Job 16:18
Job 16:18 in Multiple Translations
O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no resting-place.
O earth, let not my blood be covered, and let my cry have no resting-place!
Earth, do not cover up my blood. May my cry find no place to hide.
O earth, couer not thou my blood, and let my crying finde no place.
O earth, do not thou cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.
“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.
When I die, I want the ground [APO] to act as though I had been murdered and cry out against those who killed me, and I do not want anyone to stop me while I am demanding that God act justly toward me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Job 16:18
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Job 16:18 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
אֶ֭רֶץ
אַל
תְּכַסִּ֣י
דָמִ֑/י
וְֽ/אַל
יְהִ֥י
מָ֝ק֗וֹם
לְ/זַעֲקָתִֽ/י
אֶ֭רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
N-cs
אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תְּכַסִּ֣י
kâçâh
H3680
to cover
V-Piel-Juss-2fs
דָמִ֑/י
dâm
H1818
blood
N-ms | Suff
וְֽ/אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Conj | Part
יְהִ֥י
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Juss-3ms
מָ֝ק֗וֹם
mâqôwm
H4725
place
N-ms
לְ/זַעֲקָתִֽ/י
zaʻaq
H2201
outcry
Prep | N-fs | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Job 16:18
אֶ֭רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תְּכַסִּ֣י
kâçâh
H3680
"to cover"
V-Piel-Juss-2fs
To cover something means to fill up hollows or hide something from view, as seen in many biblical stories. This verb is used in various forms throughout the Bible, such as to cover oneself with clothing or to conceal something for protection. It can also mean to overwhelm or spread over something.
Definition: 1) to cover, conceal, hide 1a) (Qal) conceal, covered (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be covered 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to cover, clothe 1c2) to cover, conceal 1c3) to cover (for protection) 1c4) to cover over, spread over 1c5) to cover, overwhelm 1d) (Pual) 1d1) to be covered 1d2) to be clothed 1e) (Hithpael) to cover oneself, clothe oneself
Usage: Occurs in 149 OT verses. KJV: clad self, close, clothe, conceal, cover (self), (flee to) hide, overwhelm. Compare H3780 (כָּשָׂה). See also: Genesis 7:19; Psalms 32:1; Psalms 32:5.
דָמִ֑/י
dâm
H1818
"blood"
N-ms | Suff
Blood refers to the liquid that flows through the body, essential for life. In the Bible, blood is often used to symbolize life, guilt, or sacrifice, as seen in the story of Jesus' crucifixion.
Definition: 1) blood 1a) of wine (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 295 OT verses. KJV: blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent. See also: Genesis 4:10; Numbers 19:5; Psalms 5:7.
וְֽ/אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Conj | Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
יְהִ֥י
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Juss-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
מָ֝ק֗וֹם
mâqôwm
H4725
"place"
N-ms
Maqom means a place or location, like a city or a region. It can also refer to a condition of the body or mind. This term is used to describe a wide range of locations and situations.
Definition: 1) standing place, place 1a) standing place, station, post, office 1b) place, place of human abode 1c) city, land, region 1d) place, locality, spot 1e) space, room, distance 1f) region, quarter, direction 1g) give place to, instead of
Usage: Occurs in 379 OT verses. KJV: country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). See also: Genesis 1:9; Deuteronomy 12:3; 1 Kings 20:24.
לְ/זַעֲקָתִֽ/י
zaʻaq
H2201
"outcry"
Prep | N-fs | Suff
This Hebrew word means a loud cry or shriek, often expressing distress, like the outcry in Exodus 2:23. It can also describe a clamor or cry for help. In the Bible, it appears in various forms, such as crying out to God.
Definition: 1) cry, outcry 1a) outcry 1b) cry of distress 1c) outcry, clamour
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: cry(-ing). See also: Genesis 18:20; Isaiah 15:8; Proverbs 21:13.
Study Notes — Job 16:18
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Job 16:18 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Job 16:18
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 16:18
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 16:18
- Trapp's Commentary on Job 16:18
- Ellicott's Commentary on Job 16:18
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 16:18
- Barnes' Notes on Job 16:18
- Sermons on Job 16:18
Context — Job Decries His Comforters
16My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;
17yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.
18O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
19Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high. 20My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 26:21 | For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 24:7 | For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust. |
| 3 | Genesis 4:11 | Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. |
| 4 | Psalms 66:18–19 | If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer. |
| 5 | Job 27:9 | Will God hear his cry when distress comes upon him? |
| 6 | Isaiah 1:15 | When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. |
| 7 | Nehemiah 4:5 | Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders. |
| 8 | James 4:3–4 | And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God. |
| 9 | Jeremiah 22:29 | O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD! |
| 10 | Isaiah 58:9–10 | Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. |
Job 16:18 Summary
In this verse, Job is asking the earth to remember his suffering and death, and he wants God to always hear his cries for help. This shows that Job trusts God to care about his suffering and to bring justice, even if it's not in his lifetime. This is similar to what the Bible says in Psalm 34:15, where it says that God's eyes are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry. Job's statement is a powerful reminder that God hears our cries and remembers our suffering, and we can trust him to bring us through even the toughest times, as seen in Romans 8:28 where it says that God works all things together for our good.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Job asking the earth to do in this verse?
Job is asking the earth not to cover his blood, which is a metaphorical way of saying he wants his death and suffering to be remembered and not forgotten, as seen in Psalm 9:12 where God is said to remember the blood of the afflicted.
Why does Job say his cry for help should never be laid to rest?
Job wants his cry for help to be continually heard by God, similar to the psalmist in Psalm 38:9 who says his groaning is not hidden from God, indicating a deep desire for God's attention and relief from suffering.
Is Job's request in this verse similar to anything else in the Bible?
