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JOB 8
PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
Bildad Says God Rewards the Good | Bildad: Job Should Repent | First Discourse of Bildad | Bildad | The Unswerving Course of God's Justice |
8:1-7 (2-7) |
8:1 |
8:1-7 (2-7) |
8:1-7 (1-7) |
8:1 |
8:2-7 (2-7) |
8:2-7 (2-7) |
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8:8-10 (8-10) |
8:8-10 (8-10) |
8:8-10 (8-10) |
8:8-10 (8-10) |
8:8-22 (8-22) |
8:11-22 (11-22) |
8:11-18 (11-18) |
8:11-19 (11-19) |
8:11-15 (11-15) |
|
8:16-19 (16-19) |
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8:19-22 (19-22) |
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8:20-22 (20-22) |
8:20-22 (20-22) |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which
means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the
light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not
relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:1-7
1Then
Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2"How
long will you say these things,
And
the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?
3Does God pervert
justice?
Or does the
Almighty pervert what is right?
4If
your sons sinned against Him,
Then
He delivered them into the power of their transgression.
5If you would seek God
And implore the compassion of the
Almighty,
6If
you are pure and upright,
Surely
now He would rouse Himself for you
And
restore your righteous estate.
7Though
your beginning was insignificant,
Yet
your end will increase greatly."
8:1 Bildad may be picking up on Job's words in Job 6:26; also note Job 16:3. It is also possible the "how long" of Bildad reflects the "how long" of Job 7:19.
8:3 For me this is the key question of the book. If Job is innocent and "the two ways" is not changeable, then is God just (cf. Gen. 18:25; Job 34:12)?
▣ "the Almighty" This title for God is very common in Job.
▣ "pervert" This VERB (BDB 736, KB 804, Piel IMPERFECT) is used twice, cf. Job 34:12. Its basic meaning is "to be bent" or "to be crooked." God is viewed as "straight," "right," "just," which all reflect the Hebrew word "righteousness" (see SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS). Most of the Hebrew and Greek words for "sin" are a deviation from the standard, straightedge, which is God.
8:4 "if" See Contextual Insights, C.
▣ "your sons" Basically, Bildad is accusing Job's children of sinning and that is why they were killed (Eliphaz also implies this in Job 5:4)! How painful this accusation must have been to Job!
Notice the first two prose chapters of Job set the literary stage for this comment, therefore, they cannot be a later addition by a second author.
▣ "into the power (lit. hand) of their transgression" Bildad personifies "sin" as an active agent of judgment. This phrase occurs only here.
Paul personifies sin as a king in Rom. 5:21 and a slave master in Rom. 6:20,23.
8:5 "seek God" This VERB (BDB 1007, KB 1465, Piel IMPERFECT) denotes a continual diligent search. Here, it is used of seeking God (cf. Ps. 63:1; 78:34; Pro. 8:17 [lit. wisdom]; Isa. 26:9; Hos. 5:15).
This basic meaning is also seen in
▣ "implore the compassion" This VERB (BDB 335, KB 334, Hithpael IMPERFECT) means "to seek the favor of." It is parallel to "seek." It is used three times in Solomon's dedication of the temple prayer (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:33, 47,59). It is a call to repentance. This Job cannot do, for he believes he has not violated faith with God.
8:6 This is the logical result of "the two ways" (i.e., we reap what we sow, cf. Deut. 30:1,15-20; Psalm 1; see full note and list of Scriptures online at Gal. 6:7; www.freebiblecommentary.org ).
▣ "pure" This ADJECTIVE (BDB 269) is used by Job
It must be remembered, Job does not claim sinlessness (cf. Job 7:20), but he does claim that the tragedy he has experienced does not fit his life of faith and obedience to God (cf. Prov. 16:2; 20:11). He has not violated a known command from God (i.e., his cultural knowledge of God's will).
▣ "upright" This is the key word (BDB 449) used to describe Job in Job 1:1,8; 2:3.
8:7 This verse is surprising in light of Job's wealth, described in chapter 1.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:8-10
8"Please
inquire of past generations,
And
consider the things searched out by their fathers.
9For we are only
of yesterday and know nothing,
Because
our days on earth are as a shadow.
10Will
they not teach you and tell you,
And bring forth words from their
minds?"
