Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.

JOB 26:6KJV
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What does Job 26:6 mean?

Job 26:6 says that even the unseen world—what the King James Version calls "Hell" and "destruction"—is completely exposed before God, with nothing hidden from Him. The verse emphasizes that God’s knowledge and presence reach everywhere, even into places people cannot see or understand.

In this part of the book of Job, Job is speaking to his friends, describing God’s unmatched power and understanding. Job points out that not even the deepest or most mysterious realms are hidden from God’s sight, showing how limitless God’s awareness is compared to human understanding.

The Hebrew behind Job 26:6

  • "Hell" is שְׁאוֹל (sheol), often understood as the realm of the dead or the grave, not necessarily a place of punishment. Here, it means the deepest, most hidden place imaginable.
  • "Naked" is עָרוּם (arom), meaning uncovered or exposed. The use of this word stresses that nothing is concealed from God, not even what people think is hidden.
  • "Destruction" is אֲבַדּוֹן (abaddon), a word that often refers to a place of ruin or utter loss, sometimes personified as a force of destruction. In this verse, it stands for another realm beyond normal human reach.
  • "Covering" is כָּסוּת (kasut), meaning a covering or something that hides. The verse says destruction has no such covering before God, reinforcing the idea that nothing is hidden from Him.

Why Job 26:6 matters

  • Job 26:6 clears up the idea that there are places or things hidden from God; it insists that even death and destruction are fully visible to Him.
  • The verse highlights Job’s point in the wider conversation: God’s wisdom and power are far beyond what any person can grasp, especially compared to the limited understanding of Job’s friends.
  • By mentioning both "sheol" and "abaddon," Job 26:6 shows the completeness of God’s knowledge—nothing in existence, not even the most mysterious or feared places, is beyond His sight.

Where else these words appear

“destruction” Hebrew H11 · used in 6 verses

  • Job 28:22 Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.
  • Job 31:12 For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.
  • Proverbs 15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

“covering” Hebrew H3682 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 20:16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
  • Exodus 22:27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
  • Job 24:7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.

“naked” Hebrew H6174 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
  • Job 24:7 They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.
  • Isaiah 20:4 So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

“Hell” Hebrew H7585 · used in 63 verses

  • Genesis 37:35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
  • Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
  • Proverbs 30:16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.