Job 38:15 — Word Study
WLCוְיִמָּנַ֣ע מֵרְשָׁעִ֣ים אוֹרָ֑ם וּזְר֥וֹעַ רָ֝מָ֗ה תִּשָּׁבֵֽר׃
BSALightʼôwr [natural and spiritual illumination, happiness] is withheldmânaʻ▸ [taken away, kept back] from the wickedrâshâʻ [morally wrong, guilty of sin] and their upraisedrûwm [exalted, lifted up in pride] armzᵉrôwaʻ [the arm as stretched out; strength, might, power] is brokenshâbar▸ [shattered, ruptured]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְיִמָּנַ֣ע | so it may be withheld | Conjunction, verb niphal third person masculine singular |
| מֵרְשָׁעִ֣ים | from wicked [people] | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| אוֹרָ֑ם | light their | Noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וּזְר֥וֹעַ | and an arm | Conjunction, noun common feminine singular construct |
| רָ֝מָ֗ה | uplifted | Verb, Qal, participle (active) feminine singular |
| תִּשָּׁבֵֽר׃ | it is broken | Verb, Niphal, imperfect third person feminine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Light is withheld from the wicked, and their upraised arm is broken. |
| KJV | And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. |
| ASV | And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken. |
| YLT | And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken. |
| WEB | From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken. |
| BBE | And from the evil-doers their light is kept back, and the arm of pride is broken. |
The translations agree on the core message of the verse, emphasizing the consequences faced by the wicked.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by a conjunction and a subordinate clause, clearly outlining the consequences faced by the wicked.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbרוּם
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Job 38:15
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Challenge to Jobgenerated
Job 38:15 presents God's response to Job, emphasizing His sovereignty over creation and the consequences for the wicked. In this passage, God illustrates the moral order of the universe, where the wicked are denied light, symbolizing both physical and spiritual illumination, and their strength is rendered powerless. This aligns with the broader themes in Job, where the nature of suffering and divine justice are explored.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Job 5:14 | They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night. |
| 2 | Job 18:5–18 | Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow. |
| 3 | Exodus 10:21–23 | Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt—a palpable darkness.” |
| 4 | 2 Kings 6:18 | As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Please strike these people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha. |
| 5 | Proverbs 4:19 | But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 11 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מָנַע, ve.yi.ma.Na'generated
The verb מָנַע (maNa') means to withhold or hold back, indicating that something is intentionally kept from someone. In this verse, it describes how light is withheld from the wicked, suggesting divine judgment.
The Niphal form indicates a passive action, meaning that the wicked are not just without light by chance; rather, it is God who actively withholds it from them, reinforcing the idea of divine justice.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the meaning of the verse, consistently conveying that light is withheld from the wicked and their strength is broken.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The sentence is governed by two finite verbs: יִמָּנַ֣ע (is withheld) and תִּשָּׁבֵֽר (is broken), which describe the actions taken against the wicked. The structure emphasizes the consequences of their moral state.
The phrase 'light is withheld from the wicked' serves as the main clause, while 'and their upraised arm is broken' adds a parallel consequence, reinforcing the idea of divine retribution.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses ἀφεῖλας for מָנַע, which means 'to take away.' This choice emphasizes the act of removal rather than simply withholding, suggesting a more active divine intervention.
For תִּשָּׁבֵֽר, the LXX uses συνέτριψας, meaning 'to crush' or 'to shatter,' which aligns with the idea of a complete breaking down of the wicked's strength.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Job 38:15 states that light is taken away from wicked people, and their strength is broken. This verse highlights the consequences of wickedness, showing that those who do wrong are deprived of both physical and spiritual illumination.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that those who are morally wrong are denied understanding, joy, and the presence of God.
It emphasizes that God enacts justice by removing light and strength from the wicked, contrasting their fate with that of the righteous.
The upraised arm symbolizes strength and power; its breaking signifies the ultimate defeat of the wicked.
It shows that God has the authority to withhold blessings from the wicked, demonstrating His sovereignty in moral matters.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced the consequences of my actions, similar to how the wicked are described in this verse?
- How can I seek to live in the light and avoid the pitfalls of wickedness?
- What does it mean to me that God actively withholds light from those who do wrong?
- How can I encourage others to seek the light and avoid the fate described in this verse?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
The early Church Fathers often referenced Job to discuss themes of justice and divine retribution. Here, Gregory the Dialogist comments on the implications of this verse.
