Job 11:18
And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "you will dig about you" isn't about literally digging for water or setting up tents, but about actively securing your space. It suggests a proactive effort to build defenses and establish a firm place of belonging, showing that security isn't just passive waiting but an active process of creation and protection. This active role in establishing safety is rooted in a hope that inspires confidence to build and rest without fear.
Zophar is speaking to Job, offering what he believes is a picture of what Job's life will be like if he confesses his sin and turns back to God. This verse promises a future of peace and security, where Job can settle down, dig for water or secure his home, and rest without fear, all because of renewed hope and God's protection. This is presented as the ultimate outcome of repentance, directly following Zophar's accusations and preceding further assurances of renewed prosperity.
When everything feels like it's falling apart, where do you find a solid foundation? Zophar speaks of a future security that seems almost impossible to imagine.
Zophar's words to Job paint a picture of a future restored and secure. The core of this security isn't just the absence of trouble, but the presence of hope. This hope is described as a 'firm and well-grounded confidence in God.' It's the assurance that even after deep suffering, a good future is still possible, rooted in God's watchful care and providential goodness. This isn't wishful thinking; it's a deep trust in God's character and promises, even when circumstances scream the opposite.
What does it mean to 'dig about' in a time of security? It's not about searching for trouble, but about establishing a deep, unshakeable peace.
The imagery of 'digging about thee' is rich and speaks to the practical realities of establishing security. Commentators suggest it could mean digging for water – a vital resource in ancient lands, essential for survival and prosperity. It could also mean digging to secure tents, build fences, or even dig a moat. All these actions represent a proactive establishment of safety and provision. In a spiritual sense, this 'digging' is about actively settling into the security God provides. It means finding those deep wells of His promises and resting assured that He is your protector, allowing you to truly 'take your rest in safety,' free from fear and external threats.
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Understand the original words
tiqwah · Hebrew Noun
A confident expectation and trust in God’s promises and future deliverance. Biblical hope is not a wishful desire but a certainty grounded in the character and faithfulness of God.
betach · Hebrew Noun
Freedom from anxiety and the state of being safely settled. In a biblical context, it implies reliance on God as the true source of safety rather than on material circumstances.
This passage echoes the sense of secure rest and freedom from fear that Job's future prosperity promises, highlighting how God's presence is the ultimate source of safety.
Jeremiah 29:11Both verses speak directly to the concept of hope for the future, emphasizing that God's plans are for well-being and not for disaster, directly contradicting the despair Job might be feeling.
Genesis 26:12-16This narrative illustrates the importance of wells (represented by 'digging' in Job 11:18) and the contention that often arose over them, providing context for the peaceful possession and security that Zophar predicts for Job.
Proverbs 3:23-26This proverb connects trust in the Lord with security, stating that He will keep your steps secure and your sleep will be sweet, mirroring the peaceful rest Job is promised.
bensonJob 11:18: "And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety."
Job 11:18-19 . Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope — Thy mind shall be quiet and free from terrors, because thou shalt have a firm and well-grounded confidence in God. Thou shalt dig — Either to fix thy tents, which, after the manner of the Arabians, were removed from place to place; or, to plough thy ground, as he had done, Job 1:14 , or to make a fence…
clarkeJob 11:18: "And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety."
And thou shalt be secure - Thou shalt not fear any farther evils to disturb thy prosperity, for thou shalt have a well-grounded hope and confidence that thou shalt no more be visited by adversity. Yea, thou shalt dig - I believe this neither refers to digging his grave, nor to curiously investigating surrounding circumstances; but to the custom of digging for wat…
The phrase "you will dig about you" isn't about literally digging for water or setting up tents, but about actively securing your space. It suggests a proactive effort to build defenses and establish a firm place of belonging, showing that security isn't just passive waiting but an active process of creation and protection. This active role in establishing safety is rooted in a hope that inspires confidence to build and rest without fear.
Zophar is speaking to Job, offering what he believes is a picture of what Job's life will be like if he confesses his sin and turns back to God. This verse promises a future of peace and security, where Job can settle down, dig for water or secure his home, and rest without fear, all because of renewed hope and God's protection. This is presented as the ultimate outcome of repentance, directly following Zophar's accusations and preceding further assurances of renewed prosperity.
Zophar is speaking to Job, offering what he believes is a picture of what Job's life will be like if he confesses his sin and turns back to God. This verse promises a future of peace and security, where Job can settle down, dig for water or secure his home, and rest without fear, all because of renewed hope and God's protection. This is presented as the ultimate outcome of repentance, directly following Zophar's accusations and preceding further assurances of renewed prosperity.
"And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security." — The phrase "you will dig about you" isn't about literally digging for water or setting up tents, but about actively securing your space. It suggests a proactive effort to build defenses and establish…
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