New Living Translation
Job 38:19
19“Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?
Job 38:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
- New International Version (NIV)“What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,
Context of Job 38:19
17Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? 18Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know! “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? 20Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? 21But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
Read all of Job 38Job 38:19 word by word
אֵי־זֶ֣ה הַ֭דֶּרֶךְ יִשְׁכָּן־א֑וֹר וְ֝חֹ֗שֶׁךְ אֵי־זֶ֥ה מְקֹמֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 38:19
- Job 38:12“Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
- Genesis 1:3Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
- Deuteronomy 4:19And when you look up into the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars—all the forces of heaven—don’t be seduced into worshiping them. The Lord your God gave them to all the peoples of the earth.
- Isaiah 45:7I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.
- John 1:9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
- John 8:12Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
- Psalms 18:11He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.
- Psalms 104:20You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.
- Psalms 105:28The Lord blanketed Egypt in darkness, for they had defied his commands to let his people go.
- Jeremiah 13:16Give glory to the Lord your God before it is too late. Acknowledge him before he brings darkness upon you, causing you to stumble and fall on the darkening mountains. For then, when you look for light, you will find only terrible darkness and gloom.
- Ezekiel 32:8I will darken the bright stars overhead and cover your land in darkness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!
- Amos 4:13For the Lord is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind. He turns the light of dawn into darkness and treads on the heights of the earth. The Lord God of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
- Matthew 27:45At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.
Commentaries on Job 38:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Where light dwelleth - What is the source of light? Yea, what is light itself? It is not in the sun, for light was before the sun; but what is light? It is no doubt a substance; but of what kind? and of what are its particles? As to darkness, what is It? Is it philosophical to say, it is the mere privation of light? I shall think philosophy has made some advances to general accuracy and perfection when it proves to us what cold is, and what darkness is…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19Where is the way where light dwelleth? - Or, rather, where is the way or path to the place where light dwells? Light is conceived of as coming from a great distance, and as having a place which might be regarded as its home. It comes in the morning, and is withdrawn at evening, and it seems as if it came from some far distant dwelling-place in the morning to illuminate the world, and then retired to its home in the evening, and thus gave place for…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-24Verses 12-24 The Lord questions Job, to convince him of his ignorance, and shame him for his folly in prescribing to God. If we thus try ourselves, we shall soon be brought to own that what we know is nothing in comparison with what we know not. By the tender mercy of our God, the Day-spring from on high has visited us, to give light to those that sit in darkness, whose hearts are turned to it as clay to the seal, 2Co 4:6. God's way in the government of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-41God challenges Job. Job admits he cannot judge the moral world. God shows Job's ignorance of the natural world's elements related to the realm of heaven, weather, animals, and birds (38:4–21; 22–38; 39–39:30).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-3819-38. The marvels in heaven. "What is the way (to the place wherein) light dwelleth?" The origin of light and darkness. In Ge 1:3-5, 14-18, "light" is created distinct from, and previous to, light-emitting bodies, the luminaries of heaven.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 38:19
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries