Hebrew Word Study – Voice of Silence – Demamah Vagol ‘Eshema Daleth Mem Mem Hei Vav Qop Vav Lamed Aleph Shin Mem Hei.
Job 4:16: “It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before my eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,”
I was reading in Jewish literature about the differences in translation of this verse. The syntax appears quite up in the air. Some translations, like the KJV, say “There was silence and I heard voice.” The NIV says: “I heard a hushed voice.” The Berean Bible renders this as: “I heard a whispered voice.” The Brenton Bible tells us: “I heard a breath and a voice.” And the Holman will say that: “I heard a quiet voice.”
The words in Hebrew are demamah vaqol ‘eshema which is more closely translated as “I heard the voice of silence.” That may sound contradictory and explains why the translations of this phrase are all over the place, but there are certain Jewish scholars who believe the intent of this verse is to read as the “voice of silence.” Logically, you are to hear a voice and if a voice is silent, you do not hear it. So how can silence have a voice?
If you think about it, silence has a voice, sometimes a very loud voice. Ask any husband who stayed out too late and comes home to an angry wife who glares at him but says nothing. We say she is giving him the silent treatment and in her silence, she is speaking volumes to that poor slob.
In fact, does not God almost always speak to us in silence? I can only point to two times in my life when I believe I heard an actual audible voice of God. As a rule, when God speaks to me it is in silence.
Would you like Chaim Bentorah as your personal Hebrew teacher?
|
|
The word in Hebrew for silence is damamah from the root word damam which means silence, quiet, refrain from speech, and stopping a motion. It is also used for whisper so the renderings that indicate a sound are not mistranslation. However, I believe the context would stay more with the idea of quiet and not making a sound. The root word could be damah which is the word for imagination. Our imaginations can have a voice.
In this context, Job is speaking of a spirit that passes before him. He could not discern or recognize its appearance or its form which is the word temunah, the same word in Genesis where the earth was without form. This is just a scattering of particles that has yet to take shape. Since this appearance was a spirit that had no appearance or form it follows it had no mouth, tongue, lungs, diaphragm, or vocal cords. In other words, it did not have any of the things required to create a voice or even a sound. Thus, damam is a voice of silence. It might even be Job’s imagining a voice or sound coming from this spirit. Either way, it did communicate a message to him.
Next month I will be going off the grid and spending a week living in silence. I will be on a silent retreat at the Gethsemane Monastery about fifty miles outside Louisville, Kentucky off of Monks Road. It is a Benedictine Monastery where the brothers live in silence. No one speaks to you, you speak to no one. You live in silence, eat in silence, and virtually live for the entire week without a word passing from your lips. It is just you and God, 24/7. It is sort of like fasting. It takes at least three days until you really enter into the spirit realm so to speak. Eventually the supernatural becomes more natural than the natural world. The birds and animals begin speaking to you, God sends you messages through the wind, the trees, and the flowers. By the third day you either decide that you finally snapped your cap or you are in tune with God in a way that your rarely experience. You get a little taste of what heaven can be like. The only thing is God speaks to you during this time of silence. You begin to hear things that your natural ears will not hear, you see things your eyes do not see, and you speak things that your lips can not utter. In silence, you can hear the cry of the world.
The commentators say that Job heard a voice. I disagree and side with the Jewish scholars, Job heard the voice of silence. It just that in Job’s case he had to discern if it were the voice of God or someone else, like the one who started his whole mess.
Hi there! Thank you for reading this Daily Word Study. Can I ask a favor? Share this Daily Word Study with your friends on Facebook and Twitter by clicking one of the icons below.
Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Again, such wonderful insight into the heart of my Creator.
(Edited) So, in Job 4:15, Eliphaz says “a spirit passed by his face”, from which “the voice of silence” speaks to him. Is verse 17 not what the voice of silence says to him? Or is that what he discerns it to say – as he only imagines (damah) it says? Just curious how you would explain the other elements in light of your understanding of the voice.
So, in Job 4:15, Eliphaz says “a spirit passed by his face”, from “the voice of silence” speaks to him, is verse 17 not what the voice of silence says to him? Or is that what he discerns it to say – as he only imagines (damah) it says? Just curious how you would explain the other elements in light of your understanding of the voice.
Another possibility for the root is the alternate definition of Damah – to be like, resemble; to be comparable, to consider. Hmm…
Imagine that a spirit passes before you, it stops and there is a form that is before which you cannot discern… then it hits you, it looks and sounds like you… would this not leave you dumbfounded? But, in His image were we not made?
Yet, we must understand that we are the image of His character, His spirit. Therefore the question presented is quite necessary for Job’s understanding: Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
I spent my childhood in the forests and mountains of the northeast, I struggled with childhood illness and couldn’t participate in many physical activities. I spent many silent hours in the woods and waterside, and never felt alone until I attempted to do what was beyond my ability at the time. As an adult many years later, learning to meditate, I realized that I had allowed the world to steal the gift of hearing God in the silence, and resting in the beauty He created. As I embrace His rest and presence, He leads me and it is enough.
Good morning and shalom to you Chaim, thank you so much for reminding us of the sound of silence! It is a beautiful and wonderful experience. As I sat silent on my porch this morning and watched the sunrise, I heard creation praising The Creator even the trees! So I joined in, in silent worship to our King. Perhaps, I “have snapped my cap” but as the old song goes, “And the Joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known”. C. Austin Miles.
I can not adequately express my appreciation for your ministry.
Day by day I am enriched.
Thank you
I love it…so amazing
Thank you Chaim for continuing to enlighten our understanding. Like you I’ve heard the audible voice of God twice, but also like you, I’ve invariably heard Him in the silence.
But to my question; having read Job 4.16 and your word study, and consequently vs 12-21, how does v12 relate to your explanation and our understanding hearing the voice of silence?
I love this. I was actually reading 1 Kings 19 this am of Eijah’s account of hearing God’s small voice. Then I was encouraged with maintaining a gentle and quiet spirit as a godly woman (I Peter 4:3). I can hear His voice clearer when I am quiet. Doesn’t mean I don’t speak or am a doormat but I have to carry myself in such a way that I can hear His instructions. I know this the same but different message of your share but the kicker was I had just mentioned to my husband before I got your email that I was glad I listened to him and the Holy Spirit and didn’t “get loud” by responding to someone I felt was out of line. I told my husband my silence would speak louder. Amen!
I agree with you. Interesting to think that maybe satan even imitates that!!!
I do know that other religions practice silence. I do not think it is our Father in that silence.