Job 18:4 - Bildad: God Punishes the Wicked

Audio Bible

Context

Bildad: God Punishes the Wicked
…3Why are we regarded as cattle, as stupid in your sight? 4You who tear yourself in anger— should the earth be forsaken on your account, or the rocks be moved from their place? 5Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow.…

Cross References

Psalm 104:5
He set the earth on its foundations, never to be moved.Isaiah 40:15-17
Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered a speck of dust on the scales; He lifts up the islands like fine dust. / Lebanon is not sufficient for fuel, nor its animals enough for a burnt offering. / All the nations are as nothing before Him; He regards them as nothingness and emptiness.Isaiah 24:19-20
The earth is utterly broken apart, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken violently. / The earth staggers like a drunkard and sways like a shack. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again.Proverbs 21:30
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.Ecclesiastes 1:4
Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.Isaiah 2:12-17
For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled— / against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan, / against all the tall mountains, against all the high hills, ...Isaiah 45:9
Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?Jeremiah 4:23-26
I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light. / I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. / I looked, and no man was left; all the birds of the air had fled. ...Psalm 75:3
When the earth and all its dwellers quake, it is I who bear up its pillars. SelahIsaiah 13:13
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts on the day of His burning anger.Romans 9:20-21
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” / Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.James 4:14
You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.”Romans 11:34
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”

Job 5:2
For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.

Job 13:14
Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?

Job 16:9
He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

himself.

Job 40:8
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Ezekiel 9:9
Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.

the rock

Job 14:18
And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.

Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

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Job 18

You who tear yourself in anger—
This phrase reflects the intense emotional and physical anguish experienced by Job. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, expressions of grief and anger often involved physical actions such as tearing one's clothes or even one's skin. This act symbolizes deep distress and is a visible manifestation of Job's inner turmoil. The tearing of oneself can also be seen as a metaphor for the self-destructive nature of unchecked anger and despair. In the broader biblical context, this phrase highlights the human tendency to react viscerally to suffering, as seen in other scriptures like Genesis 37:29, where Reuben tears his clothes in grief.

should the earth be forsaken on your account,
This rhetorical question challenges the notion that the universe should be altered to accommodate individual suffering. It underscores the idea that God's creation operates under divine order and is not subject to change based on human emotions or circumstances. This reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over creation, as seen in passages like Isaiah 40:22-26, which emphasize God's control over the earth and the heavens. The question also serves to remind Job of his place within the larger framework of God's creation, suggesting that personal suffering does not warrant cosmic disruption.

or the rocks be moved from their place?
The imagery of rocks being moved signifies the stability and permanence of God's creation. In biblical literature, rocks often symbolize strength, reliability, and the unchanging nature of God's promises, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:4, where God is described as "the Rock." This phrase implies that just as rocks remain steadfast, so too does the divine order. The rhetorical question reinforces the message that human suffering, while significant, does not alter the fundamental truths of God's creation. It also points to the futility of expecting the natural order to change in response to individual distress, encouraging a perspective of humility and trust in God's overarching plan.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Job
A man of great faith and patience, who undergoes severe trials and suffering. His account is a profound exploration of human suffering and divine sovereignty.

2. Bildad the Shuhite
One of Job's three friends who visit him to offer counsel. In this chapter, Bildad is speaking, and his words reflect a traditional view of retributive justice.

3. Uz
The land where Job lived, often associated with the region east of Israel. It serves as the setting for the events of the Book of Job.

4. God
The ultimate sovereign being, whose wisdom and purposes are central to the account of Job.

5. Suffering
A key theme in the Book of Job, representing the trials and tribulations that Job endures, which are central to the discussions between Job and his friends.

Teaching Points

The Limits of Human Anger
Bildad's words remind us that human anger, no matter how intense, does not alter God's creation or His divine order. We must recognize the limits of our emotions and submit to God's sovereignty.

The Stability of God's Creation
The rhetorical questions posed by Bildad highlight the stability and order of God's creation. This serves as a reminder of God's unchanging nature and the reliability of His promises.

The Misinterpretation of Suffering
Bildad's perspective reflects a common misunderstanding that suffering is always a direct result of personal sin. We must be cautious not to judge others' circumstances without understanding God's broader purposes.

Trusting in God's Sovereignty
In times of personal turmoil, we are called to trust in God's unchanging nature and His ultimate plan, even when we do not understand our current situation.

The Role of Friends in Times of Suffering
Bildad's approach serves as a cautionary example of how not to counsel those who are suffering. We should strive to offer empathy and support rather than judgment.

(4) He teareth himself in his anger.--As Eliphaz had charged Job (Job 15:4) with the evil tendencies of his speeches, so Bildad here compares him to a maniac, and assumes that the effect of his teaching will be to banish God from the earth, and remove the strength and hope of man. The last clause is a direct quotation from Job in Job 14:18; it looks, therefore, very much like a wilful perversion of Job's words, for it is clear that he used them very differently. Even if there were no intentional misrepresentation Bildad applies Job's words to his own purposes. The drift of his question is, "Can you expect the course of God's providence to be altered for you? On the contrary, the retribution that awaits the wicked is sure and swift; for verily (Job 18:5) the light of the wicked shall be put out."

Verse 4. - He teareth himself in his anger. The Hebrew idiom, which allows of rapid transitions from the second to the third person, and vice versa, cannot be transferred without harshness to our modern speech. Our Revisers have given the true force of the original by discarding the third person, and translating, "Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger." There is probably an allusion to Job 16:9, where Job had represented God as "tearing him in his wrath." Bildad says it is not God who tests him - he tears himself. Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? i.e. "Shall the course of the world be altered to meet thy wishes, to suit thy case?" Job had wished for all manner of impossible things (Job 3:3-6; Job 9:32-35; Job 13:21, 22; Job 16:21; Job 17:3). Bildad's reproach is thus not wholly unjust. But he makes no allowance for the wild utter-shoes of one who is half distraught. And shall the rock be removed out of his place? Shall that which is most solid and firm give way, and alter its nature? Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

You who tear
טֹֽרֵ֥ף (ṭō·rêp̄)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2963: To pluck off, pull to pieces, to supply with food

yourself
נַפְשׁ֗וֹ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

in anger—
בְּאַ֫פּ֥וֹ (bə·’ap·pōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

should the earth
אָ֑רֶץ (’ā·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

be forsaken
תֵּעָ֣זַב (tê·‘ā·zaḇ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5800: To loosen, relinquish, permit

on your account,
הַ֭לְמַעַנְךָ (hal·ma·‘an·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

or the rocks
צ֝֗וּר (ṣūr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6697: A cliff, a rock, boulder, a refuge, an edge

be moved
וְיֶעְתַּק־ (wə·ye‘·taq-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6275: To remove, to grow old, to transcribe

from their place?
מִמְּקֹמֽוֹ׃ (mim·mə·qō·mōw)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition

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Job 18:4 Catholic BibleOT Poetry: Job 18:4 You who tear yourself in your anger (Jb)