Job 18:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Bildad begins his long portrait of the doomed wicked: their light is extinguished.
What Does Job 18:5 Mean?
Here Bildad launches the body of his speech a vivid, unrelenting description of the fate of the wicked. He begins with the image of light. The lamp of the ungodly will be snuffed, and even the small 'spark' of their fire will give no glow. Bildad clearly intends Job to apply the warning to himself.
Light throughout Scripture means life, joy, and the presence of God; darkness means their loss. Bildad states a real principle: a life built against God leads finally into the dark. But he wields it without mercy and without the larger picture. The gospel answers his bleak certainty with a greater one, for Christ is the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never overcome it. In Him even those who walked in shadow may yet be given light.
Job 18:5 in the Original Language
or (אוֹר), 'light' -- brightness or daylight, often a figure for life, prosperity, and God's favor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 18:5
What does Job 18:5 mean?
Bildad begins his long portrait of the doomed wicked: their light is extinguished.