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Bildad: Man Cannot Be Righteous
Bildad’s short reply speaks about God’s greatness and human smallness. In a few lines, he asks how any human could be counted clean or righteous before God, using the heavens to make his point.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage is part of a dialogue in Job. The speaker is Bildad the Shuhite, and these verses record his answer. He speaks about God’s rule, God’s fearful power, God’s light, and then compares human beings with the moon and stars in God’s sight.
Job 25:1–6Main takeaway
Bildad’s words stress the greatness of God and the weakness of human beings before him.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Bildad begins his answerThe passage opens by identifying the speaker: “Bildad the Shuhite answered”. This matters because the verses are part of a dialogue, not a direct statement from the narrator.
Explanation
The passage opens by identifying the speaker: “Bildad the Shuhite answered”. This matters because the verses are part of a dialogue, not a direct statement from the narrator. We are hearing Bildad’s response, and the rest of the passage explains his view about God and human beings.
02God has dominion and inspires fearBildad first speaks about God’s authority. “Dominion” points to rule or power, and “fear” shows the awe connected with him.
Explanation
Bildad first speaks about God’s authority. “Dominion” points to rule or power, and “fear” shows the awe connected with him. Bildad also says God “makes peace in his high places”, presenting God as one whose rule reaches the highest places and brings order there.
03God’s reach is beyond countingBildad then uses two questions. He asks whether God’s armies can be counted and on whom God’s light does not arise.
Explanation
Bildad then uses two questions. He asks whether God’s armies can be counted and on whom God’s light does not arise. The questions suggest God’s power is too great to measure, and God’s light reaches everywhere Bildad has in view. This strengthens his description of God’s greatness.
04Bildad’s question about human righteousnessAfter describing God, Bildad turns to people. He asks how a man can be just with God, or how one “born of a woman” can be clean.
Explanation
After describing God, Bildad turns to people. He asks how a man can be just with God, or how one “born of a woman” can be clean. In this passage, that phrase refers to an ordinary human being. Bildad is contrasting human weakness with God’s greatness.
05The moon, stars, and human smallnessBildad says that even the moon has no brightness and the stars are not pure in God’s sight.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What words does Bildad use to describe God’s rule in this passage?
02How does Bildad move from talking about God to talking about people?
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Job 25:1–6
1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,
2“Dominion and fear are with him. He makes peace in his high places.
3Can his armies be counted? On whom does his light not arise?
4How then can man be just with God? Or how can he who is born of a woman be clean?
5Behold, even the moon has no brightness, and the stars are not pure in his sight;
6How much less man, who is a worm, and the son of man, who is a worm!”