Job 8:22

KJV

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.

KJV (with Strong's)

They that hate {H8130} thee shall be clothed {H3847} with shame {H1322}; and the dwelling {H168} place of the wicked {H7563} shall come to nought {H369}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will cease to exist."

Berean Standard Bible

Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

American Standard Version

They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 8:22, a declaration from Bildad the Shuhite, articulates a core tenet of ancient retribution theology: those who oppose the righteous will inevitably face profound public humiliation, and all that the wicked establish will ultimately dissolve into nothingness. Within his first discourse to Job, this verse serves as a forceful assertion of divine justice, implying that Job's immense suffering must stem from unconfessed sin, and that only repentance can lead to restoration and escape from such a dire fate.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the concluding and emphatic statement of Bildad's initial speech in the book of Job, specifically [Job chapter 8](/job/8 "Job 8 - Bildad's First Discourse"). Following Eliphaz's more subtle accusations, Bildad presents a more rigid and dogmatic defense of traditional wisdom. He begins by questioning Job's integrity, suggesting that God does not pervert justice ([Job 8:3](/job/8-3 "Job 8:3 - God's Justice is Unwavering")). He then posits that Job's children must have sinned to have perished ([Job 8:4](/job/8-4 "Job 8:4 - Bildad on the Fate of Job's Children")), and conversely, if Job himself is pure and seeks God, he will be restored to prosperity and joy ([Job 8:5-7](/job/8-5-7 "Job 8:5-7 - Bildad's Promise of Restoration")). Bildad's entire argument is predicated on the belief that suffering is a direct, predictable consequence of sin, and therefore, Job's affliction is undeniable proof of his guilt. Verse 22 acts as the culmination of this argument, providing a stark, universal principle of the fate awaiting those who are wicked or who set themselves against the righteous.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Bildad's theological framework is deeply embedded in the ancient Near Eastern concept of retribution, a prevalent worldview where divine justice was understood to operate in a straightforward, immediate, and observable manner. In this cultural paradigm, material prosperity, health, and social standing were widely interpreted as clear indicators of divine favor and righteousness, while suffering, illness, or misfortune were almost invariably seen as direct punishments for sin or moral transgression. This perspective, while containing a foundational truth about God's justice, often failed to account for the complexities of human experience, the role of testing, or the suffering of the innocent. It fostered a legalistic approach to faith, where adherence to external laws was believed to guarantee blessings, and any deviation resulted in curses. Bildad, like Job's other companions, struggles to reconcile Job's apparent righteousness with his profound suffering, leading them to misapply this retribution principle dogmatically, unable to conceive of an innocent sufferer.
* **Key Themes:** Job 8:22 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job. The most prominent is **Divine Retribution**, which forms the bedrock of the friends' arguments; they firmly believe God's justice is always immediate and visible, punishing the wicked and rewarding the righteous. This verse specifically highlights **Public Shame and Humiliation**, as to be "clothed with shame" is a vivid idiom for complete and undeniable disgrace, implying the public exposure and ruin of the wicked's reputation and status. Furthermore, the declaration that "the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought" emphasizes **The Ephemeral Nature of Wickedness** and its achievements. It suggests that all the wicked build—their power, wealth, and legacy—is ultimately transient and destined for utter destruction, contrasting sharply with the enduring stability Bildad promises to the upright if they return to God ([Job 8:6](/job/8-6 "Job 8:6 - God's Promise to the Upright")). This theme resonates deeply with other wisdom literature, such as the frequent contrasts found in [Psalm 37](/psalm/37 "Psalm 37 - The Destiny of the Righteous and the Wicked") between the fleeting prosperity of the wicked and the enduring inheritance of the righteous.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **clothed (Hebrew, _lâbash'_):** From H3847, this primitive root means "to wrap around, i.e., to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively." In this context, its use in "clothed with shame" is figurative, emphasizing the complete and inescapable envelopment of the person by shame, making it their defining characteristic and public appearance. It signifies a profound, visible, and inescapable state.
* **shame (Hebrew, _bôsheth'_):** From H1322, this noun refers to "shame (the feeling and the condition, as well as its cause)." It encompasses both the internal experience of disgrace and its external manifestation, often implying public humiliation and confusion. When one is "clothed" with _bôsheth_, it means their disgrace is not merely a private feeling but a public, undeniable reality that covers them entirely, stripping them of honor and dignity.
* **nought (Hebrew, _ʼayin'_):** From H369, this word signifies "a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle." It conveys the idea of "nothing," "non-existent," or "without." When applied to "the dwelling place of the wicked," it denotes utter annihilation, emptiness, and complete disappearance. It implies that not only will the wicked themselves be destroyed, but everything they have built—their legacy, power, and very existence—will dissolve into nothingness, leaving no trace behind. This term underscores the complete and irreversible destruction of the wicked's influence and achievements.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame":** This clause pronounces a severe judgment upon the adversaries of the "thee," which in Bildad's argument refers to the righteous individual, implicitly Job if he were to repent. The powerful imagery of being "clothed with shame" denotes a public, complete, and inescapable humiliation. It suggests that those who harbor animosity or actively oppose the upright will ultimately face a profound reversal of fortune, where their malicious intentions or actions will lead to their own disgrace and public exposure. This is a statement of divine vindication for the righteous and undeniable public disgrace for their enemies.
* **"and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought":** This second clause describes the ultimate and comprehensive fate of the wicked. "The dwelling place" (Hebrew: _ʼôhel_) represents more than just a physical house; it encompasses all that the wicked have accumulated—their security, their power, their legacy, their lineage, and their entire sphere of influence and accomplishments. The phrase "shall come to nought" (Hebrew: _ʼayin_) signifies its utter destruction, disappearance, and non-existence. It means that all the wicked have built will be dismantled, their achievements rendered meaningless, and their very memory erased, emphasizing the transient and ultimately futile nature of a life lived apart from God's righteousness.

