Job 33:18

“He keepeth back his soul from the pit, etc.] Or, “that he may keep back” f1183; for this is another end and use of God’s speaking unto men; it is to preserve them for the present from going down to the grave, the pit of corruption and destruction; so called because the bodies of men, being there laid, corrupt, and are entirely destroyed by worms, and turn to rottenness and dust; and to preserve them from the bottomless pit of everlasting ruin and destruction; for the Lord’s people are reproved by him, that they may not be condemned with the world, (<461132>1 Corinthians 11:32); and his life from perishing by the sword; by the sword of men, which is one of God’s sore judgments; or by the…”

“his soul--his life. the pit--the grave; a symbol of hell. perishing by the sword--that is, a violent death; in the Old Testament a symbol of the future punishment of the ungodly.”

“He keepeth back his soul from the pit - The word soul in the Hebrew is often equivalent to self, and the idea is, that he keeps the man from the pit in this manner. The object of these warnings is to keep him from rushing on to his own destruction. The word rendered “pit” - שׁחת shachath, properly means a pit, or pitfall, in which traps are laid for wild animals; Psalms 7:15; Psalms 9:15; then a cistern that is miry; Job 9:31; a prison, Isaiah 51:14; then the grave, or sepulchre, as being often a cavern; Job 17:13; Psalms 30:9; see Job 33:28, Job 33:30. It evidently means here the grave, and the sense is, that God thus warns people against pursuing a course of conduct which would lead them…”

“Keepeth - By his gracious admonitions whereby he leads him to repentance. Job 33:19”

“33:18 from crossing over the river of death: This phrase may also be translated from passing [i.e., dying] by the sword. Both translations fit the context (cp. 36:12).”

“keepeth: Act 16:27-33; Rom 2:4; Pe2 3:9, Pe2 3:15 perishing: Heb. passing Job 33:19”