Job 4:13
in Job 4In disquieting visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
In thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth on men,
KJV
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
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This verse in Job 4
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
In thoughts - Amidst the tumultuous and anxious thoughts which occur in the night. The Hebrew word rendered thoughts, (שׂעפים śâ‛ı̂phı̂ym), means thoughts which divide and distract the mind. From the visions of the night - On the meaning of the word visions, see the notes at Isa 1:1. This was a common mode in which the will of God was made known in ancient times. For an extended description of this method of communicating the will of God, the reader may consult my Introduction to Isaiah, Section
This site's exposition
Now a word came to me secretly
on Job 4:12-14
Eliphaz turns from proverb to private experience, "my ears caught a whisper of it," and brings in the vision that carries his doctrine's authority. The setting is night. Davidson notes that Eliphaz stakes his argument on this experience, since no Scripture had yet been given him to appeal to.
This site's exposition
In disquieting visions in the night
Barnes notes that the Hebrew for disquieting describes thoughts that divide and distract the mind. Wesley separates visions from dreams, God speaking to men awake in the one and asleep in the other. Eliphaz claims a revelation for his doctrine.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church3 voices
After he shows the high source of the vision in this way, he proceeds to the circumstances of the revelation. First, he speaks of the time saying, "In the dread vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men," because the quiet night is …
ON HOW HERETICS MISUSE THIS VERSE. In the horror of a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men. It often happens, that while heretics are bent to discourse of things above them, they become their own witnesses against themselves, that what they deliver is not true. For in a vision of the night the sight is uncertain. Therefore they declare that they received 'the inklings of whispers' in 'the terror of a vision of the night,' for, that the things, which they teach, may be made to appear sublime to others, they declare that they themselves can scarcely comprehend them. But it may be inferred from hence how far that can be rendered certain to their hearers, which they themselves beheld but dubiously. And so is it marvellously ordered, that while they run on speaking of sublime things, in the exposure of folly, they are entangled in the very words of their sublimity. Now to what height they rear themselves for singularity of wisdom, is shewn, when he adds in the same breath, when deep sleep falleth upon men. As if it were openly said by heretics, 'When men are asleep beneath, we wake to receive heavenly truths, in that to us all that is known, to the knowledge whereof the dull hearts of men cannot arise.' As if they said in plain words, 'In things, wherein our understanding rises erect, the faculties of the rest of the world lie asleep.' But sometimes, when they see that this is disregarded by the hearer, they feign that they are themselves in fear of what they say.
In the horror of a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men. The horror of a vision of the night is the shuddering of secret contemplation.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Visions differed from dreams herein, that God imparted his mind to men in dreams when asleep, but in visions, when they were awake. And these visions sometimes happened by day, but most frequently by night. Sleep - In the dead of the night, when men usually are in a deep sleep; though Eliphaz was not now asleep.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. 5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. 6 Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
), when he had retired from the world and the hurry of it, and all about him was composed and quiet. Note, The more we are withdrawn from the world and the things of it the fitter we are for communion with God.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
In thoughts from the visions of the night,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
In thoughts from the visions of the night--[So WINER]. While revolving night visions previously made to him (Da 2:29). Rather, "In my manifold (Hebrew, divided) thoughts, before the visions of the night commenced"; therefore not a delusive dream (Ps 4:4) [UMBREIT]. deep sleep-- (Ge 2:21;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
From the visions of the night - “It is in vain,” says Mr. Good, “to search through ancient or modern poetry for a description that has any pretensions to rival that upon which we are now entering. Midnight-solitude - the deep sleep of all around - the dreadful chill and horripilation or erection of the hair over the whole body - the shivering, not of the muscles only, but of the bones themselves - the gliding approach of the spectre - the abruptness of his pause - his undefined and indescribable form - are all powerful and original characters, which have never been given with equal effect by any other writer.” Mr. Hervey’s illustration is also striking and natural. “‘Twas in the dead of night; all nature lay shrouded in darkness; every creature was buried in sleep. The most profound silence reigned through the universe. In these solemn moments Eliphaz, alone, all wakeful and solitary, was musing on sublime subjects. When, lo! an awful being burst into his apartment. A spirit passed before his face. Astonishment seized the beholder. His bones shivered within him; his flesh trembled all over him; and the hair of his head stood erect with horror. Sudden and unexpected was its appearance; not such its departure. It stood still, to present itself more fully to his view. It made a solemn pause, to prepare his mind for some momentous message. After which a voice was heard. A voice, for the importance of its meaning, worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance. It spoke, and these were its words:”
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Now a word was conveyed secretly to me He returns to his rebuke with which he has been chastising him till now: Why are you crying? “Remember now who was innocent that perished..As I have seen, etc.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
terror befell me from the spirit that came to me. and the spirit was an angel. as it is stated (Ps.:4): “He makes his angels spirits.”
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בִּ֭שְׂעִפִּים | bisipim | in disquieting thoughts | H5587 → | |
| מֵחֶזְיֹנ֣וֹת | mechezyonot | from visions of | H2384 → | 9 times |
| לָ֑יְלָה | layelah | [the] night | H3915 → | 233 times |
| בִּנְפֹ֥ל | binfol | when falls | H5307 → | 435 times |
| תַּ֝רְדֵּמָ֗ה | tardemah | deep sleep | H8639 → | |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אֲנָשִֽׁים׃ | ʾanashim | people | H582 → | 566 times |
בִּ֭שְׂעִפִּיםin disquieting thoughts
bisipimH5587 →
מֵחֶזְיֹנ֣וֹתfrom visions of
mechezyonotH2384 →9 times
לָ֑יְלָה[the] night
layelahH3915 →233 times
בִּנְפֹ֥לwhen falls
binfolH5307 →435 times
תַּ֝רְדֵּמָ֗הdeep sleep
tardemahH8639 →
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
אֲנָשִֽׁים׃people
ʾanashimH582 →566 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
Daniel 2:19During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven
it leads to
- Numbers 12:6
He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream.
- Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.
- Job 33:15–16
In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
- Psalms 25:14
The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.
- Daniel 1:17
To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. And Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.
- Numbers 12:6
Through
Genesis 2:21So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the area with flesh.
it leads to
- Genesis 15:12
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and suddenly great terror and darkness overwhelmed him.
- Job 33:15
In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,
- Genesis 15:12
Through
Daniel 4:5I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.
it leads to
- Daniel 2:1
In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him.
- Daniel 2:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Job
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on A. B. Davidson, The Book of Job, Cambridge Bible; Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book V; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.