From the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the high arm shall be broken. [ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION] Because, while they refuse to believe the truth, they lose for ever the knowledge of the Law,Early Church Fathers on Job 38 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Job 38:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd from the wicked their light is withholden,.... Whose light is darkness, and whose day is the night, of which they are deprived when the morning light breaks forth; see Job 24:17; it may be
Read John Gill on Job 38 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryHast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; Passing from creation to phenomena in the existing inanimate world. Verse 12. Hast thou - as God daily does.
Read Robert Jamieson on Job 38 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAnd, or but; for the following words seem to be added by way of opposition to what went before. The earth, and the men, and the things in it have the comfort and benefit of the light, but so have not the wicked. Their light, i.e. their portion of light. That light which is enjoyed by others is withholden from them, either by their own choice, because they love and choose darkness rather than light; or by the judgment of God, or the magistrate, by whom they are cut off from the light of the living, as it is called, , or at least deprived of their peace, and comfort, and prosperity, which frequently goes under the name of light in Scripture, and may be so called here by an elegant allusion to…
Read Matthew Poole on Job 38 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJob 38:15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.Ver. 15. And from the wicked their light is withholden] They have no such joy of those comforts which the light afforded; but as it discovereth their dark practices, Ephesians 5:13, so it bringeth them forth to condign punishment, Utpote indignos, qui hac luce fruantur. And the high arm shall be broken] i.e. His strength, tyranny, and power, whereby he oppressed others as with an outstretched arm, lifted up to strike with violence, this shall be broken, as Moab’ s was, Jeremiah 48:1-47, and as all the wicked’ s shall be; but the Lord upholdeth the righteous, Psalms 37:17. It is well noted that this…
Read John Trapp on Job 38 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges15. shall be broken] Rather, is broken. The “light” of the wicked is the darkness, ch. Job 24:17. The “high arm” is the arm already uplifted to commit violence. Again the moral meaning of the dayspring is expressed.
Read Cambridge on Job 38 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd from the wicked their light is withholden - While the light thus spreads over the earth, rendering every object beautiful and blessing the righteous, light and prosperity are withheld from the
Read Albert Barnes on Job 38 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible15. Their light — Darkness is their light, (Delitzsch, “their favourite light,”) as in Job 24:17; John 3:19. The high arm — Compare Job 22:8-9; Job 31:22.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Job 38 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Light is withheld from the wicked, and their upraised arm is broken.
From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.
Light is withheld from the wicked, and their upraised arm is broken.
Then from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm raised in violence is broken.
Tyndale line
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm is broken.
And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the high arm shall be broken.
And from the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the hie arme shalbe broken.
Strictly literal
And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the uplifted arm is broken.
And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken.
And their light is withheld from the wicked, || And the arm lifted up is broken.
And from the wicked is their light withdrawn, and the high-raised arm is broken.
From wicked people their 'light' is taken away; their uplifted arm is broken.
From the Latin
From the wicked their light shall be taken away, and the high arm shall be broken.
Simplified
The ‘light’ of the wicked is taken away from them; their acts of violence are stopped.
And from the evil-doers their light is kept back, and the arm of pride is broken.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely in their wording, with all six words matched between the two texts. This alignment suggests a consistent understanding of the verse's meaning across these traditions.
וְיִמָּנַ֣ע מֵרְשָׁעִ֣ים אוֹרָ֑ם וּזְר֥וֹעַ רָ֝מָ֗ה תִּשָּׁבֵֽר׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Job 38:15
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מָנַע (mana) is a Hebrew verb meaning to withhold or hold back. It can refer to denying or restraining something, either positively or negatively. The verb appears in different forms, such as Qal (to withhold) and Niphal (to be withheld). The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
מָנַע vb. withhold, hold back
Qal withhold
Niph. be withholden
base
H4513 מָנַע withhold, hold back
4513 mana` maw-nah'
a primitive root; to debar (negatively or positively) from
benefit or injury:--deny, keep (back), refrain, restrain,
withhold.
מָנַע (ma.na) — to withhold.
1) to withhold, hold back, keep back, refrain, deny, keep restrain, hinder
1a) (Qal) to withhold
1b) (Niphal) to be withheld
Conj | V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms — Conjunction · verb niphal third person masculine singularHC/VNu3ms
רָשָׁע (rasha`) refers to someone who is wicked or criminal, encompassing meanings such as guilty and ungodly. It is derived from a root that implies moral wrongdoing. The term is used to describe individuals who are hostile to God or guilty of sin against others.
