Teks -- Job 17:12 (NET)

17:12 These men change night into day; they say, ‘The light is near in the face of darkness.’

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Job 17:12 - They

My thoughts so incessantly pursue and disturb me, that I can no more sleep in the night, than in the day.

Wesley: Job 17:12 - The light

The day - light, which often gives some comfort to men in misery, seems to be gone as soon as it is begun.

Wesley: Job 17:12 - Darkness

Because of my grievous pains and torments which follow me by day as well as by night.

JFB: Job 17:12 - They

Namely, "my friends."

JFB: Job 17:12 - change the night into day

That is, would try to persuade me of the change of my misery into joy, which is impossible [UMBREIT] (Job 11:17); (but) the light of prosperity (could it be enjoyed) would be short because of the darkness of adversity. Or better for "short," the Hebrew "near"; "and the light of new prosperity should be near in the face of (before) the darkness of death"; that is, they would persuade me that light is near, even though darkness approaches.

Clarke: Job 17:12 - They change the night into day

They change the night into day - These purposes and thoughts are so very gloomy, that they change day into night

Clarke: Job 17:12 - The light is short because of darkness

The light is short because of darkness - אור קרוב מפני חשך or karob mippeney choshek , "The light is near from the face of darkness."I have scarcely any light: what is called light is so near akin to darkness, that it is scarcely severed from it. There is either no light, or merely such as is sufficient to render darkness visible. A fine picture of the state of his mind - he was generally in darkness; but had occasional gleams of hope.

TSK: Job 17:12 - change // short

change : Job 7:3, Job 7:4, Job 7:13, Job 7:14, Job 24:14-16; Deu 28:67

short : Heb. near

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Job 17:12 - They // Change the night into day // they change the day into night // The light is short // Because of darkness

They either,

1. My friends. Or,

2. My sorrows, of which he is here speaking. Or,

3. My thoughts, last mentioned. Possibly these words may be joined with them thus, The thoughts of my heart change the night into day .

Change the night into day they do so incessantly pursue and disturb me, that I can no more rest and sleep in the dark and silent nights, than in the midst of the light and tumults of the day. Or,

they change the day into night Heb. they put the night for or instead of (as the Hebrew lamed is elsewhere used) the day, i.e. they make the day as sad and dark as the night to me. So it seems best to agree with the following branch of the verse.

The light is short i.e. the day-light, which ofttimes gives some little comfort and refreshment to men in misery, seems to be gone and fled as soon as it is begun.

Because of darkness i.e. because of my grievous pains and torments, which follow me by day as well as by night.

Haydock: Job 17:12 - Day // After

Day. Sleep flees from me. (Menochius) ---

All is in confusion. ---

After. Hebrew and Septuagint, "light is near in the face of darkness." (Haydock) ---

I still hope for relief.

Gill: Job 17:12 - They change the night into day // the light is short because of darkness

They change the night into day,.... Meaning either his friends, by what they had said unto him, or the thoughts of his heart, which comes to the same sense; these being in the night season employed about what had been said to him in the day, insomuch that he could get no sleep, the night was as broad day unto him; or they put the day before the night, contrary to the order of nature, as Noldius ^z observes, whereas the night is before the day, Gen 1:5; his friends promising him long days, and an age clearer than noon day, as bright as the morning, Job 11:17; when the night of death was coming on, and he was hastening to the dark and silent grave:

the light is short because of darkness; the morning light, or light of the day, when that comes continues but for a short time, because of the darkness of the evening, which quickly follows; or because of the darkness of fiction, which fills it up, and makes it uncomfortable; or the light of prosperity, could it be enjoyed, is but short, because of the darkness of adversity; or "the light is near" ^a, as in the original text; though Jarchi interprets the word "short" as we do; Noldius renders it, "the light is rather nearer than darkness" ^b; after the night has been spent without sleep, the morning light is nearer than darkness; that may soon be expected, and so an end to sleep and rest.