Job 18:11

¶ Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.

Terrors {H1091} shall make him afraid {H1204} on every side {H5439}, and shall drive {H6327} him to his feet {H7272}.

Terrors overwhelm him on every side and scatter about his feet.

Terrors frighten him on every side and harass his every step.

Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, And shall chase him at his heels.

Context

This verse is part of Bildad the Shuhite's second speech in the book of Job (Job 18:1-21). Bildad is one of Job's three friends who have come to "comfort" him in his immense suffering. However, their comfort quickly turns into accusations, as they adhere to the traditional wisdom theology of their day: righteousness leads to prosperity, and wickedness leads to suffering. In this chapter, Bildad paints a grim picture of the wicked person's inevitable downfall, describing how they are plagued by terror and their lamp is extinguished. He implies that Job's suffering is a direct consequence of his hidden sin, a claim Job vehemently denies throughout the book. This speech contributes to the central debate in Job concerning divine justice and the nature of human suffering, challenging the simplistic cause-and-effect theology presented by Job's friends. For more on Bildad's perspective, see his first speech in Job 8:3.

Key Themes

  • Inescapable Dread: Bildad asserts that the wicked are constantly surrounded by fear. The phrase "on every side" emphasizes the pervasive and inescapable nature of the terror that he claims afflicts those who live unrighteously. It suggests a life devoid of peace, marked by constant apprehension and insecurity.
  • Loss of Rest and Agitation: To be "driven him to his feet" implies an inability to find rest or peace. It suggests a state of perpetual agitation, being startled, or forced into desperate action, perhaps flight, due to overwhelming fear. This contrasts sharply with the peace and security often associated with the righteous in ancient wisdom literature.
  • Consequences of Wickedness (Bildad's View): From Bildad's perspective, this verse is a declaration of the just consequences for those who rebel against God's ways. He believes that internal and external terrors are part of the divine retribution against the wicked, serving as a warning and a testament to God's judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "terrors" (בַּלָּהוֹת, ballahoth) denotes great dread, sudden alarms, or frights. It conveys a sense of overwhelming, often divinely sent, fear. The phrase "shall drive him to his feet" (יְבַלְּעֻהוּ לְרַגְלָיו, yevalla'uhu leraglav) literally means "they shall swallow him up to his feet" or "they shall consume him to his feet." This vivid imagery suggests that the terrors are so overwhelming they consume the individual, forcing them into a desperate, exposed stance, unable to escape or find refuge.

Practical Application

While Bildad's theology is ultimately shown to be flawed in the book of Job, this verse highlights a psychological and spiritual truth: a life lived in rebellion against moral principles or divine truth can indeed lead to inner turmoil and fear. A conscience burdened by wrongdoing often creates a sense of being perpetually "afraid on every side," unable to find true peace or rest. In contrast, the Scriptures teach that true peace comes from a right relationship with God and a clear conscience. As the apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:7, the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, is a blessing for those who trust in Him, offering a profound sense of security even amidst outward trials.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Job 15:21

    A dreadful sound [is] in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

  • Jeremiah 6:25

    Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy [and] fear [is] on every side.

  • Leviticus 26:36

    And upon them that are left [alive] of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

  • Jeremiah 49:29

    Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear [is] on every side.

  • Job 20:25

    It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors [are] upon him.

  • Jeremiah 46:5

    Wherefore have I seen them dismayed [and] turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: [for] fear [was] round about, saith the LORD.

  • Psalms 53:5

    There were they in great fear, [where] no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth [against] thee: thou hast put [them] to shame, because God hath despised them.

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