Job 8:8

KJV

¶ For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

KJV (with Strong's)

For enquire {H7592}, I pray thee, of the former {H7223}{H7223} age {H1755}, and prepare {H3559} thyself to the search {H2714} of their fathers {H1}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"Ask the older generation, and consider what their ancestors found out;

Berean Standard Bible

Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.

American Standard Version

For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Job 8:8, Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job's three friends, challenges Job to consult the wisdom of previous generations. This verse encapsulates Bildad's unwavering adherence to the traditional retribution theology, asserting that Job's profound suffering must be a direct consequence of his sin. His counsel reflects a common ancient Near Eastern reverence for ancestral knowledge and established customs as the definitive source of truth regarding divine justice and the order of the world, contrasting sharply with Job's inexplicable experience of innocent suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 8:8 is situated early in Bildad's first discourse, following Job's passionate lament in [Job 6-7](/job/6 "Job 6-7 - Job's Lament and Defense") where he expresses his anguish and asserts his innocence, even challenging God. Bildad's speech, like Eliphaz's before him in [Job 4-5](/job/4 "Job 4-5 - Eliphaz's First Speech"), operates from the prevailing theological framework of their time: the righteous prosper, and the wicked suffer. Bildad begins by accusing Job of speaking "a mighty wind" ([Job 8:2](/job/8-2 "Job 8:2 - Bildad's Rebuke of Job")) and then, after suggesting Job's children sinned ([Job 8:4](/job/8-4 "Job 8:4 - Bildad Implies Job's Children Sinned")), he urges Job to "seek unto God betimes" ([Job 8:5](/job/8-5 "Job 8:5 - Bildad's Call for Job to Seek God")). The appeal to "the former age" and "their fathers" in verse 8 serves as the cornerstone of Bildad's argument, providing an external, seemingly irrefutable authority for his rigid understanding of divine justice, which he believes Job has violated.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, ancestral wisdom and the teachings of elders held immense authority. Societies were largely oral, and knowledge was passed down through generations, often enshrined in proverbs, legal codes, and religious traditions. The "fathers" or "ancients" were seen as repositories of accumulated experience and divine insight, and their understanding of the world, including the ways of the gods, was considered foundational and unquestionable. To "enquire of the former age" was not merely an academic exercise but an appeal to a sacred, established order. This cultural reverence for tradition explains why Bildad, in his attempt to counsel Job, immediately turns to this wellspring of accepted truth rather than considering the unique, unprecedented nature of Job's suffering.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several major themes within the book of Job. Firstly, it highlights **The Authority of Tradition**, showcasing how deeply Bildad and his friends rely on inherited wisdom as the ultimate arbiter of truth, particularly concerning divine retribution. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **Seeking Understanding**, as Bildad exhorts Job to diligently investigate established knowledge to comprehend his situation. While seemingly noble, this search is framed within a limited, human-centric theological system. Finally, and most crucially, the verse implicitly foreshadows the book's overarching theme of the **Inadequacy of Human Wisdom** to fully grasp God's complex nature and purposes. The friends' unwavering reliance on conventional wisdom leads them to misinterpret Job's situation and God's character, a flaw for which God later rebukes them directly in [Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends"), stating they have not spoken what is right about Him.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Enquire (Hebrew, _dārash'_):** This verb means "to seek," "to search," "to inquire," or "to consult." It implies a diligent, purposeful investigation, often with a religious or legal connotation, seeking knowledge or a divine oracle. Here, it is an imperative, a command from Bildad to Job, urging him to actively and thoroughly delve into established wisdom, not merely to passively receive it.
* **Former age (Hebrew, _dōr rishōn'_):** Literally "first generation" or "earliest generation." This phrase emphasizes the deep antiquity and foundational nature of the wisdom Bildad is referencing. It suggests a time close to the origins of knowledge, implying a purer, more authoritative understanding of divine principles. It's not just "old" but "original" or "primary" wisdom.
* **Fathers (Hebrew, _'ābōt'_):** Refers to ancestors or forefathers. In ancient cultures, the "fathers" were the source of inherited wisdom, traditions, and laws. Their accumulated experience and teachings were considered infallible and binding. Bildad's appeal to "their fathers" reinforces the idea that the truth he presents is not his own invention but a venerable, time-tested heritage.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age":** Bildad initiates his counsel by urging Job to consult the wisdom of antiquity. The "For" (Hebrew _kî_) introduces the reason or basis for his argument, suggesting that the wisdom of the past will validate his claims. The phrase "I pray thee" (Hebrew _nā'_) is a polite but firm request, conveying an earnest desire for Job to heed this advice. This opening clause sets the stage for Bildad's argument from authority, positing that the answers to Job's suffering lie not in his personal experience but in the collective understanding of generations past.
* **"and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers":** This second clause reinforces and expands upon the first. "Prepare thyself" (Hebrew _kûn_) implies a deliberate, intentional effort, a mental and spiritual readiness for a serious investigation. The "search of their fathers" refers to the diligent examination of the teachings, experiences, and traditions handed down by previous generations. It's not a casual glance but a deep dive into the established body of knowledge. This parallelism emphasizes the importance Bildad places on tradition as the ultimate guide for understanding God's ways and the principles governing life.

