Job 18:16 kjv
His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.
Job 18:16 nkjv
His roots are dried out below, And his branch withers above.
Job 18:16 niv
His roots dry up below and his branches wither above.
Job 18:16 esv
His roots dry up beneath, and his branches wither above.
Job 18:16 nlt
Their roots will dry up,
and their branches will wither.
Job 18 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 1:4 | The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. | Wicked perish like dust. |
| Ps 37:2 | ...for they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. | Wicked's brevity, wilting like plants. |
| Ps 37:28 | For the LORD loves justice... but the offspring of the wicked shall be cut off. | Offspring of wicked cut off. |
| Prov 2:22 | but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be uprooted. | Wicked removed from the land. |
| Isa 5:24 | ...their root will rot away, and their blossom will go up like dust... | Total destruction from root to blossom. |
| Isa 14:20 | ...for I will cut off from Babylon her name and remnant, descendants and posterity. | No name or posterity for wicked nations. |
| Amos 2:9 | ...I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. | God's judgment annihilates entirely. |
| Mal 4:1 | ...that it will leave them neither root nor branch. | Complete and absolute destruction. |
| Job 14:7-9 | For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again... | Hope for tree (Job's contrast). |
| Jer 17:7-8 | Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD... He is like a tree planted by water... | Righteous as flourishing trees. |
| Ps 92:12 | The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar... | Righteous flourish, well-rooted. |
| Ez 17:9 | ...will it not be pulled up by the roots and its fruit cut off... | Metaphor of king pulled up by roots. |
| Hos 9:16 | Ephraim is stricken; their root is dried up; they bear no fruit. | Judgment as dried root and no fruit. |
| Mt 3:10 | Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree that does not... cut down... | Divine judgment at the root. |
| Mt 7:19 | Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. | False prophets, trees cut down. |
| Lk 3:9 | Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree that does not... cut down... | Axe at the root, readiness for judgment. |
| Jn 15:6 | If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers... | Branches not abiding wither and burn. |
| Jude 1:12 | ...autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted. | False teachers, fruitless, uprooted trees. |
| Ez 31:3 | Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches... | Assyria, a tall tree, yet to be cut down. |
| Jer 11:19 | I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know that they devised schemes... "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit..." | Conspiracies to destroy life and offspring. |
Job 18 verses
Job 18 16 Meaning
Bildad declares the total destruction of the wicked, likening them to a plant that has its life source withered beneath the ground and its visible growth cut off from above. This imagery conveys an irreversible and comprehensive end to their life, prosperity, offspring, and any lasting legacy. It suggests that nothing remains, neither foundation nor future.
Job 18 16 Context
This verse is spoken by Bildad the Shuhite in his second response to Job (Job 18:1). Bildad is incensed by Job's words and perceives Job to be unrepentant and foolish for questioning God's ways. Throughout chapter 18, Bildad systematically describes the terrible fate that befalls the wicked. His speech rigidly adheres to the traditional retribution theology common in his culture: God always punishes the wicked, and Job's suffering must therefore be a clear sign of his own wickedness. In Job 18:16, he paints a stark picture of the wicked's complete obliteration, leaving no room for Job's perceived innocence or any hope of recovery. He details not just their removal but a total eradication, affecting their hidden origins and visible descendants alike, serving as a direct indictment against Job's situation.
Job 18 16 Word analysis
His roots (שָׁרָשָׁיו, shārāšāyw): This word, literally "his roots," signifies the hidden, foundational source of life and nourishment for a plant. In this context, it represents the deep-seated vitality, lineage, and foundational aspects of a person's existence and prosperity. It speaks to their very origin and the unseen support system of their being.
are dried up (יִיבָּשׁ, yībbāš): From the verb יָבֵשׁ (yābeish), meaning "to be dry," "to wither." This verb in the Hiphil imperfect form suggests a process of irreversible wilting or drying out due to a complete lack of water or sustenance. It implies a slow, but definitive, end to life and fertility, signifying a loss of all vitality and sustenance.
beneath (מִתַּחַת, mittáḥat): This preposition means "under," "beneath," or "underneath." It specifically points to the underground realm, reinforcing the idea of the roots being out of sight but crucial. The emphasis is on the destruction occurring at the most fundamental, unseen level.
and above (מִמַּעַל, mimmáʿal): This preposition means "from above" or "upward." It contrasts with "beneath," referring to the visible, higher parts of the plant. It highlights that the destruction is comprehensive, extending from the hidden source to the visible manifestation.
is his branch (קָמָתוֹ, qomātô): This word literally means "his standing" or "his standing grain/stalk/stature." While often translated as "branch" or "bough" for imagery, it can refer to the full, upright part of the plant that grows above ground, including its productive elements. Metaphorically, it symbolizes visible success, fruitfulness, reputation, and most significantly, offspring or posterity. The cessation of the "branch" implies no continuity, no future.
cut off (יִמַּל, yīmmal): From a root meaning "to wither," "to fade," or "to circumcise/cut off." In this context, especially paired with "dried up," it indicates a severing or complete termination of life and growth. It denotes absolute removal or destruction, leaving nothing to propagate or continue.
"His roots are dried up beneath": This phrase describes the complete annihilation of the very foundation of the wicked person's existence. It signifies the end of their origin, their deep-seated sources of sustenance, their lineage, and any hidden wellsprings of prosperity or life force. There is no foundation left for a future.
"and above is his branch cut off": This phrase complements the first, extending the picture of total destruction to the visible aspects of the person's life. "His branch" signifies not only his outward achievements or prosperity but most poignantly, his offspring or posterity. The "cutting off" means an end to his legacy, his descendants, and any continuation of his name or influence in the world. It means a future completely terminated.
"His roots are dried up beneath, and above is his branch cut off": This entire verse forms a powerful merism. By describing the destruction from the very bottom (roots, unseen) to the very top (branch, visible), Bildad emphasizes an absolute, total, and irreversible ruin. There is no part of the "wicked" person left; their being is eradicated in its entirety, with no hope of revival, rebirth, or remembrance. It conveys a picture of desolation where every aspect of life and legacy is negated.
Job 18 16 Bonus section
- This powerful imagery stands in stark contrast to Job's earlier expression of hope regarding a tree, "For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again" (Job 14:7). Bildad's speech effectively denies Job this very hope, underscoring the severity of his condemnation and his lack of compassion.
- The use of qomah for "branch" or "stalk" can also be interpreted to include the entire stature and uprightness of a person or a lineage, signifying the complete fall from dignity and existence.
- In the ancient Near East, the perpetuation of one's name through offspring was immensely important. Thus, the "cutting off" of the branch (representing posterity) would have been understood as one of the direst judgments, erasing one from memory and denying any future connection to their lineage.
Job 18 16 Commentary
Job 18:16 encapsulates Bildad's unyielding belief in a strict, observable divine justice: the wicked perish utterly and definitively. Using a compelling plant metaphor, Bildad illustrates an annihilation that is total, impacting both the unseen foundations ("roots dried up beneath") and the visible manifestation, productivity, and posterity ("branch cut off above"). This is not merely a decline in fortune but a comprehensive eradication, leaving nothing to sprout again or carry on a legacy. Bildad's application of this principle is directly aimed at Job, asserting that Job's unprecedented suffering must signify a wickedness warranting such an ultimate divine judgment, implying Job is beyond hope of recovery or an enduring future. The starkness of the imagery removes any possibility of Job being a righteous sufferer; for Bildad, Job's fate mirrors that of the utterly wicked.