Job 33:15 - In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed;

Generated Verse: Job 33:15

What does "Job 33:15" mean?


Job 33:15, "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed," describes the conditions under which God often communicates with people. Let's break it down:

"In a dream, in a vision of the night..." This highlights the medium of communication: dreams and visions experienced during the night. Dreams and visions were often considered channels through which divine messages were delivered in ancient cultures.
"...when deep sleep falls on men..." This emphasizes the state of the recipient. "Deep sleep" suggests a state of diminished conscious awareness, making the individual more receptive to external or internal (divine) influences. It's a time when the usual distractions and filters of the waking mind are less active.
"...in slumbering on the bed;" This further specifies the context: a person is at rest, in a state of passive receptivity. It's a time of quiet and stillness, conducive to receiving messages.

In essence, the verse suggests that God often speaks to people through dreams and visions when they are in a state of deep sleep, detached from the demands and distractions of daily life. It's a time when the conscious mind is less dominant, allowing for a more direct line of communication with the divine (or perhaps, the subconscious).

Significance in the context of Job: Elihu, the speaker in Job 33, is arguing that God communicates with people in various ways, not just through suffering as Job seems to believe. He is using dreams and visions as one example of how God tries to correct, instruct, and warn people, even when they are unaware.