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Job 18

BSB·21 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Then Bildadבִּלְדַּ֥דbil·daḏ — Lord of friendshipH1085 — Full Word Study → the Shuhiteהַשֻּׁחִ֗יhaš·šu·ḥî — Inhabitant of ShuahH7747 — Full Word Study → repliedוַ֭יַּעַןway·ya·‘an — To answer, respond, or testifyH6030 — Full Word Study →: 2How longאָ֤נָה׀’ā·nāh — Where? Whither? (interrogative/indefinite adverb of place)H575 — Full Word Study → untilעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → you endתְּשִׂימ֣וּןtə·śî·mūn — to put, place, set, appointH7760 — Full Word Study → these speechesלְמִלִּ֑יןlə·mil·lîn — speech, word, matter, thing saidH4405 — Full Word Study →? Show some senseתָּ֝בִ֗ינוּtā·ḇî·nū — To understand, discern, perceiveH995 — Full Word Study →, and thenוְאַחַ֥רwə·’a·ḥar — after, behind, followingH310 — Full Word Study → we can talkנְדַבֵּֽר׃nə·ḏab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study →. 3Whyמַ֭דּוּעַmad·dū·a‘ — Why? For what reason?H4069 — Full Word Study → are we regardedנֶחְשַׁ֣בְנוּneḥ·šaḇ·nū — to think, devise, plan, or reckonH2803 — Full Word Study → as cattleכַבְּהֵמָ֑הḵab·bə·hê·māh — Animal, beast, livestockH929 — Full Word Study →, as stupidנִ֝טְמִ֗ינוּniṭ·mî·nū — To become defiled or unclean; to be regarded as vileH2933 — Full Word Study → in your sightבְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃bə·‘ê·nê·ḵem — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study →? 4You who tearטֹֽרֵ֥ףṭō·rêp̄ — To tear, rend, or devour preyH2963 — Full Word Study → yourselfנַפְשׁ֗וֹnap̄·šōw — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → in angerבְּאַ֫פּ֥וֹbə·’ap·pōw — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study →should the earthאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → be forsakenתֵּעָ֣זַבtê·‘ā·zaḇ — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → on your accountהַ֭לְמַעַנְךָhal·ma·‘an·ḵā — because of, for the sake of, in order thatH4616 — Full Word Study →, or the rocksצ֝֗וּרṣūr — Rock; stone; strength; fortressH6697 — Full Word Study → be movedוְיֶעְתַּק־wə·ye‘·taq- — to remove, depart, or wear awayH6275 — Full Word Study → from their placeמִמְּקֹמֽוֹ׃mim·mə·qō·mōw — A place, location, or spaceH4725 — Full Word Study →? 5Indeedגַּ֤םgam — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study →, the lampא֣וֹר’ō·wr — Light; brightness; illuminationH216 — Full Word Study → of the wickedרְשָׁעִ֣יםrə·šā·‘îm — wicked, guilty, morally corruptH7563 — Full Word Study → is extinguishedיִדְעָ֑ךְyiḏ·‘āḵ — to extinguish, put out, quenchH1846 — Full Word Study →; the flameשְׁבִ֣יבšə·ḇîḇ — Spark, flame, or flying sparkH7632 — Full Word Study → of his fireאִשּֽׁוֹ׃’iš·šōw — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → does notוְלֹֽא־wə·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → glowיִ֝גַּ֗הּyig·gah — To shine; to give light; to brightenH5050 — Full Word Study →. 6The lightא֭וֹר’ō·wr — Light; brightness; illuminationH216 — Full Word Study → in his tentבְּאָהֳל֑וֹbə·’ā·ho·lōw — A tent; portable dwelling placeH168 — Full Word Study → grows darkחָשַׁ֣ךְḥā·šaḵ — To darken, obscure, or hideH2821 — Full Word Study →, and the lampוְ֝נֵר֗וֹwə·nê·rōw — A lamp or light source; illuminationH5216 — Full Word Study → beside himעָלָ֥יו‘ā·lāw — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → goes outיִדְעָֽךְ׃yiḏ·‘āḵ — to extinguish, put out, quenchH1846 — Full Word Study →. 7His vigorousאוֹנ֑וֹ’ō·w·nōw — Strength, power, or productive abilityH202 — Full Word Study → strideצַעֲדֵ֣יṣa·‘ă·ḏê — a step, pace, or measured strideH6806 — Full Word Study → is shortenedיֵֽ֭צְרוּyê·ṣə·rū — to be narrow, confined, or distressedH3334 — Full Word Study →, and his own schemesעֲצָתֽוֹ׃‘ă·ṣā·ṯōw — counsel, advice, or purposeH6098 — Full Word Study → trip him upוְֽתַשְׁלִיכֵ֥הוּwə·ṯaš·lî·ḵê·hū — to throw, cast, or hurlH7993 — Full Word Study →. 8Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → his own feetבְּרַגְלָ֑יוbə·raḡ·lāw — Foot; by extension, journey, way, or standingH7272 — Full Word Study → lead himשֻׁלַּ֣חšul·laḥ — to send, let go, releaseH7971 — Full Word Study → into a netבְּרֶ֣שֶׁתbə·re·šeṯ — Net; mesh; network; trapH7568 — Full Word Study →, and he wandersיִתְהַלָּֽךְ׃yiṯ·hal·lāḵ — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → intoוְעַל־wə·‘a·lś- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → its meshשְׂ֝בָכָ֗הśə·b̲ā·k̲āh — Latticework, network, or interlaced structureH7639 — Full Word Study →. 9A trapפָּ֑חpāḥ — Snare, trap, or thin metal sheetH6341 — Full Word Study → seizesיֹאחֵ֣זyō·ḥêz — to grasp, seize, or take hold ofH270 — Full Word Study → his heelבְּעָקֵ֣בbə·‘ā·qêḇ — Heel; footstep; rear part; deceptionH6119 — Full Word Study →; a snareצַמִּֽים׃ṣam·mîm — snare, trap, or hidden dangerH6782 — Full Word Study → grips himיַחֲזֵ֖קya·ḥă·zêq — To strengthen, make firm, establishH2388 — Full Word Study →. 10A nooseחַבְל֑וֹḥaḇ·lōw — Rope, cord, line; inheritance; pain, sorrowH2256 — Full Word Study → is hiddenטָמ֣וּןṭā·mūn — To hide, conceal, or bury secretlyH2934 — Full Word Study → in the groundבָּאָ֣רֶץbā·’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, and a trapוּ֝מַלְכֻּדְתּ֗וֹū·mal·kuḏ·tōw — A snare or trap; a device for catchingH4434 — Full Word Study → lies inעֲלֵ֣י‘ă·lê — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → his pathנָתִֽיב׃nā·ṯîḇ — A beaten track or well-worn path; a way or roadH5410 — Full Word Study →. 11Terrorsבַלָּה֑וֹתḇal·lā·hō·wṯ — Terror, dread, sudden frightH1091 — Full Word Study → frighten himבִּֽעֲתֻ֣הוּbi·‘ă·ṯu·hū — to terrify, frighten, or trouble with fearH1204 — Full Word Study → on every sideסָ֭בִיבsā·ḇîḇ — around, on all sides, encirclingH5439 — Full Word Study → and harassוֶהֱפִיצֻ֥הוּwe·hĕ·p̄î·ṣu·hū — to scatter, disperse, or break apartH6327 — Full Word Study → his every stepלְרַגְלָֽיו׃lə·raḡ·lāw — Foot; by extension, journey, way, or standingH7272 — Full Word Study →. 12His strengthאֹנ֑וֹ’ō·nōw — Strength, power, or productive abilityH202 — Full Word Study → isיְהִי־yə·hî- — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → depletedרָעֵ֥בrā·‘êḇ — hungry, suffering from hungerH7457 — Full Word Study →, and calamityוְ֝אֵ֗ידwə·’êḏ — calamity, disaster, ruinH343 — Full Word Study → is ready at his sideלְצַלְעֽוֹ׃lə·ṣal·‘ōw — Stumbling, limping, or adversityH6761 — Full Word Study →. 13It devoursיֹ֭אכַלyō·ḵal — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → patchesבַּדֵּ֣יbad·dê — alone, apart, or bar/poleH905 — Full Word Study → of his skinעוֹר֑וֹ‘ō·w·rōw — Skin, hide, leather coveringH5785 — Full Word Study →; the firstbornבְּכ֣וֹרbə·ḵō·wr — firstborn son; first offspring; heirH1060 — Full Word Study → of deathמָֽוֶת׃mā·weṯ — death, the state of being deadH4194 — Full Word Study → devoursיֹאכַ֥לyō·ḵal — to eat, consume, devourH398 — Full Word Study → his limbsבַּ֝דָּ֗יוbad·dāw — alone, apart, or bar/poleH905 — Full Word Study →. 14He is tornיִנָּתֵ֣קyin·nā·ṯêq — To tear away, pull out, or uproot violentlyH5423 — Full Word Study → from the shelterמִבְטַח֑וֹmiḇ·ṭa·ḥōw — Trust, confidence, secure refugeH4009 — Full Word Study → of his tentמֵ֭אָהֳלוֹmê·’ā·ho·lōw — A tent; portable dwelling placeH168 — Full Word Study → and is marched offוְ֝תַצְעִדֵ֗הוּwə·ṯaṣ·‘i·ḏê·hū — to march, stride, or step forwardH6805 — Full Word Study → to the kingלְמֶ֣לֶךְlə·me·leḵ — A male ruler or sovereign who governs a nation or kingdomH4428 — Full Word Study → of terrorsבַּלָּהֽוֹת׃bal·lā·hō·wṯ — Terror, dread, sudden frightH1091 — Full Word Study →. 15Fireמִבְּלִי־mib·bə·lî- — without, lack of, absenceH1097 — Full Word Study → residesתִּשְׁכּ֣וֹןtiš·kō·wn — To dwell, inhabit, or settle in a placeH7931 — Full Word Study → in his tentבְּ֭אָהֳלוֹbə·’ā·ho·lōw — A tent; portable dwelling placeH168 — Full Word Study →; burning sulfurגָפְרִֽית׃ḡā·p̄ə·rîṯ — sulfur; brimstone used in divine judgmentH1614 — Full Word Study → rains downיְזֹרֶ֖הyə·zō·reh — to scatter, winnow, or disperseH2219 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → his dwellingנָוֵ֣הוּnā·wê·hū — Pleasant dwelling place or homeH5116 — Full Word Study →. 