Chapter Overview
Summary
Job 8 begins BILDAD THE SHUHITE'S first speech — sharper-than-Eliphaz's, accusing Job's children of sin (v. 4) and appealing to ancestral-tradition (vv. 8–10). Bildad's argument-from-natural-imagery (the papyrus, the spider's web — vv. 11–19) contrasts the temporary-prosperity of the wicked with the lasting-blessing of the righteous.
Notable Variants
8:4 'if your children sinned, he gave them over' — sharper-friend accusation; 8:11 'can papyrus grow without marsh?' — proverbial-image; 8:14 'spider's web' confidence-of-the-godless.
Structural Notes
MT Job 8 = LXX Job 8. 22 verses.
Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
'Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said' tracks MT. BILDAD THE SHUHITE — Shuah possibly Genesis 25:2 (Abraham's son by Keturah).
How long will you go on saying these things? The words of your mouth are a blustering wind.
'How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?' tracks MT.
Does God twist justice? Does the Almighty distort what is right?
'Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?' tracks MT. GOD-DOES-NOT-PERVERT-JUSTICE — Bildad's-axiom. Romans 3:5 ('is God unrighteous to inflict wrath on us?') indirectly engages.
If your children sinned against him, then he handed them over to the consequences of their rebellion.
'If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression' tracks MT. JOB'S-CHILDREN-DESERVED-IT — Bildad's brutal-application. The book ultimately-rejects this calculus.
But if you yourself seek God diligently and plead with the Almighty —
'If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy' tracks MT.
if you are pure and upright, then surely he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful home to prosperity.
'If you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation' tracks MT.
Your former state will seem small, but your future will flourish beyond measure.
'And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great' tracks MT. LATTER-WILL-BE-GREAT — anticipates 42:12's literal-fulfillment in Job's restoration.
Ask the previous generation, I urge you; pay attention to what their ancestors discovered.
'For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out' tracks MT.
For we are only from yesterday and know nothing; our days on earth are a shadow.
'For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow' tracks MT. DAYS-AS-SHADOW. Ps 144:4 echoes.
Will they not teach you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from understanding?
'Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?' tracks MT.
Can papyrus grow tall without a marsh? Can reeds flourish without water?
'Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?' tracks MT. PAPYRUS-WITHOUT-MARSH — proverbial-impossibility.
While still in its prime, before it is cut, it withers ahead of every other plant.
'While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant' tracks MT.
Such is the path of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.
'Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish' tracks MT.
What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web.
'His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web' tracks MT. SPIDER'S-WEB confidence — fragile-confidence imagery.
He leans on his house, but it does not stand; he grabs hold of it, but it does not hold.
'He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure' tracks MT. Matthew 7:24–27 (foolish-builder on sand) extends.
He is lush in the sunlight, and his shoots spread over his garden.
'He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden' tracks MT.
His roots wind around a stone heap; he clings to a house of rocks.
'His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones' tracks MT.
But if he is torn from his place, that place will deny him: 'I never knew you.'
'If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying: I have never seen you' tracks MT.
Such is the 'joy' of his way: and from the soil, others spring up in his place.
'Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring' tracks MT.
Look — God does not reject a blameless person, and he does not take the hand of evildoers.
'Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers' tracks MT.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
'He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouting' tracks MT. LAUGHTER-AND-SHOUTING — restoration-promise. Ps 126:2's 'our mouth was filled with laughter' echoes.
Those who hate you will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.
'Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more' tracks MT.