he shall see the light.)

Job 33:28 Meaning and Commentary

Job 33:28

He will deliver his soul from going into the pit
Into the pit of the grave; and then the soul is put for the man or for the body; or into the pit of hell or perdition:

and his life shall see the light;
or he shall live and enjoy outward prosperity here, and the light of eternal happiness hereafter; and so the Targum interprets it of superior light, or the light above, even the inheritance of the saints in light. These words have a double reading; the "Keri", or marginal reading, is what we follow; but the "Cetib", or textual reading, is, "he hath delivered my soul from going into the pit, and my life sees the light"; and which seems to be the better reading; and so the words are a continuation of the address of the man recovered from illness to his friends; setting forth and acknowledging, with joy and thankfulness, the great goodness of God unto him, that he had delivered him from the grave, and spared his life, and given him to enjoy great prosperity, both temporal and spiritual.

Job 33:28 In-Context

26 He shall beseech God, and he shall be quemeful to him; and he shall see his face in perfect joy, and he shall yield to man his rightfulness. (He shall beseech God, and he shall be merciful to him; and he shall see his face with perfect joy, and God shall make all things right for him.)
27 He shall behold (other) men, and he shall say, I have sinned, and verily I have trespassed; and I have not received, as I was worthy. (If he shall look at other men, and he shall say, I have sinned, and truly I have trespassed; and I have not received, what I was worthy to receive;)
28 Forsooth he hath delivered his soul, that it should not go into perishing, but that he living should see light. (then he hath saved his soul, so that he shall not perish, but that in living he shall see the light.)
29 Lo! God worketh all these things in three times by all men; (Lo! God worketh all these things many times for all people;)
30 that he again-call their souls from corruption, and enlighten them in the light of living men. (so that he call back their souls from corruption, and enlighten them with the light of the living.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.