16The rootsשָֽׁרָשָׁ֣יוšā·rā·šāw — Root; foundation; origin; bottomH8328 — Full Word Study → beneath himמִ֭תַּחַתmit·ta·ḥaṯ — Under, beneath, instead of, in place ofH8478 — Full Word Study → dry upיִבָ֑שׁוּyi·ḇā·šū — to wither, dry up, or be ashamedH3001 — Full Word Study →, and the branchesקְצִירֽוֹ׃qə·ṣî·rōw — Harvest; the reaping of crops or figuratively, a limb or branchH7105 — Full Word Study → above himוּ֝מִמַּ֗עַלū·mim·ma·‘al — Above, over, upward; superiority in place or rankH4605 — Full Word Study → wither awayיִמַּ֥לyim·mal — to circumcise; to cut offH5243 — Full Word Study →. 17The memory of himזִֽכְרוֹ־ziḵ·rōw- — memorial, remembrance, or fragrant nameH2143 — Full Word Study → perishesאָ֭בַד’ā·ḇaḏ — To perish, be destroyed, or lostH6 — Full Word Study → fromמִנִּי־min·nî- — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → the earthאָ֑רֶץ’ā·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study →, and he has noוְלֹא־wə·lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → nameשֵׁ֥םšêm — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → inעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the landחֽוּץ׃ḥūṣ — Outside, exterior, or open space beyond a boundaryH2351 — Full Word Study →. 18He is drivenיֶ֭הְדְּפֻהוּyeh·də·p̄u·hū — to thrust away, drive out, expelH1920 — Full Word Study → from lightמֵא֣וֹרmê·’ō·wr — Light; brightness; illuminationH216 — Full Word Study → intoאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → darknessחֹ֑שֶׁךְḥō·šeḵ — Darkness; absence of light; obscurityH2822 — Full Word Study → and is chasedיְנִדֻּֽהוּ׃yə·nid·du·hū — to wander, flee, or scatter awayH5074 — Full Word Study → from the inhabited worldוּֽמִתֵּבֵ֥לū·mit·tê·ḇêl — The inhabited earth; the worldH8398 — Full Word Study →. 19He has noלֹ֘אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → offspringנִ֤יןnîn — offspring, descendant, childH5209 — Full Word Study → or posterityנֶ֣כֶדne·ḵeḏ — Descendant, grandson, or progeny; offspringH5220 — Full Word Study → among his peopleבְּעַמּ֑וֹbə·‘am·mōw — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →, noוְאֵ֥יןwə·’ên — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → survivorשָׂ֝רִ֗ידśā·rîd̲ — Survivor; remnant; one left aliveH8300 — Full Word Study → where he once livedבִּמְגוּרָֽיו׃bim·ḡū·rāw — temporary dwelling, sojourning, pilgrimageH4033 — Full Word Study →. 20Those in the westאַחֲרֹנִ֑ים’a·ḥă·rō·nîm — Last, final, or later in time or orderH314 — Full Word Study → are appalledנָשַׁ֣מּוּnā·šam·mū — to be desolate; to be appalled; to lie wasteH8074 — Full Word Study → atעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → his fateי֭וֹמוֹyō·w·mōw — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →, while those in the eastוְ֝קַדְמֹנִ֗יםwə·qaḏ·mō·nîm — ancient, former, easternH6931 — Full Word Study → tremble in horrorשָֽׂעַר׃śā·‘ar — A violent storm; terror or dreadH8178 — Full Word Study →. 21Surelyאַךְ־’aḵ- — Surely, certainly, only, neverthelessH389 — Full Word Study → suchאֵ֭לֶּה’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study → is the dwellingמִשְׁכְּנ֣וֹתmiš·kə·nō·wṯ — Tabernacle, dwelling place, sanctuaryH4908 — Full Word Study → of the wickedעַוָּ֑ל‘aw·wāl — Injustice, unrighteousness, wickednessH5767 — Full Word Study → and the placeמְק֣וֹםmə·qō·wm — A place, location, or spaceH4725 — Full Word Study → of one who does notלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → knowיָדַֽע־yā·ḏa‘- — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → Godאֵֽל׃ס’êl — God, Mighty OneH410 — Full Word Study →.”
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Chapter Commentary — Job 18
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

