Job18
New International Version
1Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2“When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3Why are we regarded as cattle and considered stupid in your sight?
4You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?
5“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning.
6The light in his tent becomes dark; the lamp beside him goes out.
7The vigor of his step is weakened; his own schemes throw him down.
8His feet thrust him into a net; he wanders into its mesh.
9A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare holds him fast.
10A noose is hidden for him on the ground; a trap lies in his path.
11Terrors startle him on every side and dog his every step.
12Calamity is hungry for him; disaster is ready for him when he falls.
13It eats away parts of his skin; death’s firstborn devours his limbs.
14He is torn from the security of his tent and marched off to the king of terrors.
15Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling.
16His roots dry up below and his branches wither above.
17The memory of him perishes from the earth; he has no name in the land.
18He is driven from light into the realm of darkness and is banished from the world.
19He has no offspring or descendants among his people, no survivor where once he lived.
20People of the west are appalled at his fate; those of the east are seized with horror.
21Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man; such is the place of one who does not know God.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Job 18.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Bildad reproves Job. (1–4). Ruin attends the wicked. (5–10). The ruin of the wicked. (11–21).
vv1-4
Bildad had before given Job good advice and encouragement; here he used nothing but rebukes, and declared his ruin. And he concluded that Job shut out the providence of God from the management of human affairs, because he would not admit himself to be wicked.
vv5-10
Bildad describes the miserable condition of a wicked man; in which there is much certain truth, if we consider that a sinful condition is a sad condition, and that sin will be men's ruin, if they do not repent. Though Bildad thought the application of it to Job was easy, yet it was not safe nor just. It is common for angry disputants to rank their opponents among God's enemies, and to draw wrong conclusions from important truths. The destruction of the wicked is foretold. That destruction is represented under the similitude of a beast or bird caught in a snare, or a malefactor taken into custody. Satan, as he was a murderer, so he was a robber, from the beginning. He, the tempter, lays snares for sinners wherever they go. If he makes them sinful like himself, he will make them miserable like himself. Satan hunts for the precious life. In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare for himself, and God is preparing for his destruction. See here how the sinner runs himself into the snare.
vv11-21
Bildad describes the destruction wicked people are kept for, in the other world, and which in some degree, often seizes them in this world. The way of sin is the way of fear, and leads to everlasting confusion, of which the present terrors of an impure conscience are earnests, as in Cain and Judas. Miserable indeed is a wicked man's death, how secure soever his life was. See him dying; all that he trusts to for his support shall be taken from him. How happy are the saints, and how indebted to the lord Jesus, by whom death is so far done away and changed, that this king of terrors is become a friend and a servant! See the wicked man's family sunk and cut off. His children shall perish, either with him or after him. Those who consult the true honour of their family, and its welfare, will be afraid of withering all by sin. The judgments of God follow the wicked man after death in this world, as a proof of the misery his soul is in after death, and as an earnest of that everlasting shame and contempt to which he shall rise in the great day. The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot, Pr 10:7. It would be well if this report of wicked men would cause any to flee from the wrath to come, from which their power, policy, and riches cannot deliver them. But Jesus ever liveth to deliver all who trust in him. Bear up then, suffering believers. Ye shall for a little time have sorrow, but your Beloved, your Saviour, will see you again; your hearts shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh away.
Key Words
בִּלְדַּד: Bildad, one of Job's friends
שׁוּחִי: a Shuchite or descendant of Shuach
עָנָה: properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
מִלָּה: a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic
בִּין: to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand
אַחַר: properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מַדּוּעַ: what (is) known?; i.e. (by implication) (adverbially) why?
חָשַׁב: properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e. (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense); hence (from the mental effort) to think, regard, value, compute
Cross References
Job 18The Lord lighting a lamp contrasts with the wicked man's candle being permanently put out.
Supported by JFB
Sparing or straitening of steps represents a loss of health, freedom, and success under judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Bildad sarcastically echoes Job's earlier lament about the rock being removed from its place.
Supported by JFB
The phrase 'firstborn of death' denotes the chiefest, most deadly disease or plague.
Supported by JFB
Brimstone scattered on the habitation alludes to the historic, catastrophic judgment of Sodom.
Supported by JFB
The memory of the just is blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Bildad objects to being treated like ignorant beasts, recalling Job's earlier challenge to ask the beasts.
Supported by JFB
The wicked are ruined and cast down by their own crafty counsels and devices.
Supported by JFB
The imagery of the wicked being caught in the net and pitfall they laid for others.
Supported by JFB
Brimstone and salt scattered on land signifies absolute covenantal desolation and curse.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Terrors on every side personify the terrifying state of 'Magor-missabib' under divine judgment.
Supported by JFB
Bildad's harsh insinuation that Job's children were cut off because of wickedness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The complete eradication of the wicked man's lineage, leaving neither son nor grandson.
Supported by JFB
Onlookers from east and west are astonished and ask why God brought such ruin.
Supported by Matthew Poole
A dreadful sound and constant terrors of conscience haunt the wicked man.
Supported by Matthew Henry