Job 12:22
in Job 12He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
KJV
He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
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This verse in Job 12
Commentary
10 notes on this verseWho discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. For when the several mystical truths are recognised in the secret words of the Prophets by them that believe, what else is it, than that 'deep things are discovered out of darkness?' Whence too 'Truth' Himself, speaking in parables to the disciples, saith, What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light. For when by explaining we unravel the mystical knots of allegories, then we as it were 'speak in light, what we have heard in darkness.'
This site's exposition
He deprives the trusted of speech
on Job 12:20-22
"He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders" carries the survey to the men a household relies on for counsel. Verse 22, "He reveals the deep things of darkness", pairs the humbling of the mighty with God's mastery over what is hidden.
This site's exposition
He reveals the deep things of darkness
Barnes reads the line as God bringing into light truths deep beyond the reach of man. Clarke adds that the deep things of darkness may be the schemes of the wicked, laid in shadow and then revealed. Nothing stays hidden from God.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"Revealing deep things out of darkness, and he has brought into light the shadow of death." The literal meaning is, "He manifests the things which are hidden to all, and preserves those who are in danger and close to death." He calls danger "the shadow …
The Medieval Church1 voice
As to those men who have no prestige, but live hidden in the lowest state, he then says, "he reveals those deep in darkness," that is, men placed in a lower state, who are unknown because of this, as though existing in darkness. He leads …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? 4 I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. 5 He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
20 ), secret murders, secret whoredoms. The cabinet-councils of princes are before God's eye, 2 Kings vi. (7.) Kingdoms have their ebbings and flowings, their waxings and wanings; and both are from God (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number
He discovereth deep things out of darkness,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
He discovereth deep things out of darkness - This may refer either to God’s works in the great deep, or to the plots and stratagems of wicked men, conspiracies that were deeply laid, well digested, and about to be produced into existence, when death, whose shadow had hitherto concealed them, is to glut himself with carnage.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
He discovereth deep thirsts out of darkness - That is, God discloses truths which are wholly beyond the power of man to discover - truths that seem to be hidden in profound night. This may refer either to the revelation which God was believed to have furnished, or to his power of bringing out the most secret thoughts and purposes, or to his power of predicting future events by bringing them out of darkness to the clear light of day, or to his power of detecting plots, intrigues, and conspiracies. And bringeth out to light the shadow of death - On the meaning of the word rendered “shadow of death,” see the notes at Job 3:5. It here denotes whatever is dark or obscure. It is rather a favorite expression with the author of this poem (see Job 10:22; Job 16:16; Job 24:17; Job 34:22; Job 38:17), though it occurs elsewhere in the Scriptures. The deepest darkness, the obscurest night, are represented by it; and the idea is, that even from the most dark and impenetrable regions God could bring out light and truth. All is naked and open to the mind of God.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| מְגַלֶּ֣ה | megaleh | [he is] revealing | H1540 → | 186 times |
| עֲ֭מֻקוֹת | ʾamukot | unfathomable [things] | H6013 → | |
| מִנִּי־ | mini- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| חֹ֑שֶׁךְ | choshekh | darkness | H2822 → | 80 times |
| וַיֹּצֵ֖א | vaiyotze' | and he brought out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| לָא֣וֹר | laor | to the light | H216 → | 121 times |
| צַלְמָֽוֶת׃ | tzalmavet | deep darkness | H6757 → | 18 times |
מְגַלֶּ֣ה[he is] revealing
megalehH1540 →186 times
עֲ֭מֻקוֹתunfathomable [things]
ʾamukotH6013 →
מִנִּי־from
mini-H4480 →1188 times
חֹ֑שֶׁךְdarkness
choshekhH2822 →80 times
וַיֹּצֵ֖אand he brought out
vaiyotze'H3318 →1067 times
לָא֣וֹרto the light
laorH216 →121 times
צַלְמָֽוֶת׃deep darkness
tzalmavetH6757 →18 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each…
it leads to
- Hebrews 4:13
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- James 5:7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- Hebrews 4:13
Through
Luke 1:79to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
- Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified…
- Matthew 4:16
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
- Isaiah 9:2
Through
1 Corinthians 2:10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
it leads to
- John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
- Ephesians 3:5
which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
- John 14:26
About Job
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Job; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XI; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Olympiodorus of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON JOB 12:22 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.