#### Literary Devices
Job 8:22 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with striking force. The most prominent is **Metaphor**, vividly expressed in the phrase "clothed with shame," which portrays shame not merely as an internal emotion but as an external garment that completely envelops and defines a person. This imagery underscores the public, inescapable, and all-consuming nature of the wicked's disgrace. The verse also utilizes **Parallelism**, specifically **Synthetic Parallelism**, where the second line ("and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought") expands upon and intensifies the thought of the first line ("They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame"). While both clauses speak of the wicked's downfall, the second broadens the scope from personal humiliation to the complete annihilation of their legacy and influence. Furthermore, the phrase "shall come to nought" functions as a powerful **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the absolute and irreversible destruction of the wicked's achievements, suggesting an utter dissolution into non-existence that transcends mere ruin. These devices combine to create a forceful and memorable declaration of divine retribution, characteristic of ancient wisdom literature.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While Bildad's application of this principle to Job was ultimately flawed and challenged by the narrative's unfolding, the underlying biblical truth concerning God's ultimate justice and the consequences of unrepentant wickedness remains profound. The Bible consistently affirms that evil will not triumph indefinitely and that God will ultimately set all things right, often in ways beyond human comprehension. This verse, therefore, speaks to the assurance that though the wicked may flourish for a time, their prosperity is fleeting, and their ultimate end is destruction and disgrace. For the righteous, it offers a promise of vindication and hope that their adversaries will not prevail, reinforcing the wisdom of living righteously, as the path of wickedness leads to ruin, while the path of the righteous leads to lasting peace and stability rooted in God's eternal character.