#### Literary Devices
Bildad's speech in Job 8:8 employs several significant literary devices. The most prominent is the **Argument from Authority**, where Bildad appeals to the established wisdom of "the former age" and "their fathers" as an irrefutable source of truth. This device is central to his rhetorical strategy, attempting to silence Job's personal lament with the weight of communal, time-honored understanding. The verse also uses **Parallelism** in its two clauses ("enquire...of the former age" and "prepare thyself to the search of their fathers"), which effectively reiterates and intensifies the call for diligent investigation into ancestral wisdom. Furthermore, Bildad uses **Apostrophe**, directly addressing Job with the imperative "enquire, I pray thee," making his counsel personal and direct, though ultimately unhelpful. The entire verse functions as a **Rhetorical Question** in disguise, implying that if Job would only consult this ancient wisdom, he would find the clear answer to his suffering, namely, his sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Bildad's counsel in Job 8:8 highlights a fundamental tension within biblical theology: the relationship between inherited tradition and direct divine revelation. While the Bible often commends learning from the past and honoring the wisdom of elders, it also consistently critiques human traditions when they contradict or supersede God's revealed truth. Bildad's error lies not in valuing ancestral wisdom *per se*, but in elevating it to an infallible standard that rigidly defines God's actions, thereby limiting His sovereignty and complexity. His theology of retribution, though deeply ingrained in ancient thought, proved inadequate to explain Job's unique suffering, demonstrating that even long-held beliefs must yield to God's greater, often mysterious, purposes. This verse thus serves as a theological warning against allowing human systems of thought, no matter how ancient or respected, to constrain our understanding of God.

* [Deuteronomy 32:7](/deuteronomy/32-7 "Remember the Days of Old")
* [Psalm 78:3-4](/psalm/78-3 "Passing on God's Deeds to Generations")
* [Matthew 15:1-9](/matthew/15-1 "Jesus Rebukes Tradition Over Commandment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 8:8 encourages us to consider the sources of our understanding, particularly regarding life's most profound mysteries like suffering, justice, and God's character. While there is immense value in learning from the wisdom of those who have gone before us—whether through historical accounts, theological traditions, or the testimonies of our spiritual ancestors—this verse also subtly cautions us against an uncritical acceptance of all inherited wisdom. We must discern between human tradition and divine truth, recognizing that not all conventional explanations or theological systems are infallible, especially when they attempt to definitively explain God's intricate ways or limit His freedom. For believers, the ultimate source of truth is God's revealed Word, which often challenges and transcends human-made theological frameworks. This passage calls us to be diligent in our search for understanding, but always with an open mind to God's greater, often surprising, revelation, rather than relying solely on conventional explanations that may not fully capture the breadth of His nature or His work in our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "former age" or "fathers" (i.e., traditions, mentors, historical figures) have significantly shaped your understanding of God and suffering?**
* **How do you discern between valuable inherited wisdom and human traditions that might limit your understanding of God?**
* **In what ways might our own theological frameworks or assumptions prevent us from seeing God's unique work in our lives or the lives of others?**
* **How can we maintain a posture of humility and openness to God's ongoing revelation, even when it challenges our long-held beliefs?**

### FAQ
**Is Bildad's advice to consult the "former age" inherently wrong?**

Answer: Not inherently wrong, but incomplete and misapplied. The Bible often commends learning from history and the wisdom of elders (e.g., [Deuteronomy 32:7](/deuteronomy/32-7 "Deuteronomy 32:7 - Remember the Days of Old") or [Psalm 78:3-4](/psalm/78-3 "Psalm 78:3-4 - Passing on God's Deeds to Generations")). The error of Bildad and his friends was not in valuing tradition, but in allowing a specific, rigid interpretation of that tradition (retribution theology) to become the *sole* lens through which they viewed God and Job's suffering. They failed to recognize that God's ways are often beyond human comprehension and that unique circumstances, like Job's, might defy conventional explanations. Their reliance on tradition led them to misrepresent God's character, for which they were later rebuked by God Himself ([Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Bildad's appeal to the "former age" and the "search of their fathers" in Job 8:8 represents humanity's earnest, yet ultimately insufficient, attempt to find ultimate truth and understanding through accumulated human wisdom. While the Old Testament prophets and wise men offered profound insights, the full revelation of God's character and His plan for humanity could not be contained within the traditions of any age. This quest for wisdom finds its ultimate fulfillment and transcendence in Jesus Christ. He is not merely a wise man from a "former age," but the eternal [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), the [Wisdom of God personified](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ the Power and Wisdom of God"). In Christ, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, in Whom are Hidden All Treasures of Wisdom")). He is the true and complete revelation of God, surpassing all ancestral teachings and human philosophies ([Hebrews 1:1-3](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-3 - God Has Spoken Through His Son")). The rigid retribution theology of Bildad, which failed to account for innocent suffering, is overturned by the cross, where the innocent Lamb of God suffers for the guilty, revealing a depth of divine love and grace far beyond the wisdom of any human age. Through Christ, we gain access to a wisdom that is "not of this world, nor of the rulers of this age" ([1 Corinthians 2:6](/1_corinthians/2-6 "1 Corinthians 2:6 - God's Wisdom Revealed Through the Spirit")), a wisdom that truly explains the mysteries of God's purposes and offers solace in suffering.

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

Deuteronomy 32:7

¶ Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

Job 15:18

Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid [it]:

Deuteronomy 4:32

For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and [ask] from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been [any such thing] as this great thing [is], or hath been heard like it?

Romans 15:4

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Psalms 44:1

¶ To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, [what] work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

Psalms 78:3

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.