Yes, Job's request is similar to the request of the martyrs in Revelation 6:10 who cry out to God for vengeance, showing that even in death, believers can trust God to hear their cries and bring justice.
How does Job's statement relate to his overall theme of trusting God?
Job's statement shows that even in the midst of great suffering, he trusts God to hear his cries and remember his blood, which is a testament to his faith and perseverance, as seen in Romans 8:18 where Paul says that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can remember and honor the sacrifices of those who have suffered for their faith, like Job?
- How can I, like Job, trust God to hear my cries for help even when I feel like I'm not being heard?
- In what ways can I apply Job's desire for his cry to be continually heard by God to my own prayer life?
- What does Job's statement reveal about his understanding of God's character and how can I deepen my own understanding of God's character through this verse?
Gill's Exposition on Job 16:18
O earth, cover not thou my blood,.... This is an imprecation, wishing that if; he had been guilty of any capital crime, of such acts of injustice that he ought to be punished by the judge, and even
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Job 16:18
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Job 16:18
My blood, so called not actively, to wit, his own blood; but passively or objectively, i.e. the blood of others shed by him, and lying upon his conscience. The earth is said to cover that blood which lies undiscovered and unrevenged; of which See Poole "", See Poole ""; See Poole "", But, saith Job, if I be guilty of destroying any one man by murder or oppression, as I am traduced, O Lord, let the earth disclose it; let it be brought to light, that I may suffer condign punishment for it. My cry; either, 1. Passively, to wit, the cries and groans which I have forced from others by my oppressions; let those cries have no place to hide them. Or rather, 2. Actively, the cry of my complaints to men, or prayers to God; let them find no place in the cars or hearts of God or men, if this be true: or, no place, i.e. no regard, or no power or success; in which sense God’ s word is said not to have place in evil men, ; and Esau not to find place of repentance, , i.e. all his entreaties and tears could not prevail with his father to repent of and retract the blessing given from him to Jacob.
Trapp's Commentary on Job 16:18
Job 16:18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.Ver. 18. O earth, cover not thou my blood] Job had made a high profession of his innocence and integrity. This he further confirmeth, 1. By an imprecation against himself. 2. By an appeal to God, Job 16:19. In this imprecation or wish of his (which Mr Broughton taketh to be meant by the foregoing words, Also my prayer is pure, rendered by him thus, But my wish is clean, saying, O earth, cover not, &c.) he hath an eye, no doubt, to the history of Abel’ s blood, shed by Cain, Genesis 4:1-15, and it is as if he should say, If I have committed murder or any the like wickedness, cover it not, O earth, but do thy office by crying out against me; yea, cry so loud to God for vengeance, as to drown the voice of my supplication. And let my cry have no place] A most pathetic speech, able to move the heart of his friends to relent to hear it, and straightway to alter their opinion of him, while he thus bespeaketh the earth, and maketh res mutas mortuasque, the dumb and lifeless creatures his hearers.
Ellicott's Commentary on Job 16:18
(18) Let my cry have no place.—That is, “Let there be no place in the wide earth where my cry shall not reach: let it have no resting place: let it fill the whole wide earth.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Job 16:18
Verse 18. O earth, cover not thou my blood] This is evidently an allusion to the murder of Abel, and the verse has been understood in two different ways: 1. Job here calls for justice against his destroyers. His blood is his life, which he considers as taken away by violence, and therefore calls for vengeance. Let my blood cry against my murderers, as the blood of Abel cried against Cain. My innocent life is taken away by violence, as his innocent life was; as therefore the earth was not permitted to cover his blood, so that his murderer should be concealed, let my death be avenged in the same way. 2. It has been supposed that the passage means that Job considered himself accused of shedding innocent blood; and, conscious of his own perfect innocence, he prays that the earth may not cover any blood shed by him. Thus Mr. Scott: - "O earth, the blood accusing me reveal; Its piercing voice in no recess conceal." And this notion is followed by Mr. Good.
But, with all deference to these learned men, l do not see that this meaning can be supported by the Hebrew text; nor was the passage so understood by any of the ancient versions. I therefore prefer the first sense, which is sufficiently natural, and quite in the manner of Job in his impassioned querulousness.
Barnes' Notes on Job 16:18
O earth - Passionate appeals to the earth are not uncommon in the Scriptures; see the notes at Isaiah 1:2. Such appeals indicate deep emotion, and are among the most animated forms of personification.
Sermons on Job 16:18
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Genesis) Genesis 4:11-15 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Cain and Abel from the book of Genesis. He highlights how Cain's sin of offering an unacceptable sacrifice to God led to him be |
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Two Types of Sins & Two Types of Blessings by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen emphasizes the distinction between two types of sins and blessings in his sermon. He explains that Adam's sin harmed only himself, while Cain's sin harmed others, highli |
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Men Whose Eyes Have Seen the King - Part 7 by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the visions of God that Ezekiel saw. The speaker highlights that whenever the Lord takes a new step or movement, He reveals His glory to some |
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How Does God Forgive Sins? by J. Edwin Orr | In this sermon, the preacher shares personal anecdotes and experiences to illustrate the importance of repentance and confession in the Christian faith. He emphasizes the need for |
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Barriers to Blessing by Alan Bartley | This sermon addresses the barriers to blessing in the Christian life, focusing on the dangers of occult involvement, the impact of unbelief, the consequences of unconfessed sin, an |
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Prevailing Prayer by David Ford | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of obeying God's commands and doing so in the power of the Holy Spirit. He warns against allowing sin to creep into one's life |
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Pure Heart, Pure Church - Part 4 by Leonard Ravenhill | This sermon delves into the themes of cleansing, sacrifice, brokenness, and offerings as mentioned in the Bible. It reflects on historical periods of great preachers and the need f |