* [Psalm 37:2](/psalm/37-2 "Psalm 37:2 - The Wicked Fade Like Grass")
* [Psalm 73:18-19](/psalm/73-18-19 "Psalm 73:18-19 - The Slippery Paths of the Wicked")
* [Proverbs 11:5](/proverbs/11-5 "Proverbs 11:5 - The Righteousness of the Upright")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 8:22, though spoken from a theological premise that the book itself ultimately refines, compels us to reflect deeply on the nature of divine justice and the ultimate destiny of those who set themselves against God's ways or His people. It challenges us to examine where our trust is placed: in transient earthly achievements and fleeting power, or in the enduring righteousness that comes from God alone. While we must exercise caution against applying a simplistic retribution theology to every instance of suffering, the verse serves as a potent reminder that God is indeed just and that there are eternal consequences for unrepentant wickedness. It encourages us to persevere in righteousness, even when facing adversity or witnessing the apparent, temporary prosperity of the wicked, knowing that God's ultimate judgment will bring about a reversal of fortunes, where all hidden things will be revealed, and true, perfect justice will prevail. It calls us to align our lives with God's character and truth, seeking His approval and eternal kingdom rather than the fleeting accolades or temporary gains of the world, for only what is built on His truth will endure.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of being "clothed with shame" impact your understanding of public disgrace and the ultimate nature of divine judgment?**
* **In what ways might we, like Bildad, be tempted to oversimplify God's justice or His dealings with suffering in our own lives or when judging others?**
* **How does the promise that "the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought" encourage you when you observe injustice seemingly prevailing in the world?**
* **What does this verse, when understood within the broader biblical narrative, teach us about the enduring value of righteousness versus the fleeting nature of worldly success and power?**

### FAQ
**What is Bildad's main point in Job 8:22, and is it accurate in the broader biblical context?**

Answer: Bildad's main point in [Job 8:22](/job/8-22 "Job 8:22 - The Shame and Ruin of the Wicked") is to assert a rigid, predictable system of divine retribution: those who "hate thee" (meaning the righteous) will inevitably be clothed with shame, and the "dwelling place of the wicked" will come to nought. He uses this principle as a foundational argument to suggest that Job's immense suffering must be a direct consequence of his sin, implying that if Job repents and seeks God, he will be restored. While the Bible consistently affirms God's ultimate justice and the eventual downfall of the wicked (e.g., [Psalm 37:1-2](/psalm/37-1-2 "Psalm 37:1-2 - Do Not Fret Because of Evildoers")), Bildad's application of this principle is flawed in Job's specific case. The book of Job ultimately refutes the simplistic notion that all suffering is a direct, linear result of personal sin, demonstrating that God's ways are far more complex, multifaceted, and often beyond human comprehension ([Job 40:1-2](/job/40-1-2 "Job 40:1-2 - The Lord Challenges Job")). Thus, while Bildad's theology contains elements of truth about God's character and justice, his dogmatic and narrow application to Job's unique circumstances proves to be inaccurate and insufficient to explain the mystery of suffering.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Job 8:22 speaks of the shame and destruction awaiting the wicked, its ultimate and most profound fulfillment is found in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "shame" spoken of by Bildad is a powerful foreshadowing of the ultimate disgrace and decisive defeat of sin, death, and the devil through Christ's atoning sacrifice. On the cross, Jesus, the perfectly righteous one, willingly bore the ultimate shame and curse of humanity, becoming sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")) so that we, through faith, might be clothed with His spotless righteousness. His resurrection then signaled the decisive "coming to nought" of the dwelling place of the wicked—the kingdom of darkness, its power over humanity, and the works of the devil. The cross and resurrection represent the ultimate vindication of God's justice, not merely through a simplistic retribution model, but through a redemptive act that utterly disarmed and triumphed over the spiritual powers of evil ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers and Authorities")). Thus, those who "hate" God and His Anointed One will indeed ultimately be clothed with eternal shame, and their works and kingdoms will come to nought, for Christ has established an eternal, indestructible kingdom that will never be overthrown ([Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Everlasting Kingdom")). In Christ, the promise of the righteous being eternally vindicated and the wicked being utterly shamed is perfectly and eternally realized, not just as a principle, but as a historical, cosmic, and redemptive reality.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 132:18

His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

Psalms 109:29

Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

Psalms 35:26

Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me.

Job 18:14

His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.

Job 8:18

If he destroy him from his place, then [it] shall deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.

Job 7:21

And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I [shall] not [be].

1 Peter 5:5

¶ Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.