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Job 38:17

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Have the gates of death been opened to you? Have you seen the doors that lead to the place of deep darkness and death?

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is asking Job if he has any knowledge or experience of death's mysteries and the unseen realm beyond life.

📚 Historical Context

This verse comes from God's powerful response to Job after his intense suffering and questioning. God is speaking from a whirlwind, challenging Job with a series of questions about the mysteries of creation and existence that only God fully understands. The 'gates of death' and 'doors of the shadow of death' refer to ancient Near Eastern imagery of death as a realm with entrances that only divine beings could access or comprehend.

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