Bible Commentaries
Job 18

Verse 1

answered. See note on Job 4:1 . Bildad. See note on Job 2:11 .

Verse 2

How long . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . an end: or, a perversion.

Verse 3

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

vile: or, stupid.

your sight. Septuagint and Syriac read "thine eyes".

Verse 4

himself = his soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

shall. ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

Verse 5

light. The reference is to the universal practice of burning a light during the night.

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha. App-44 .

Verse 6

dark. Hebrew. hashak: see note on Job 3:6 ; showing that the man is dead, and not alive to keep the light burning.

tabernacle = tent.

candle = lamp.

with him = over him: see note on "dark", above.

Verse 7

steps of his strength = his firm step. Genitive of character. App-17 .

Verse 8

walketh = walketh habitually.

Verse 9

the gin = a gin. Authorized Version, 1611, reads "grin" = a snare. Same meaning, but now obsolete.

the = a

robber = noose.

Verse 10

laid = hidden.

Verse 11

drive him to his feet = follow at his feet. Compare 1 Samuel 25:42 .

Verse 12

strength, &c. i.e. shall be weakened by hunger. Same word as Job 18:7 , not same as Job 18:13 .

Verse 13

strength = parts or members of his body.

skin. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the whole body. Compare Exodus 22:26 .

firstborn of death: i.e. the chief, or worst, or cruellest death. Figure of speech Euphemismos. App-6 .

Verse 14

king of terrors. Euphemy, for death.

Verse 15

It: i.e. every one of the terrors.

none of his = not, indeed, his own.

Verse 19

nephew = grandson (Judges 12:14 ).

Verse 20

day. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the thing done in the day: i.e. his fall.

Verse 21

wicked. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 . Occurs elsewhere only in Job 27:7 ; Job 29:17 ; Job 31:3 , and Zephaniah 3:5 .

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .