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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 8:1-7

Here, I. Bildad reproves Job for what he had said (Job 8:2), checks his passion, but perhaps (as is too common) with greater passion. We thought Job spoke a great deal of good sense and much to the purpose, and that he had reason and right on his side; but Bildad, like an eager angry disputant, turns it all off with this, How long wilt thou speak these things? taking it for granted that Eliphaz had said enough to silence him, and that therefore all he said was impertinent. Thus (as Caryl... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 8:4

If thy children have sinned against him ,.... As no doubt they had, and, as Bildad thought, in a very notorious manner, and therefore were righteously punished for them; this instance is produced as a proof of God's not perverting, but doing justice, and the rather, because it was on account of this that it was supposed that Job charged, or was ready to charge, God with injustice; this was so far from it, that it was a righteous thing to do it, "if" or "seeing" his children had sinned; or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 8:4

If thy children have sinned - I know thy children have been cut off by a terrible judgment; but was it not because by transgression they had filled up the measure of their iniquity? And he have cast them away - Has sent them off, says the Targum, to the place of their transgression - to that punishment due to their sins. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 8:1-7

Bildad to Job: 1. A bundle of mistakes. I. UNJUSTIFIABLE REBUKE . "Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said." Even if on Job's part wholly deserved the admonition of Bildad was in itself worthy of censure, as being: 1 . Impatient. "How long wilt thou speak these things?" It is due to every man who speaks in his defence, as Job did, to hear him patiently ( Acts 26:3 ); much more if he speaks in affliction. Nay, patience towards all men is an eminent token of sincere religion ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 8:1-7

The Divine justice. The words of Bildad, as of Job's other friends, are often marked by great beauty, and often embody principles of the highest practical value;, but they frequently err in their application. The judgment of the friends upon Job is based upon an error which the entire course of the book is designed to expose. Here a true principle is enunciated respecting the Divine justice; which is shown to manifest itself— I. IS A STRICT INTEGRITY . (Verse 3.) "Doth God pervert... 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 8:4

If thy children have sinned against him . Bildad assumes this absolutely; Eliphaz had only hinted at it ( Job 10:4 ). Both presume to know what could be known only to the Searcher of hearts. And he have cast them away for their transgression ; literally, and he have delivered them into the hand of their transgressions— abandoned them, that is, to the consequences of their wrong-doing. The allusion is, of course, to the fact recorded in Job 1:19 . read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 8:4

If thy children have sinned against him - Bildad here assumes that the children of Job had been wicked, and had been cut off in their sins. This must have cut him to the quick, for there was nothing which a bereaved father would feel more acutely than this. The meaning here is somewhat weakened by the word “if.” The Hebrew אם 'ı̂m is rather to be taken in the sense of “since” - assuming it as an indisputable point, or taking it for granted. It was not a supposition that if they should now do... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 8:4

Job 8:4. If thy children have sinned against him If thou wast innocent, thy children, upon whom a great part of these calamities fell, might be guilty; and therefore God is not unrighteous in these proceedings. And he have cast them away Hebrew, hath expelled, or cast them out; (namely, out of the world, or out of his favour; as a man gives his wife a bill of divorce, of which the same word is used;) for their transgression Hebrew, by the hand, that is, by means of, their... 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

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