Job 8:17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 8:8-19

Bildad here discourses very well on the sad catastrophe of hypocrites and evil-doers and the fatal period of all their hopes and joys. He will not be so bold as to say with Eliphaz that none that were righteous were ever cut off thus (Job 4:7); yet he takes it for granted that God, in the course of his providence, does ordinarily bring wicked men, who seemed pious and were prosperous, to shame and ruin in this world, and that, by making their prosperity short, he discovers their piety to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 8:17

His roots are wrapped about the heap ,.... The heap of stones where the tree stands; it strikes its roots among them, and implicates and twists them about them, and secures itself and grows up notwithstanding them: and this expresses the seeming stable state and condition of hypocrites for a season, who not only flourish, but seem to take root; and who maintain their ground amidst some difficulties; this fitly agrees with and describes such hearers of the word, and professors of religion,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 8:1-22

Shall not the Judge of all … do right? The supposed attack of Job , by implication, upon the justice of God gives an opening for renewed admonitions and rebukes on the part of his friends. Bildad now comes forward and delivers a discourse full of noble faith, however its principles may be in this case misapplied. Rebuking the grievous complaints of Job as a wind, full of noise and emptiness (verse 2), he proceeds— I. TO INSIST ON THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD . This is an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 8:8-19

The hypocrite's hope. Back to the testimony of the ages ( Job 8:8-10 ) Bildad refers his suffering friend, to find there evidences of the security of the perfect man and the worthlessness of the expectation of the hypocrite. With beautiful figurativeness he illustrates these truths, and only errs in the covert implication that in hypocrisy is to be found the cause of Job's present sufferings. The hypocrite's hope vain and deceitful. I. IT IS TEMPORARY . Passing away as the "rush... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 8:8-22

Bildad to Job: 2. Wisdom from the ancients. I. THE TEACHERS . The world's gray fathers, not the immediate predecessors of Job, Bildad, and their contemporaries, but the progenitors of these—their remote ancestors, who are here described as: 1 . Early born. In contrast to the men of Job's time, who are characterized as being late born, literally, "yesterday;" i.e. of yesterday, as if ascending the stream of time meant the same thing as approaching the primal fountains of truth—a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 8:17

His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth (rather, he seeth ) the place (literally, house) of stones . This passage is very obscure The word gal , translated heap, means sometimes a spring or stream of water ( Song of Solomon 4:12 ); and many of the best Hebraists regard it as having that meaning here (Buxtorf, Lee, Stanley Leathes, Revised Version). In this case we have to regard the rapidly growing plant as having its roots wrapped about the perennial spring, which was a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 8:17

His roots are wrapped about the heap - There has been great diversity of opinion in the interpretation of this passage. Jerome renders it, “over the heap of stones his roots are condensed.” Walton, “super fontem - over a fountain.” The Septuagint, “he lies down (or sleeps, κοιμᾶται koimatai) on a heap of stones; and he lives in the midst of flint-stones.” According to some, the word rendered heap גל gal means a fountain; according to others, it means a heap or pile of stones; according to Dr.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 8:17

Job 8:17. His roots are wrapped about the heap Heath renders this, He windeth his roots about a spring; he twisteth himself about a heap of stones: and he approves a slight alteration of the text made by Houbigant; who, rather more elegantly, reads, He has his roots involved, or, fixed, in a hill; he adheres to the midst of stones. This circumstance is added to signify the tree’s firmness and strength; that it was not fixed in loose and sandy ground, which a violent wind might... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 8:1-22

Bildad speaks (8:1-22)After rebuking Job for his wild words against God, Bildad tells him that God is always just. Completely lacking in sympathy, Bildad reminds Job that his children have died, and cruelly concludes that it must have been because of their sin (8:1-4). Job’s suffering must likewise be because of his sin. If, however, he is innocent, he need only pray humbly to God, and God will replace his suffering with greater blessing than he had before (5-7).For Bildad the traditional... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 8:17

the heap = a spring, or fountain, as in Song of Solomon 4:12 . Hebrew. gal. Plural in Joshua 15:19 , &c. seeth = overlooks: i.e. overtops. place = house. read more

Group of Brands