Job 11:18

18 And you will have confidence, because there is hope; you will be protected and take your rest in safety.

Job 11:18 Meaning and Commentary

Job 11:18

And thou shall be secure
From coming into like darkness, difficulties, and distress again, and from every evil and enemy; nothing shall come nigh to disturb and hurt, nothing to be feared from any quarter, all around: or "shalt be confident" F25; have a strong faith and full assurance of it, in the love of God, in the living Redeemer, and in the promises which respect the life that now is, and that which is to come:

because there is hope;
of the mercy of God, of salvation by Christ, and of eternal glory and happiness, as well as of a continuance of outward prosperity; faith and hope mutually assist each other; faith is the substance of things hoped for, and hope of better and future things on a good foundation encourages faith and confidence:

yea, thou shalt dig [about thee];
to let in stakes for the pitching and fixing of tents to dwell in, and for more commodious pasturage; or for wells of water, for the supply both of the family and the flocks; or rather, for ditches and trenches to secure from thieves and robbers, or for drains to carry off floods of water:

[and] thou shalt take thy rest in safety;
lie down on the bed and sleep in the night season in peace and quietness, having nothing to fear; being well entrenched, and secure from depredations and inundations; and, more especially being hedged about and protected by the power and providence of God; see ( Psalms 3:5 ) ( 4:8 ) ; the Targum is,

``thou shall prepare a grave, and lie down, and sleep secure.''


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (txjbw) "et confides", Mercerus, Piscator, Schmidt; "et habebis fiduciam", V. L.

Job 11:18 In-Context

16 You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will have confidence, because there is hope; you will be protected and take your rest in safety.
19 You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid; many will entreat your favor.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last."

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or [you will look around]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.