Chapter Overview
Summary
Job 25 is BILDAD'S THIRD AND FINAL speech — the shortest speech in the book (only 6 verses). The friends' arguments have run-out. Bildad recycles divine-incomparability rhetoric (vv. 4–6, 'how can man be in the right before God? — none'). Notably, Zophar gets-no-third-speech — the friends' theological-machine has-broken-down.
Notable Variants
25:4 'how can man be in the right before God?' (// 4:17, 9:2, 15:14) recurring-question; 25:6 'man, who is a worm; the son of man, who is a maggot' anthropological-pessimism; the SHORTNESS of-this-speech as friends' rhetorical-collapse.
Structural Notes
MT Job 25 = LXX Job 25. 6 verses. Bildad's THIRD AND FINAL speech — friends' arguments have run out.
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
'Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said' tracks MT.
Dominion and dread belong to him; he makes peace in his heights.
'Dominion and fear are with God; he makes peace in his high heaven' tracks MT. PEACE-IN-HIGH-HEAVEN. Luke 2:14 ('peace on earth' connecting to peace-in-heaven) Christologically extends. Colossians 1:20 ('making peace by the blood of his cross') develops.
Can his armies be numbered? On whom does his light not rise?
'Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise?' tracks MT.
How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?
'How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?' tracks MT. // Job 4:17, 9:2, 15:14. The recurring universal-unrighteousness question. Romans 3:20 ('by works of the law no human being will be justified') Pauline-answer.
Look — even the moon does not shine bright enough, and the stars are not pure in his eyes.
'Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes' tracks MT.
How much less a mortal — a maggot! A human being — a worm!
'How much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!' tracks MT. SON-OF-MAN-AS-WORM. Psalm 22:6 ('I am a worm and not a man') Christologically extends to the cross. Job's depiction of-creature-lowliness becomes-foundational anthropology that Christ-the-incarnate-Son embraces.