Job 18:6 - The light shall be dark in his tent. His lamp above him shall be put out.

Generated Verse: Job 18:6

What does "Job 18:6" mean?


Job 18:6, "The light shall be dark in his tent. His lamp above him shall be put out," is part of Bildad's second speech in the Book of Job. In this speech, Bildad is describing the terrible fate of the wicked person, continuing the common ancient Near Eastern belief that suffering is a direct consequence of wickedness. Let's break down the meaning:

"The light shall be dark in his tent": In ancient times, light, especially from a lamp, was a symbol of life, prosperity, guidance, and presence. Darkness, conversely, represented the absence of these things. For the light to go dark in someone's tent meant that their life would be extinguished, their family's prosperity would cease, and their home would be enveloped in misfortune. The "tent" symbolizes one's home, family, and personal life.

"His lamp above him shall be put out": The lamp here reinforces the idea of extinguished life and hope. A lamp, often kept burning through the night, symbolized continuity, well-being, and God's presence and blessing. Its extinguishing signifies the end of hope, the loss of posterity, and the absence of divine favor. "Above him" might suggest a lamp that serves as a guiding light or a source of honor.

Overall Meaning

Bildad is using these symbolic images of extinguished light to convey a picture of utter ruin and destruction coming upon the wicked. It suggests:

Death and the end of life: The most immediate interpretation is that the wicked person will die.
Loss of prosperity and happiness: The family will suffer and have no joy.
Absence of divine blessing: God's favor will be withdrawn.
Shame and dishonor: The individual will be remembered negatively.
Loss of posterity: The family line may end.

Context within Job

It's important to remember the context of the Book of Job. Bildad is making a general theological statement about the relationship between sin and suffering. Job, however, is suffering despite being righteous (as the narrative prologue indicates). Bildad's words, while part of the common wisdom of the time, are ultimately shown to be inadequate to explain Job's situation. The book of Job challenges the simplistic view that suffering is always a direct punishment for sin. Job and his friends argue that Job is experiencing suffering though he is righteous.

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