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 answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2 How long wilt thou speak these things? And [how long] shall the words of thy mouth be [like] a mighty wind?
3 Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?
4 If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;
5 If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright: Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
7 And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, And utter words out of their heart?
11 Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water?
12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, [and] not cut down, It withereth before any [other] herb.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:
14 Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider’s web.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.
16 He is green before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden.
17 His roots are wrapped about the [stone]-heap, He beholdeth the place of stones.
18 If he be destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth shall others spring.
20 Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.
21 He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.