The Meaning of Job 11:18 Explained

Job 11:18

KJV: And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

YLT: And thou hast trusted because their is hope, And searched -- in confidence thou liest down,

Darby: And thou shalt have confidence, because there shall be hope; and having searched about thee, thou shalt take rest in safety.

ASV: And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Yea, thou shalt search about thee , and shalt take thy rest in safety.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou shalt be secure,  because there is  hope;  yea, thou shalt dig  [about thee, and] thou shalt take thy rest  in safety. 

What does Job 11:18 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 11:1-20 - "canst Thou By Searching Find Out God?"
Zophar waxes vehement as he censures Job's self-justification and his refusal to acknowledge the guilt which his friends attribute to him. There is some truth in his allegations, though it was cruel to goad Job with them, notwithstanding his repeated protestations.
It is quite true that many of us are filled with self-complacency, because we judge our best by others' worst. It may be also that we have a very poor conception of what God is and asks. It is best for us to strike our breasts with the publican and to confess ourselves the chief of sinners.
What a magnificent challenge is that of Job 11:7-12! Canst thou reach God's depths, or His perfections, or His heights? But, oh my soul, remember that through all His unsearchable depths God is love. For the closing paragraph see r.v. Job had said he could not lift up his face, Job 10:15, but when sin is put away, we may exchange glances with our Father. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 11

1  Zophar reproves Job for justifying himself
5  God's wisdom is unsearchable
13  The assured blessing of repentance

What do the individual words in Job 11:18 mean?

And you would be secure because there is hope and Yes you would dig [around you] in safety [and] take your rest
וּֽ֭בָטַחְתָּ כִּי־ יֵ֣שׁ תִּקְוָ֑ה וְ֝חָפַרְתָּ֗ לָבֶ֥טַח תִּשְׁכָּֽב

וּֽ֭בָטַחְתָּ  And  you  would  be  secure 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
כִּי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יֵ֣שׁ  there  is 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
תִּקְוָ֑ה  hope 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תִּקְוָה 
Sense: cord.
וְ֝חָפַרְתָּ֗  and  Yes  you  would  dig  [around  you] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָפַר  
Sense: to dig, search for.
לָבֶ֥טַח  in  safety 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֶּטַח  
Sense: security, safety adv.
תִּשְׁכָּֽב  [and]  take  your  rest 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַב  
Sense: to lie down.