רָשָׁע 263 adj. wicked, criminal
base
H7563 רָשָׁע wicked, criminal
7563 rasha` raw-shaw'
from 7561; morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad
person:--+ condemned, guilty, ungodly, wicked (man), that did
wrong.
see HEBREW for 07561
רָשָׁע (ra.sah) — wicked.
1) wicked, criminal
1a) guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)
1b) wicked (hostile to God)
1c) wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)
Prep | Adj — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, `am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps…
אוֹר (or) means 'light' and encompasses various forms of illumination, including daylight, dawn, and the light of heavenly bodies like the sun and stars. It can also refer to metaphorical concepts such as the light of life, prosperity, and instruction, as well as Yahweh as a source of light.
אוֹר 121 n.m. light
light as diffused in nature, light of day
morning light, dawn
light of the heavenly luminaries
daylight
lightning
light of lamp
light of life
light of prosperity
light of instruction
light of face
Yahweh
base
H216 אוֹר light . light as diffused in nature, light of day
. morning light, dawn
. light of the heavenly luminaries
. daylight
. lightning
. light of lamp
. light of life
. light of prosperity
. light of instruction
. light of face
. Yahweh
216 'owr ore
from 215; illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every
sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.):--bright, clear,
+ day, light (-ning), morning, sun.
see HEBREW for 0215
אוֹר (or) — light.
1) light
1a) light of day
1b) light of heavenly luminaries (moon, sun, stars)
1c) day-break, dawn, morning light
1d) daylight
1e) lightning
1f) light of lamp
1g) light of life
1h) light of prosperity
1i) light of instruction
1j) light of face (fig.)
1k) Jehovah as Israel's light
N-cs | Suff — Noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHNcfsc/Sp3mp
זְרוֹעַ (z'roa) refers to an arm or shoulder, often symbolizing strength. It can denote the physical arm, the shoulder of a sacrificed animal, or military and political forces. The word is derived from a root meaning to stretch out, indicating both physical and metaphorical strength.
זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ n.f. and (rare) m. arm, shoulder, strength
arm
arm, as symbol of strength
Pl. forces, political and military
Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest
base
H2220 זְרוֹעַ, זְרֹעַ arm, shoulder, strength . arm
. arm, as symbol of strength
. Pl. forces, political and military
. Shoulder of animal sacrificed, belonging to priest
2220 zrowa` zer-o'-ah
or (shortened) zroao {zer-o'-ah}; and (feminine) zrowpah
{zer-o-aw'}; or zrowah {zer-o-aw'}; from 2232; the arm (as
stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively,
force:--arm, + help, mighty, power, shoulder, strength.
see HEBREW for 02232
זְרוֹעַ (ze.ro.a) — arm.
1) arm, forearm, shoulder, strength
1a) arm
1b) arm (as symbol of strength)
1c) forces (political and military)
1d) shoulder (of animal sacrificed)
Conj | N-cs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular constructHC/Ncfsc
arm (zeroa`, 'ezroa`, dera`; brachion; chotsen, katheph): The usual form is zeroa` from the root zara`, "to spread." The arm may be "stretched out." 'Ezroa` is this form with prosthetic 'aleph (Job 31:22; Jer 32:21), and dera` is the Aramaic form. Chotsen is really "bosom," thus the Revised Version (British and American) (Isa 49:22); and katheph is "shoulder," thus the Revised Version (British and American) (Job 31:22). Compare cheir, also, in Ac 11:21.
Figurative: The arm denotes influence, power, means of support or conquest. The arms of Moab (Jer 48:25) and of…
Arm
Used to denote power (Ps. 10:15; Ezek. 30:21; Jer. 48:25). It is also used of the omnipotence of God (Ex. 15:16; Ps. 89:13; 98:1; 77:15; Isa. 53:1; John 12:38; Acts 13:17)
רוּם (ruwm) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be high or exalted, covering a range of actions such as rising, lifting, and promoting. It can refer to physical elevation, like raising an ark or setting up a throne, as well as figurative exaltation, particularly in relation to God. The word also has a related form, רָמַם (ramam), which means to be wormy.
