Job18
New King James Version
1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2“How long till you put an end to words? Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.
3Why are we counted as beasts, And regarded as stupid in your sight?
4You who tear yourself in anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed from its place?
5“The light of the wicked indeed goes out, And the flame of his fire does not shine.
6The light is dark in his tent, And his lamp beside him is put out.
7The steps of his strength are shortened, And his own counsel casts him down.
8For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walks into a snare.
9The net takes him by the heel, And a snare lays hold of him.
10A noose is hidden for him on the ground, And a trap for him in the road.
11Terrors frighten him on every side, And drive him to his feet.
12His strength is starved, And destruction is ready at his side.
13It devours patches of his skin; The firstborn of death devours his limbs.
14He is uprooted from the shelter of his tent, And they parade him before the king of terrors.
15They dwell in his tent who are none of his; Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling.
16His roots are dried out below, And his branch withers above.
17The memory of him perishes from the earth, And he has no name among the renowned.
18He is driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world.
19He has neither son nor posterity among his people, Nor any remaining in his dwellings.
20Those in the west are astonished at his day, As those in the east are frightened.
21Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, And this is the place of him 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