1.
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
2.
How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
How long . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . an end: or, a perversion.
3.
Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
vile: or, stupid.
your sight. Septuagint and Syriac read "thine eyes".
4.
He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
himself = his soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
shall. ? Figure of speech Erotesis.
5.
Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
light. The reference is to the universal practice of burning a light during the night.
wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha. App-44 .
6.
The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.
dark. Hebrew. hashak: see note on Job 3:6 ; showing that the man is dead, and not alive to keep the light burning.
tabernacle = tent.
candle = lamp.
with him = over him: see note on "dark", above.
7.
The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
steps of his strength = his firm step. Genitive of character. App-17 .
8.
For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.
walketh = walketh habitually.
9.
The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.
the gin = a gin. Authorized Version, 1611, reads "grin" = a snare. Same meaning, but now obsolete.
the = a
robber = noose.
10.
The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
laid = hidden.
11.
Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.
drive him to his feet = follow at his feet. Compare 1 Samuel 25:42 .
12.
His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.
13.
It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.
strength = parts or members of his body.
skin. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the whole body. Compare Exodus 22:26 .
firstborn of death: i.e. the chief, or worst, or cruellest death. Figure of speech Euphemismos. App-6 .
14.
His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.
king of terrors. Euphemy, for death.
15.
It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.
It: i.e. every one of the terrors.
none of his = not, indeed, his own.
16.
His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
17.
His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.
18.
He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.
19.
He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.
nephew = grandson (Judges 12:14 ).
20.
They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.
day. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the thing done in the day: i.e. his fall.
21.
Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.
wicked. Hebrew. 'aval. App-44 . Occurs elsewhere only in Job 27:7 ; Job 29:17 ; Job 31:3 , and Zephaniah 3:5 .
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .