Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 18:5-10

The rest of Bildad's discourse is entirely taken up in an elegant description of the miserable condition of a wicked man, in which there is a great deal of certain truth, and which will be of excellent use if duly considered?that a sinful condition is a sad condition, and that iniquity will be men's ruin if they do not repent of it. But it is not true that all wicked people are visibly and openly made thus miserable in this world; nor is it true that all who are brought into great distress and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 18:7

The steps of his strength shall be straitened ,.... As a man in health can take large and strong steps, and travel in the greatness of his strength; so in prosperity he can and does take large steps in obtaining fame and reputation among men, in amassing substance to himself, and towards settling his family in the world; he is like one in a large place, and walks at liberty, goes in and out at pleasure, and none can control him; he walks in pride, and with an high and lifted up head, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 18:7

The steps of his strength - Even in his greatest prosperity he shall be in straits and difficulties. His own counsel - He shall be the dupe and the victim of his own airy, ambitious, and impious schemes. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:1-21

Bildad's second speech is no improvement upon his first ( Job 8:1-22 .). He has evidently been exceedingly nettled by Job's contemptuous words concerning his "comforters" ( Job 16:2 , Job 16:11 ; Job 17:10 ); and aims at nothing but venting his anger, and terrifying Job by a series of denunciations and threats. Job has become to him "the wicked man" (verses 5, 21), an embodiment of all that is evil, and one "that knoweth not God." No punishment is too severe for him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:1-21

Bildad to Job: an Arabian orator's discourse. I. THE FAULTY INTRODUCTION . Bildad possessed at least three qualifications indispensable to successful speaking—fervid imagination, glowing eloquence, and vehement passion. He was characterized also by three fatal defects—want of calmness, or self-containment, want of prudence, and want of sympathetic tenderness. Being destitute of these, he blundered like an inexperienced amateur, starting out on his oration in a hurricane of passion and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:1-21

Renewed rebukes and warnings. Bildad again replies, mentioning that the passionate outbreaks of Job are useless. He holds fast to his original principle, that, according to the Law of God, the hardened sinner will suddenly meet his doom. And some secret sin, he persists, must be the cause of the present suffering. I. INTRODUCTION : DENUNCIATION OF JOB AS A FOOLISH AND VIOLENT SPEAKER . (Verses 1-4.) He is one who "hunts after words." Let him be truly sensible and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:5-14

The fruits of impiety. Again Bildad speaks. He is not the sufferer, hut the judge. Be who came as a comforter utters but miserable words in the ears of the afflicted one. His words are true in themselves, but wrongly applied. Justly he describes the fruits of impiety. I. To THE IMPIOUS THE LIGHT OF PROSPERITY IS EXCHANGED FOR THE DARKNESS OF MISFORTUNE . His "lamp is put out." Sorrowfulness, sooner or later, overtakes him. For a time he is in great prosperity;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:5-21

Bildad, from this point, turns wholly to denunciation. He strings together a long series of menaces—probably ancient saws, drawn from "the wisdom of the Beni Kedem" ( 1 Kings 4:30 ), and descriptive of the wretched fate of the wicked man, with whom he identifies Job. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 18:7

The steps of his strength shall he straitened . In the time of his prosperity the wicked man had a wide sphere within which to exercise his activity, and strode hither and thither at his pleasure. When punishment falls on him, his "steps will be straitened," i.e. his sphere narrowed, his activity cramped, his powers "cabined, cribbed, confined." And his own counsel shall cast him down (see Job 5:13 ; and comp. Psalms 7:14 ,-16; Psalms 9:16 ; Psalms 10:2 ; Hosea 10:6 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 18:7

The steps of his strength - Strong steps. “Steps of strength” is a Hebraism, to denote firm or vigorous steps.Shall be straitened - Shall be compressed, embarrassed, hindered. Instead of walking freely and at large, he shall be compressed and limited in his goings. “Large steps,” “free movement,” etc. are proverbial expressions among the Arabs, to denote freedom, prosperity, etc. RosenmulIer. Schultens quotes the following illustrations from the Arabic poets. From Ibn Doreid, “He who does not... read more

Group of Brands