Thomas Aquinas, on Job 12:22

“He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth up to light the shadow of death.”

“As to those men who have no prestige, but live hidden in the lowest state, he then says, "he reveals those deep in darkness," that is, men placed in a lower state, who are unknown because of this, as though existing in darkness. He leads these to glory by revealing them to others. As to those that are thought foolish and ignorant, he then says, "he kindles the light where death's shadow lay," for the shadow of death seems to be ignorance or stupidity, since the living are distinguished from the nonliving especially by knowledge. Thus, "he kindles the light where death's shadow lay," when he gives either wisdom to the ignorant or he shows those who were wise but whose wisdom was unknown before actually to be wise. What he has just said, "Those who had been oppressed he relieves," is in opposition to his other statement, "he removes the belt of kings." (v.18) When he added, "he reveals those deep in darkness," he says this in opposition to "he makes the priests inglorious." (v.19) When he next said, "he kindles the light where death's shadow lay," he says this in opposition to everything which follows.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

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