Job 8:4

If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;

If thy children {H1121} have sinned {H2398} against him, and he have cast them away {H7971} for {H3027} their transgression {H6588};

If your children sinned against him, he left them to be victims of their own offense.

When your children sinned against Him, He gave them over to their rebellion.

If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;

Commentary

Job 8:4 is spoken by Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job's three friends, as he attempts to explain Job's immense suffering. In this verse, Bildad directly addresses the tragic death of Job's children, attributing their demise to their own wrongdoing.

Context

Bildad's speech in Job 8 begins with a stern rebuke of Job, accusing him of uttering "great words" (Job 8:2) and questioning God's justice. Like his friend Eliphaz, Bildad operates from a traditional theological framework known as retribution theology. This belief system held that God always rewards the righteous with prosperity and punishes the wicked with misfortune. From this perspective, Job's calamities, including the death of his children, could only be explained as a direct consequence of sin.

Bildad implies that if Job's children perished, it was because they had sinned against God, and God, in His perfect justice, "cast them away for their transgression." This statement reflects the ancient Near Eastern worldview where calamity was often seen as divine judgment for specific sins.

Key Themes

  • Sin and Suffering: The primary theme Bildad introduces is the direct correlation between sin and suffering. He asserts that the children's "transgression" (Hebrew: pesha', often denoting rebellion or revolt) led to God "casting them away." This is a central point of contention throughout the book of Job, which ultimately challenges this simplistic equation.
  • Divine Justice: Bildad firmly believes in God's absolute justice. For him, God is impeccable and righteous, and therefore, any suffering inflicted must be deserved. He argues that God "doth not pervert judgment" (Job 8:3), implying that Job's children received what they were due.
  • The Friend's Accusation: This verse serves as a direct, albeit indirect, accusation against Job himself. If his children were punished for their sin, then Job's own suffering must similarly be a result of his unconfessed sin.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "transgression" used here, pesha' (׀ּ֢שַׁג), is a strong word. It signifies a deliberate act of rebellion, a breach of trust, or a revolt against authority, rather than merely an accidental error or weakness. This choice of word by Bildad underscores his severe assessment of the children's actions, implying a serious and conscious offense against God that warranted such a harsh divine response.

Practical Application

Job 8:4, while presenting a flawed theological perspective, offers valuable lessons. It reminds us of the human tendency to offer simplistic explanations for complex suffering. We often look for a direct cause-and-effect relationship between sin and calamity, much like Bildad. However, the broader narrative of Job challenges this notion, demonstrating that suffering is not always a direct punishment for personal sin. This verse encourages us to approach those who are suffering with empathy and careful consideration, avoiding quick judgments or unhelpful theological pronouncements. It highlights the importance of understanding the complexities of God's sovereignty and wisdom, which often extend beyond our limited human comprehension.

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Cross-References

  • Job 1:5

    And it was so, when the days of [their] feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings [according] to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

  • Job 1:18

    While he [was] yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

  • Job 1:19

    And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

  • Genesis 19:13

    For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

  • Genesis 19:25

    And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

  • Job 18:16

    His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.

  • Job 18:19

    He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.