Job 4 · Verse 16

Job 4:16

It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
Job 4:16, King James Version

Job 4:16 in other translations

BSBIt stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form loomed before my eyes, and I heard a whispering voice:
WEBIt stood still, but I couldn’t discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
ASVIt stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes: There was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
YLTIt standeth, and I discern not its aspect, A similitude is over-against mine eyes, Silence! and a voice I hear:
DARBYIt stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:
BBESomething was present before me, but I was not able to see it clearly; there was a form before my eyes: a quiet voice came to my ears, saying:
WebsterIt stood still, but I could not discern its form: an image was before my eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

What does Job 4:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. It stood still--At first the apparition glides before Eliphaz, then stands still, but with that shadowy indistinctness of form which creates such an impression of awe; a gentle murmur: not (English Version): there was silence; for in 1Ki 19:12, the voice, as opposed to the previous storm, denotes a gentle, still murmur.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 4:12-21

Eliphaz relates a vision. When we are communing with our own hearts, and are still, Psa 4:4, then is a time for the Holy Spirit to commune with us. This vision put him into very great fear. Ever since man sinned, it has been terrible to him to receive communications from Heaven, conscious that he can expect no good tidings thence. Sinful man! shall he pretend to be more just, more pure, than God, who being his…

Read the full comment on Job 4:12-21 →

Job 4:16 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.

יַעֲמֹ֤ד\׀ya.'a.Modit stood stillH5975
וְֽלֹא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
אַכִּ֬יר'a.KirI recognizedH5234
מַרְאֵ֗הוּmar.'E.huappearance itsH4758
תְּ֭מוּנָהTe.mu.naha formH8544
לְנֶ֣גֶדle.Ne.ged[was] to beforeH5048
עֵינָ֑י'ei.Naieyes myH5869
דְּמָמָ֖הde.ma.Maha whisperH1827
וָק֣וֹלva.Koland a voiceH6963
אֶשְׁמָֽע\׃'esh.Ma'I heardH8085

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

Cross references for Job 4:16

  • 1 Kings 19:12

    And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
there, etc. or, I heard a still voice.
1Ki 19:12

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

Context

  • Job 4:15

    Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:

  • Job 4:16

    It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

  • Job 4:17

    Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?

Read all of Job 4

Job 4:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Paróse un fantasma delante de mis ojos, cuyo rostro yo no conocí, y quedo, oí que decía:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il se tint là; je ne reconnus pas son apparence: une forme était devant mes yeux. J’entendis un léger murmure et une voix:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es stand da, und ich erkannte sein Aussehen nicht; ein Bild war vor meinen Augen, ein Säuseln und eine Stimme hörte ich:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Stetit quidam, cujus non agnoscebam vultum, imago coram oculis meis, et vocem quasi auræ lenis audivi.