Job 18:8-18

8 For he hath thrust his feet into a net, and walketh in its meshes.

9 The sole of his foot shall be held in a snare, and thirst shall burn against him.

10 A gin is hidden for him in the earth, and his trap upon the path.

11 Fears shall terrify him on every side, and shall entangle his feet.

12 Let his strength be wasted with famine, and let hunger invade his ribs.

13 Let it devour the beauty of his skin, let the firstborn death consume his arms.

14 Let his confidence be rooted out of his tabernacle, and let destruction tread upon him like a king.

15 Let the companions of him that is not, dwell in his tabernacle, let brimstone be sprinkled in his tent.

16 Let his roots be dried up beneath, and his harvest destroyed above.

17 Let the memory of him perish from the earth, and let not his name be renowned in the streets.

18 He shall drive him out of light into darkness, and shall remove him out of the world.

Job 18:8-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 18

In this chapter is Bildad's second reply to Job, in which he falls with great fury upon him, very sharply inveighs against him, and very highly charges him; the charges he brings against him are talkativeness and inattention to what was said to him, Job 18:1,2; contempt of his friends, impatience under his affliction, and pride and arrogance, as if the whole world, the course of nature and providence, and God himself all must give way to him, Job 18:3,4; nevertheless, he is assured of the miserable state of a wicked man, sooner or later, which is described by the extinction of his light of prosperity, Job 18:5,6; by the defeat of his counsels, being ensnared in a net laid for him, Job 18:7-10; by the terrible judgments of the sword, famine, and pestilence, by one or the other of which he is brought to death, the king of terrors, Job 18:11-14; by the destruction of his habitation and of his posterity, so that he has none to hear his name, or perpetuate his memory, Job 18:15-17; by his being driven out of the world, leaving no issue behind him, to the astonishment of all that knew him, Job 18:18-20; and the chapter is closed with this observation, that this is the common case of wicked and irreligious persons, Job 18:21.