Job 38:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God asks whether Job has seen the gates of death and the doors of the deepest shadow, realms beyond human sight.
What Does Job 38:17 Mean?
From the depths of the sea God moves to the depths of death. Have its gates ever been opened to Job? Has he looked through the doors of the shadow of death? These are thresholds no living person crosses and returns to describe.
Death is the one mystery that masters every human being, yet it does not master God. Its gates and doors are open to his sight, fully known and fully under his authority. This quiet truth would one day blaze into glory, for Christ holds the keys of death, having passed through its gates and risen. The realm Job could not see is no barrier to the Lord of life.
Job 38:17 in the Original Language
tsalmaveth (צַלְמָוֶת), 'shadow of death' -- deep darkness, the gloom associated with the grave.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 38:17
What does Job 38:17 mean?
God asks whether Job has seen the gates of death and the doors of the deepest shadow, realms beyond human sight.