Read Job chapter 8 online with LogosAI Bible study tools, highlights, and cross references.
Job 8 is part of “First Cycle of Dialogue” (4–14) in the outline of Job.
Job 8 summary
Job's friends are like Job's messengers: the latter followed one another close with evil tidings, the former followed him with harsh censures: both, unawares, served Satan's design; these to drive him from his integrity, those to drive him from the comfort of it. Eliphaz did not reply to what Job had said in answer to him, but left it to Bildad, whom he knew to be of the same mind with himself in this affair. Those are not the wisest of the company, but the weakest rather, who covet to have all the talk. Let others speak in their turn, and let the first keep silence, Co1 14:30, Co1 14:31. Eliphaz had undertaken to show that because Job was sorely afflicted he was certainly a wicked man. Bildad is much of the same mind, and will conclude Job a wicked man unless God do speedily appear for his relief. In this chapter he endeavours to convince Job, I. That he had spoken too passionately (Job 8:2). II. That he and his children had suffered justly (Job 8:3, Job 8:4). III. That, if he were a true penitent, God would soon turn his captivity (Job 8:5-7). IV. That it was a usual thing for Providence to extinguish the joys and hopes of wicked men as his were extinguished; and therefore that they had reason to suspect him for a hypocrite (Job 8:8-19). V. That they would be abundantly confirmed in their suspicion unless God did speedily appear for his relief (Job 8:20-22).
Source: Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2 “How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.
5 If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.
6 If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.
7 Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.
8 “Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)
10 Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?
11 “Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
12 While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
13 So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,
14 whose confidence will break apart, whose trust is a spider’s web.
15 He will lean on his house, but it will not stand. He will cling to it, but it will not endure.
16 He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way. Out of the earth, others will spring.
20 “Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.
21 He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked will be no more.”