Job 4:8-9

8 As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.
9 At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.

Job 4:8-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 4

Job's sore afflictions, and his behaviour under them, laid the foundation of a dispute between him and his three friends, which begins in this chapter, and is carried on to the end of the thirty first; when Elihu starts up as a moderator between them, and the controversy is at last decided by God himself. Eliphaz first enters the list with Job, Job 4:1; introduces what he had to say in a preface, with some show of tenderness, friendship, and respect, Job 4:2; observes his former conduct in his prosperity, by instructing many, strengthening weak hands and feeble knees, and supporting stumbling and falling ones, Job 4:3,4; with what view all this is observed may be easily seen, since he immediately takes notice of his present behaviour, so different from the former, Job 4:5; and insults his profession of faith and hope in God, and fear of him, Job 4:6; and suggests that he was a bad man, and an hypocrite; and which he grounds upon this supposition, that no good man was ever destroyed by the Lord; for the truth of which he appeals to Job himself, Job 4:7; and confirms it by his own experience and observation, Job 4:8-11; and strengthens it by a vision he had in the night, in which the holiness and justice of God, and the mean and low condition of men, are declared, Job 4:12-21; and therefore it was wrong in Job to insinuate any injustice in God or in his providence, and a piece of weakness and folly to contend with him.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Job 5:3; Job 15:17
  • 2. Judges 14:18; Job 5:6; Job 15:35; Psalms 7:14; Isaiah 59:4
  • 3. Psalms 7:15; Psalms 9:15; Proverbs 11:18; Proverbs 22:8; Isaiah 17:11; Hosea 8:7; Hosea 10:13; Galatians 6:7-8
  • 4. S Exodus 15:10; S Job 41:21; Job 15:30; Isaiah 30:33; 2 Thessalonians 2:8
  • 5. S Leviticus 26:38; Job 40:13; Isaiah 25:7
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