King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
Complete Jewish Bible:
His vigorous stride is shortened, his own plans make him trip and fall.
Berean Standard Bible:
His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up.
American Standard Version:
The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own counsel shall cast him down.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
The steps{H6806} of his strength{H202} shall be straitened{H3334}, and his own counsel{H6098} shall cast him down{H7993}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Proverbs 4:12
- When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Psalms 18:36
- Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
Hosea 10:6
- It shall be also carried unto Assyria [for] a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
Job 5:12
- He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform [their] enterprise.
Job 5:13
- He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
Job 20:22
- In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.
Job 36:16
- Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait [into] a broad place, where [there is] no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table [should be] full of fatness.
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Commentary for Job 18:7
The verse Job 18:7 is part of the dialogue in the Book of Job, a poetic narrative that deals with the themes of suffering, faith, and the nature of divine justice. Job, a righteous man, has lost everything—his wealth, his children, and his health—and is struggling to understand why God has allowed such calamities to befall him. In this particular verse, Bildad, one of Job's friends, is speaking. Bildad is attempting to explain Job's misfortunes by asserting that the wicked will inevitably face ruin as a consequence of their actions.
In the verse, "The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down," Bildad is using metaphorical language to describe the downfall of the arrogant or wicked. The "steps of his strength" refers to the progress or advancement of a person's power or vigor. Bildad suggests that these steps will become "straitened," meaning constricted or confined, implying that the wicked will find their power and influence diminished. Furthermore, "his own counsel shall cast him down" indicates that the wicked person's downfall will be self-inflicted, a result of his own poor decisions or misguided advice.
The historical context of the Book of Job is somewhat uncertain, but it is believed to have been written during or after the Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE). The wisdom literature of this period often grappled with questions of theodicy—why a good God permits the existence of evil and suffering. Job 18:7 reflects the ancient Near Eastern belief that there is a moral order to the universe, and that ultimately, the wicked will be punished and the righteous vindicated, a theme that resonates with the broader ethical teachings of the Hebrew Bible. However, the Book of Job as a whole challenges simplistic understandings of retributive justice, as Job's suffering is not a direct punishment for his sins, but rather a test of his faith and integrity.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6806
There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צַעַד
Transliteration: tsaʻad
Pronunciation: tsah'-ad
Description: from צַנְתָּרָה; a pace or regular step; pace, step. - Strong's Number: H202
There are 707 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אוֹן
Transliteration: ʼôwn
Pronunciation: one
Description: probably from the same as אָוֶן (in the sense of effort, but successful); ability, power, (figuratively) wealth; force, goods, might, strength, substance. - Strong's Number: H3334
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָצַר
Transliteration: yâtsar
Pronunciation: yaw-tsar'
Description: a primitive root; to press (intransitive), i.e. be narrow; figuratively, be in distress; be distressed, be narrow, be straitened (in straits), be vexed. - Strong's Number: H6098
There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵצָה
Transliteration: ʻêtsâh
Pronunciation: ay-tsaw'
Description: from יָעַץ; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence; advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose. - Strong's Number: H7993
There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַךְ
Transliteration: shâlak
Pronunciation: shaw-lak
Description: a primitive root; to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively); adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw.