Job 18:12

His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction [shall be] ready at his side.

His strength {H202} shall be hungerbitten {H7457}, and destruction {H343} shall be ready {H3559} at his side {H6763}.

"Trouble is hungry for him, calamity ready for his fall;

His strength is depleted, and calamity is ready at his side.

His strength shall be hunger-bitten, And calamity shall be ready at his side.

Commentary

Commentary on Job 18:12 (KJV)

Job 18:12 is a verse from Bildad the Shuhite's second speech to Job, where he continues to assert that Job's immense suffering must be a direct consequence of his wickedness. In this particular verse, Bildad paints a vivid picture of the inevitable and comprehensive downfall of the unrighteous, portraying their strength as diminishing and destruction as ever-present.

Context

This verse is situated within Bildad's response to Job's lamentations and assertions of innocence. The Book of Job explores the profound question of suffering, particularly why righteous people suffer. Job's friends, including Bildad, adhere to the traditional retribution theology prevalent in their time: righteousness leads to blessing, and wickedness leads to suffering. Bildad's speeches (chapters 8, 18, 25) are characterized by his insistence on this principle, often using harsh and generalized descriptions of the wicked to imply Job's guilt. Here, in chapter 18, Bildad describes the fate of the wicked in stark and terrifying terms, focusing on their physical, social, and spiritual ruin. His perspective, which often mirrors the traditional wisdom of the time, suggesting that the wicked inevitably face ruin, a theme also explored in Psalm 73 regarding the prosperity of the wicked versus their ultimate downfall.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Consequences of Wickedness: The primary message is that evil deeds lead to inescapable and severe consequences. Bildad believes God's justice ensures that the wicked are punished, losing all strength and security.
  • Loss of Strength and Vitality: The phrase "His strength shall be hungerbitten" powerfully conveys a deep, gnawing weakness and decay, suggesting not just a lack of nourishment but an internal consumption of one's very being.
  • Imminent Judgment: "Destruction shall be ready at his side" emphasizes the constant, looming threat of calamity. It's not a distant possibility but an ever-present companion, poised to strike. This portrays a sense of inescapable doom for the unrighteous.
  • Divine Retribution: Underlying Bildad's argument is the belief in a just God who metes out appropriate punishment for sin, a common Old Testament theological framework, though misapplied by Job's friends in Job's specific case.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Hungerbitten" (KJV): The Hebrew word is `ra'eb` (Χ¨ΦΈΧ’Φ΅Χ‘), meaning "to be hungry" or "to suffer hunger." When combined with "strength," it paints a picture of power being consumed or eroded by a pervasive, internal lack, suggesting a fundamental and debilitating weakness. It's a vivid metaphor for spiritual or physical decay.
  • "Destruction" (KJV): The Hebrew term is `'Γͺyd` (א֡יד), which broadly refers to calamity, disaster, ruin, or misfortune. The phrase "ready at his side" (literally, "at his hand") suggests an active, proximate threat, always prepared to manifest. Proverbs 1:27 similarly describes calamity coming upon the wicked.

Practical Application

While Bildad's application of this principle to Job was flawed, the verse still carries important truths about the nature of sin and its consequences. Spiritually, engaging in wickedness can indeed erode one's inner strength and peace, leading to a state where "destruction" (whether spiritual, relational, or moral) seems constantly at hand. This verse serves as a stark warning about the dangers of living apart from God's ways. It encourages self-examination and repentance, reminding us that true strength and security are found in a right relationship with God, not in worldly achievements or self-reliance. It also implicitly warns against simplistic judgments of others' suffering, as Job's story ultimately reveals the complexity of God's ways beyond human understanding. This contrasts sharply with Job's own steadfast faith amidst suffering, as seen when he declares, 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.'

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Cross-References

  • 2 Peter 2:3

    ΒΆ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  • Psalms 7:12

    If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

  • Psalms 7:14

    Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

  • 1 Samuel 2:36

    And it shall come to pass, [that] every one that is left in thine house shall come [and] crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

  • Psalms 109:10

    Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek [their bread] also out of their desolate places.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:3

    For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

  • Isaiah 8:21

    And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.