Job 33 · Verse 18

Job 33:18

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
Job 33:18, King James Version

Job 33:18 in other translations

BSBto preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
WEBHe keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
ASVHe keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.
YLTHe keepeth back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.
DARBYHe keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
BBETo keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.
WebsterHe keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

What does Job 33:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. his soul--his life. the pit--the grave; a symbol of hell. perishing by the sword--that is, a violent death; in the Old Testament a symbol of the future punishment of the ungodly.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit - By the above means, how many have been snatched from an untimely death! By taking the warning thus given, some have been prevented from perishing by the pit - some sudden accident; and others from the sword of the assassin or nocturnal murderer. It would be easy to give examples, in all these kinds; but the knowledge of the reader may save this trouble to the commentator.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 33:14-18

God speaks to us by conscience, by providences, and by ministers; of all these Elihu discourses. There was not then, that we know of, any Divine revelation in writing, though now it is our principal guide. When God designs men's good, by the convictions and dictates of their own consciences, he opens the heart, as Lydia's, and opens the ears, so that conviction finds or forces its way in. The end and design of these…

Read the full comment on Job 33:14-18 →

Job 33:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יַחְשֹׂ֣ךְyach.Sokhhe will keep backH2820
נַ֭פְשׁוֹnaf.sholife hisH5315
מִנִּי\־mi.ni-fromH4480
שָׁ֑חַתSha.chat[the] pitH7845
וְ֝חַיָּת֗וֹve.chai.ya.Toand life hisH2416
מֵעֲבֹ֥רme.'a.Vorfrom passing awayH5674
בַּשָּֽׁלַח\׃ba.Sha.lachby <the> missileH7973

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 33:18

  • Job 33:28

    He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.

  • Job 33:30

    To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

  • 2 Peter 3:9

    The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

  • Romans 2:4

    Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

  • Job 15:22

    He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.

  • Job 33:24

    Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.

  • Job 33:22

    Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

  • Acts 16:27-33

    And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? …

  • 2 Peter 3:15

    And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
keepeth.
Ac 16:27-33; Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9,15
perishing. Heb. passing.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 33:17

    That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

  • Job 33:18

    He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.

  • Job 33:19

    He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

Read all of Job 33

Job 33:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Detendrá su alma de corrupción, y su vida de que pase á cuchillo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il préserve son âme de la fosse, et sa vie de se jeter sur l’épée.
German
Elberfelder 1871		daß er seine Seele zurückhalte von der Grube, und sein Leben vom Rennen ins Geschoß.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		eruens animam ejus a corruptione, et vitam illius ut non transeat in gladium.