Psalms 112:4

112:4 In the darkness a light ¹  shines for the godly,

for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just. ² 

Job 18:6

18:6 The light in his tent grows dark;

his lamp above him is extinguished. ³ 

Job 29:3

29:3 when ⁴  he caused ⁵  his lamp ⁶ 

to shine upon my head,

and by his light

I walked ⁷  through darkness; ⁸ 

[112:4]  ¹ tn In this context “light” symbolizes divine blessing in its various forms (see v. 2), including material prosperity and stability.

[112:4]  ² tn Heb “merciful and compassionate and just.” The Hebrew text has three singular adjectives, which are probably substantival and in apposition to the “godly” (which is plural, however). By switching to the singular, the psalmist focuses on each individual member of the group known as the “godly.” Note how vv. 5-9, like vv. 1-2a, use the singular to describe the representative godly individual who typifies the whole group.

[18:6]  ³ tn The LXX interprets a little more precisely: “his lamp shall be put out with him.”

[29:3]  ⁴ tn This clause is in apposition to the preceding (see GKC 426 §131.o). It offers a clarification.

[29:3]  ⁵ tn The form בְּהִלּוֹ (bÿhillo) is unusual; it should be parsed as a Hiphil infinitive construct with the elision of the ה (he). The proper spelling would have been with a ַ (patakh) under the preposition, reflecting הַהִלּוֹ (hahillo). If it were Qal, it would just mean “when his light shone.”

[29:3]  ⁶ sn Lamp and light are symbols of God’s blessings of life and all the prosperous and good things it includes.

[29:3]  ⁷ tn Here too the imperfect verb is customary – it describes action that was continuous, but in a past time.

[29:3]  ⁸ tn The accusative (“darkness”) is here an adverbial accusative of place, namely, “in the darkness,” or because he was successfully led by God’s light, “through the darkness” (see GKC 374 §118.h).