In Job chapter 18, Bildad the Shuhite responds to Job's continued protests of innocence and complaints about his suffering. Growing impatient with what he sees as Job's self-pity and self-centeredness, Bildad launches into a detailed description of the fate of the wicked, implying that Job's suffering is proof of hidden sin. Though Bildad's theology is flawed—suffering is not always the direct result of personal wickedness—his vivid portrayal of divine judgment serves as a sobering reminder that God does eventually judge unrepentant sin. The chapter illustrates both the limitations of human wisdom in counseling the afflicted and the ultimate reality of God's justice.

Verses 1-4: Bildad's Rebuke

Bildad opens by expressing frustration with Job's lengthy speeches (verses 1-2). His impatience reveals a hardness of heart that undermines his ministry of comfort. In verse 3, Bildad takes offense, asking why Job counts them "as beasts" and regards them as "vile"—suggesting that Job has insulted his friends' integrity and wisdom. Verse 4 is particularly harsh: Bildad implies that Job's anger and self-tearing grief are so excessive that he expects the natural world itself to be disrupted for his sake. This is sarcasm masking cruelty. Bildad's response shows how even well-intentioned counsel can become judgmental and dismissive when we lose patience with suffering people. Application: When comforting the grieving, we must guard against impatience and the temptation to minimize their pain.

Verses 5-12: The Wicked's Darkness

Bildad now pivots to his main argument: a poetic description of the wicked's inevitable downfall. Verses 5-6 use light and darkness imagery—classic biblical symbols for blessing and curse. The "light of the wicked shall be put out" and their "candle shall be put out," meaning their life, prosperity, and legacy will end. This is theologically sound: Scripture does teach that the wicked ultimately perish. However, Bildad applies this truth wrongly to Job, assuming his suffering proves his wickedness.

Verses 7-12 expand the metaphor with hunting and entrapment imagery. The wicked are caught in nets (verses 8-10), overtaken by terrors (verse 11), and consumed by hunger and destruction (verse 12). These verses paint a vivid picture of judgment closing in from all sides. While the description is poetically powerful and doctrinally true about final judgment, Bildad mistakes ongoing suffering for final condemnation—a critical error in pastoral theology.

Verses 13-21: Complete Annihilation

The final section intensifies the language of destruction. Verse 13 introduces "the firstborn of death"—a personification suggesting that death itself devours the wicked's strength. Verse 14's phrase "king of terrors" refers to death or Sheol, emphasizing judgment's finality. Verses 15-17 describe total obliteration: brimstone (sulfur, associated with divine judgment) scatters on their homes, roots dry up, branches are cut off, and their memory vanishes from earth.

Verses 18-21 conclude with exile from light into darkness and the complete erasure of their family line and remembrance. Verse 21 contains Bildad's thesis: "Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God." While this captures an important biblical truth—that ultimate judgment awaits those who reject God—it becomes a false accusation when applied to the righteous Job, who knows God but suffers mysteriously.

Application for Today

Bildad's speech reminds us that while God's judgment of sin is certain and real, suffering is not always punishment for personal sin. Jesus taught this explicitly (John 9:2-3). When counseling those in pain, we must resist the temptation to play judge, to assume we understand God's purposes, or to hide cruelty behind theological correctness. Instead, we should point sufferers to God's character, His sovereignty, and His ultimate justice—without presuming to decode the reasons for their present affliction.

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