Job 4:8

8 Accordingly as I have seen men ploughing barren places, and they that sow them will reap sorrows for themselves.

Job 4:8 Meaning and Commentary

Job 4:8

Even as I have seen
Here he goes about to prove, by his own experience, the destruction of wicked men; and would intimate, that Job was such an one, because of the ruin he was fallen into:

they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same;
figurative expressions, denoting that such who devise iniquity in their hearts, form and plan schemes of it in their minds, signified by "plowing iniquity", and who were studious and diligent to put into practice what they devised; who took a great deal of pains to commit sin, and were constant at it, expressed by "sowing wickedness": these sooner or later eat the fruit of their doings, are punished in proportion to their crimes, even in this life, as well as hereafter, see ( Hosea 8:7 ) ( 10:13 ) ( Galatians 6:7 Galatians 6:8 ) ; though a Jewish commentator ^F2 observes, that the thought of sin is designed by the first phrase; the endeavour to bring it into action by the second; and the finishing of the work, or the actual commission of the evil, by the third; the punishment thereof being what is expressed in ( Job 4:9 ) ; the Targum applies this to the generation of the flood.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F2 R. Simeon Bar Tzemach.

Job 4:8 In-Context

6 Is not thy fear in folly, thy hope also, and the mischief of thy way?

7 Remember then who has perished, being pure? or when were the true-hearted utterly destroyed?

8 Accordingly as I have seen men ploughing barren places, and they that sow them will reap sorrows for themselves.

9 They shall perish by the command of the Lord, and shall be utterly consumed by the breath of his wrath.

10 The strength of the lion, and the voice of the lioness, and the exulting cry of serpents are quenched.