Job 8:19

Behold, this [is] the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

Behold, this is the joy {H4885} of his way {H1870}, and out of the earth {H6083} shall others {H312} grow {H6779}.

Yes, this is the "joy" of the way [of the godless], and out of the dust will spring up others [like him].'

Surely this is the joy of his way; yet others will spring from the dust.

Behold, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth shall others spring.

Commentary

Job 8:19 is a verse from the speech of Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job's three friends. In this passage, Bildad is presenting his conventional understanding of divine justice, arguing that the wicked inevitably perish and are forgotten, while the righteous are restored.

Context

Bildad's argument in Job chapter 8 centers on the idea that God is just and does not pervert justice (Job 8:3). He implies that Job's immense suffering must be a consequence of his sin, and that if Job were truly righteous, God would restore him. Bildad compares the wicked to a plant that flourishes briefly but then withers and is cut down (Job 8:11-13). Verse 19 concludes this specific thought, emphasizing the complete ephemerality and eventual erasure of the wicked person.

Key Themes

  • The Transience of Wicked Prosperity: Bildad suggests that the "joy" of the wicked's way is ultimately their swift and complete destruction. Their success is fleeting, like a plant that quickly dies and is replaced.
  • Divine Justice (from a conventional perspective): This verse reflects the traditional belief held by Job's friends that God immediately and visibly punishes evil, and that prosperity is always a sign of righteousness. The book of Job as a whole challenges this simplistic view, revealing the deeper mysteries of God's ways and human suffering.
  • Replacement and Oblivion: The phrase "out of the earth shall others grow" highlights that once the wicked are removed, they are not only forgotten, but their very place is quickly filled by new growth, symbolizing their complete insignificance and the world moving on without them.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Behold, this [is] the joy of his way" can be understood ironically or as a statement about the culmination or end of the wicked person's path. While the Hebrew word for "joy" (Χ©Φ΄Χ‚ΧžΦ°Χ—ΦΈΧ”, simchah) is used, in this context, it refers to the grim end or outcome of the wicked's life, which is destruction. It's not a true, lasting joy but the consequence of their chosen path. The subsequent phrase, "and out of the earth shall others grow," paints a picture of complete erasure and replacement, where new life simply springs from the ground where the wicked once stood, as if they never existed.

Practical Application

While Bildad's theology is ultimately shown to be flawed in the book of Job, this verse still offers a cautionary insight: worldly success gained through unrighteous means is often fleeting and does not lead to lasting fulfillment. True and enduring joy comes not from temporary earthly gains but from a relationship with God and living according to His principles. We are reminded not to envy the apparent prosperity of the wicked (as seen in Psalm 73), but to trust in God's ultimate justice and His eternal plan.

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Cross-References

  • Job 20:5

    That the triumphing of the wicked [is] short, and the joy of the hypocrite [but] for a moment?

  • Psalms 113:7

    He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

  • 1 Samuel 2:8

    He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

  • Matthew 13:20

    But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

  • Matthew 13:21

    Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

  • Ezekiel 17:24

    And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done [it].

  • Psalms 75:7

    But God [is] the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
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