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Bildad: God Punishes the Wicked
In this speech, Bildad answers with sharp rebuke and vivid warnings. He describes what he says happens to the wicked, using repeated images of darkness, traps, fear and loss.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
Job 18 is wisdom and dialogue. Bildad the Shuhite speaks in reply, first objecting to the way he thinks he and others have been treated, then giving a long description of the downfall he connects with the unrighteous. The passage records Bildad’s argument in his own words.
Job 18:1–21Main takeaway
This passage presents Bildad’s claim that the unrighteous lose light, security, place and remembrance.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Bildad opens with complaintBildad begins by asking for thought before more speech. He complains that he and others are treated like animals and as unclean.
Explanation
Bildad begins by asking for thought before more speech. He complains that he and others are treated like animals and as unclean. Then he asks whether the earth or rock should change for one angry person. His questions make the speech confrontational from the start.
02Light goes out and strength failsBildad says the wicked person’s light is put out, his fire does not shine and his lamp goes dark.
03Traps, fear and death-like imagesThe speech piles up nets, snares, traps and a hidden noose. Terrors chase the person, strength is famished and calamity waits nearby.
Explanation
The speech piles up nets, snares, traps and a hidden noose. Terrors chase the person, strength is famished and calamity waits nearby. In Job 18:13, Bildad uses the striking phrase “the firstborn of death”, an image of death consuming the body, without further explanation in the passage.
04Security, place and name are removedBildad says the person is rooted out from the security of his tent and brought to “the king of terrors”.
Explanation
Bildad says the person is rooted out from the security of his tent and brought to “the king of terrors”. His dwelling is affected, his roots dry up and his branch is cut off. He is driven from light into darkness and chased out of the world. Even memory, name and descendants disappear, leaving others astonished.
05Bildad’s summaryBildad ends with a direct conclusion. He says these are the dwellings of the unrighteous and the place of one who does not know God.
Explanation
Bildad ends with a direct conclusion. He says these are the dwellings of the unrighteous and the place of one who does not know God. In his own summary, all the earlier images of darkness, traps, fear and removal are presented as the proper end of that kind of person.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does Bildad use the image of light in this speech?
02What different kinds of danger does Bildad list in the middle of the speech?
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Job 18:1–21
1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2“How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
3Why are we counted as animals, which have become unclean in your sight?
4You who tear yourself in your anger, will the earth be forsaken for you? Or will the rock be removed out of its place?
5“Yes, the light of the wicked will be put out. The spark of his fire won’t shine.
6The light will be dark in his tent. His lamp above him will be put out.
7The steps of his strength will be shortened. His own counsel will cast him down.
8For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he wanders into its mesh.
9A snare will take him by the heel. A trap will catch him.
10A noose is hidden for him in the ground, a trap for him on the path.
11Terrors will make him afraid on every side, and will chase him at his heels.
12His strength will be famished. Calamity will be ready at his side.
13The members of his body will be devoured. The firstborn of death will devour his members.
14He will be rooted out of the security of his tent. He will be brought to the king of terrors.
15There will dwell in his tent that which is none of his. Sulfur will be scattered on his habitation.
16His roots will be dried up beneath. His branch will be cut off above.
17His memory will perish from the earth. He will have no name in the street.
18He will be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.
19He will have neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining where he lived.
20Those who come after will be astonished at his day, as those who went before were frightened.
21Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous. This is the place of him who doesn’t know God.”