Job 18

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:16

Root and branch. Bildad dwells upon his favourite topic of the withering doom of the wicked. It is complete—root and branch are destroyed. A truth again, though inapplicable to Job. I. THE ROOTS DRIED UP . The roots stand for the sources of life and strength. Roots nourish the tree and hold it in its place. If they fail, all else must perish. 1 . The roots are out of sight. The most important things are not the most prominent. The secret springs of toe soul are of vital... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:16-21

The curse upon the family of the wicked. The permanent continuance of the family was one of the most coveted blessings of Eastern nations. Very deeply was this embedded in the minds of the peoples. It was, therefore, a signal curse of God to cut off the remembrance of a family from the earth. With cruel error Bildad points to the cutting off of Job's family—at least, such is the presumption, otherwise his words are inappropriate here—and he seems to charge upon Job the sin of which the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:17

His remembrance shall perish from the earth (comp. Psalms 34:16 ; Psalms 109:13 ). This is always spoken of in Scripture as a great calamity, one of the greatest that can befall a man. It was felt as such, not only by the Jews, but by the Semitic people generally, whose earnest desire to perpetuate their memory is shown by the elaborate monuments and lengthy inscriptions which they set up in so many places. Arabian poetry, no less than Jewish, is penetrated by the idea. In one point of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:18

He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world (comp. Job 10:21 , Job 10:22 ; Job 17:16 ). What Job represents as a welcome retreat, whither he would gladly withdraw himself, Bildad depicts as a banishment, into which he will be driven on account of his sins. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:19

He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people ; rather, nor grandson ; i.e. "his posterity shall be clean put out" ( Psalms 109:14 ). Nor any remaining in his dwellings ; rather, in the places where he sojourned (compare the Revised Version, which gives "in his sojournings"). It is implied that the wicked man shall be a vagabond, without a home, sojourning now here, now there, for a short time. Neither among his own people, nor in these places of his temporary abode, shall... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:20

They that come after him shall be astonied at his day ; i.e. "at the time of his visitation" (comp. Psalms 37:13 , "The Lord shall laugh at him, for he seeth that his day is coming;" and Psalms 137:7 , "Remember the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem," i.e. the day of its overthrow). As they that went before were affrighted . His fate shall alarm equally his contemporaries and his successors, at possibly "the dwellers in the West and the dwellers in the East" read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:21

Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked . "Such as I have described is the general condition and manner of life of the man who is wicked." and this is the place (or, position ) of him that knoweth not God . The singular number used both in this clause and the preceding indicates that the whole series of denunciations ( Job 18:5-21 ) is levelled against an individual—viz. Job. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 18:2

How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? - It has been made a question to whom this is addressed. It is in the plural number, and it is not usual in Hebrew when addressing an individual to make use of the plural form. Some have supposed that it is addressed to Job and to Eliphaz, as being both “long-winded” and tedious in their remarks. Others have supposed that it refers to Job “and the members of his family,” who possibly interposed remarks, and joined Job in his complaints. Others... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 18:3

Wherefore are we counted as beasts? - “Why are we treated in your remarks as if we had no sense, and were unworthy of sound argument in reply to what we say?” It is possible that there may be reference here to what Job said Job 12:7 - that even the beasts could give them information about God. But the general idea is, that Job had not treated their views with the attention which they deserved, but had regarded them as unworthy of notice.And reputed vile - The word used here (טמה ṭâmâh) means... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 18:4

He teareth himself - More correctly, “thou that tearest thyself in anger!” It is not an affirmation about Job, but it is a direct address to him. The meaning is, that he was in the paryoxysms of a violent rage; he acted like a madman.Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? - A reproof of his pride and arrogance. “Shall everything be made to give way for you? Are you the only man in the world and of so much importance, that the earth is to be made vacant for you to dwell in? Are the interests of... read more

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