Bible Commentary

Job 16:18

Job 16:18

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public Domain

O earth, cover not thou my blood! There was a widespread belief in the ancient world that innocent blood, spilt upon the ground, cried to God for vengeance, and remained a dark blot upon the earth till it was avenged, or until it was covered up.

Job apostrophizes the earth, and be-seethes it not to cover up his blood when he dies, as he expects to do, shortly. And let my cry have no place; i.e. let it have no hiding-place, but fill earth and heaven.

Let it continue to be heard until it is answered.

The Daily Devotional

One devotional. Every morning.

The full reading, the passage behind it, and where to go deeper — in your inbox before the day starts. No ads, ever.

We'll send one email to confirm it's really you. Unsubscribe in one tap, any time.

Continue tomorrow

Turn Bible study into a daily habit

Read today's devotional, save your progress, and receive a gentle daily reminder.

Recommended reading

More for Job 16:18

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Job 16 — OverviewJob 16 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThis chapter begins Job's reply to that discourse of Eliphaz which we had in the foregoing chapter; it is but the second part of the same song of lamentation with which he had before bemoaned himself, and is…Job 16 — OverviewJob 16 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeJob 16:1, Job reproves his friends for unmercifulness; Job 16:17, He maintains his innocency.Job 16 — OverviewJob 16 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThis chapter and the following contain Job's reply to the preceding discourse of Eliphaz, in which he complains of the conversation of his friends, as unprofitable, uncomfortable, vain, empty, and without any foundationJob 16:1-22Job 16:1-22 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION Job answers the second speech of Eliphaz in a discourse which occupies two (short) chapters, and is thus not much more lengthy than the speech of his antagonist. His tone is very despairing. He finds no help…Job 16:1-22Job 16:1-22 · The Pulpit CommentaryDeep dejection and irrepressible hope. In this reply Job refuses to make a direct rejoinder to the attack upon him; he is too utterly bowed down in his weakness. But?? I. The first part of his speech consists of A…Job 16:17-22Job 16:17-22 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleJob's condition was very deplorable; but had he nothing to support him, nothing to comfort him? Yes, and he here tells us what it was. I. He had the testimony of his conscience for him that he had walked…