רוּם vb. be high, exalted, rise
Qal
be high, lit. rock (in fig.)
esp. of י׳
be raised, uplifted
be lifted, rise, of ark
Pō‛lēl
raise, rear, children
cause tree to grow
lift up
exalt, extol, acc. י׳
Pō‛lal be lift up
Hiph.
raise, rear, c. acc., hand
raise poor
lift up voice
(take into one's hand and) lift, take up, stone
set up, erect, stone
set on high, throne
lift up, exalt, c. acc. pers.
lift up and take away, remove
lift off and present, contribute, offer
Hoph. be taken off from; be abolished
Hithpō‛l. and he shall exalt and magnify himself above, etc.; I will raise myself
base
[רָמַם] vb. denom. be wormy;—Ex 16:20
ref
H7311a רוּם be high, exalted, rise .. . be high, lit. rock (in fig.)
. esp. of י׳
. be raised, uplifted
. be lifted, rise, of ark
.. . raise, rear, children
. cause tree to grow
. lift up
. exalt, extol, acc. י׳
.be lift up
. . . . raise, rear, c. acc., hand
. raise poor
. lift up voice
. (take into one's hand and) lift, take up, stone
. set up, erect, stone
. set on high, throne
. lift up, exalt, c. acc. pers.
. lift up and take away, remove
. lift off and present, contribute, offer
. be taken off from; be abolished
. and he shall exalt and magnify himself above, etc.; I will raise myself
H7311b רָמַם vb. denom. be wormy
7311 ruwm room
a primitive root; to be high actively, to rise or raise (in
various applications, literally or figuratively):--bring up,
exalt (self), extol, give, go up, haughty, heave (up), (be,
lift up on, make on, set up on, too) high(-er, one), hold up,
levy, lift(-er) up, (be) lofty, (X a-)loud, mount up, offer
(up), + presumptuously, (be) promote(-ion), proud, set up,
tall(-er), take (away, off, up), breed worms.
רוּם (rum) — to exalt.
1) to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be high, be set on high
1a2) to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted
1a3) to be lifted, rise
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to raise or rear (children), cause to grow up
1b2) to lift up, raise, exalt
1b3) to exalt, extol
1c) (Polal) to be lifted up
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high
1d2) to lift up (and take away), remove
1d3) to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute
1e) (Hophal) to be taken off, be abolished
1f) (Hithpolel) to exalt oneself, magnify oneself
Aramaic equivalent: rum (רוּם "to rise" H7313)
רָמַם (ra.mam) — be rotten.
(Qal) to be rotten, be wormy
V-Qal — Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine singularHVqrfsa
שָׁבַר (shabar) means to break or shatter, with various nuances including breaking in pieces, causing to break out (like bringing to birth), and being broken or crushed. It appears in different forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hophal, indicating active and passive meanings. The lexicons do not present any significant disagreements.
שָׁבַר 148 vb. break, break in pieces
Qal 53 break, lit.
Niph. 57 be broken
Pi. 26 shatter, break
Hiph. cause to break out, i.e. bring to the birth
Hoph. be broken, shattered (in heart)
base
H7665 שָׁבַר break, break in pieces .break, lit.
. be broken
. shatter, break
. cause to break out, i.e. bring to the birth
. be broken, shattered (in heart)
7665 shabar shaw-bar'
a primitive root; to burst (literally or
figuratively):--break (down, off, in pieces, up),
broken((-hearted)), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt,
quench, X quite, tear, view (by mistake for 7663).
see HEBREW for 07663
שָׁבַר (sha.var) — to break.
1) to break, break in pieces
1a) (Qal)
1a1) break, break in or down, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench
1a2) to break, rupture (fig)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked
1b2) to be broken, be crushed (fig)
1c) (Piel) to shatter, break
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to break out, bring to the birth
1e) (Hophal) to be broken, be shattered
Aramaic equivalent: te.var (תְּבַר "to break" H8406)
V-Niphal-Imperf-3fs — Verb · Niphal · imperfect third person feminine singularHVNi3fs
bro'-k'-n: Occurs both as past participle of the verb translated "to break" and as an adjective, the former use will be dealt with here only so far as verbs occur which are thus translated but do not present the non-participial forms. Such are: meroach = "bruised," "emasculated" (Le 21:20); chathath = "to frustrate," hence, "to break down" either by violence or by confusion and fear (1Sa 2:10; Jer 48:20,39); dakhah = "to collapse" (Ps 44:19; 51:8); ratsats = "to crack in pieces" "crush" (Ec 12:6); kathath = "to bruise or violently strike," "break in pieces" (Isa…