8:8-10 This strophe focuses on the traditional wisdom of the elders (cf. Job 15:18; 20:4). The problems are
8:9 This is another of many verses in Job about the frailty and fleetingness of human life (i.e., Job 14:2; 1 Chr. 29:15; Ps. 102:11; 109:23; 144:4; Eccl. 6:12; 8:13).
This same term "shadow" (BDB 853) can also be used in a positive sense (i.e., God as protector, see SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADOW AS METAPHOR FOR GOD'S PROTECTION AND CARE.
8:10 Bildad is accusing Job of not listening to or receiving traditional wisdom (i.e., the two ways, i.e., Deut. 30:15,19; Psalm 1).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 8:11-22
11"Can
the papyrus grow up without a marsh?
Can
the rushes grow without water?
12While
it is still green and not cut down,
Yet it withers before any other
plant.
13So
are the paths of all who forget God;
And
the hope of the godless will perish,
14Whose
confidence is fragile,
And
whose trust a spider's web.
15He
trusts in his house, but it does not stand;
He holds fast to it, but it does
not endure.
16He
thrives before the sun,
And
his shoots spread out over his garden.
17His
roots wrap around a rock pile,
He
grasps a house of stones.
18If
he is removed from his place,
Then
it will deny him, saying, ‘I never saw you.'
19Behold, this is the
joy of His way;
And out
of the dust others will spring.
20Lo,
God will not reject a man of integrity,
Nor will He support the evildoers.
21He will yet fill your
mouth with laughter
And
your lips with shouting.
22Those
who hate you will be clothed with shame,
And the tent of the wicked will be
no longer."
8:11-22 This strophe is a continuation of the theological focus on "the two ways" of ancient ANE traditional wisdom.
There seems to be a change of subject at Job 8:19. The JPSOA makes Job 8:8-22 one strophe.
8:13a This is an implied accusation of Job. He cannot be innocent. He must be guilty of some sin!
Those who "forget God" (BDB 1013, KB 1489, Qal ACTIVE PARTICI[PLE) will perish (cf. Ps. 9:17; 50:22). Notice they once knew Him but for whatever reason, have forgotten.
SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY (APHISTĒMI)
8:13b "the hope of the godless" Exactly what this "hope" (BDB 876) involves is not stated but it refers to things obtainable in this life, such as fame, wealth, power, position of influence, etc.
8:14 This is imagery of the false confidence (BDB 492) and trust (BDB 105) of the sinner.
8:14a | |
NASB, NIV | "fragile" |
NKJV | "shall be cut off" |
NRSV, NJB, JPSOA, REB | "is gossamer" |
TEV | ‒omit‒ |
This VERB (BDB 876, KB 1083, Qal IMPERFECT) occurs only here in the OT. The NKJV assumes it is connected to an Arabic root, "to cut off" or "trim." The NRSV (and others) makes it parallel to "spider's web" (i.e., "gossamer," which refers to spider silk). NASB assumes the thread "snaps" (BDB suggestion).
8:15-18 This reflects Job 7:10, "his place," and implies his past life, home, friends, abor, etc. It is uncertain if all the verses are negative. It is possible that Job 8:18 is positive.
8:16-17 These verses describe the wicked as a fast growing plant (i.e., some successes in life) that does not last (cf. Psalm 73).
8:19a The NASB and NKJV translations have this referring to God, while NRSV, TEV, JPSOA, REB, and LXX have it referring to the evil person.
Job 8:20-22 surely refers to God's activity (i.e., the two ways).
The word "joy" (BDB 965) is supposed by some (NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 1115) to be "something rotten" (KB 1314). It is said to represent the same root but a different meaning (cf. NJB, NAB), possibly from an Arabic root.
8:19b This implies the wicked person is destroyed (cf. Job 20:5) and other people (i.e., plants) take their place in the garden (i.e., life). Whether these new plants (people) are righteous or wicked is not stated because they have not yet lived and made their choices.
8:20 "a man of integrity" This word (BDB 1070) is used of Job in Job 1:1,8; 2:3.
8:21a This may be in contrast to the "joy" of Job 8:19a. The joy of the wicked is brief but the laughter of the righteous is enduring. So Bildad encourages Job to repent and be happy.
8:22b "the tent of the wicked" This is an anachronistic reference (i.e., Jdgs. 7:8; 1 Sam. 13:2; 2 Sam. 20:1) to an abode, which may relate to Job 7:10; 8:15-18 (i.e., "his place").
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are
responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You,
the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
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