Job 18 17

Job 18:17 kjv

His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.

Job 18:17 nkjv

The memory of him perishes from the earth, And he has no name among the renowned.

Job 18:17 niv

The memory of him perishes from the earth; he has no name in the land.

Job 18:17 esv

His memory perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the street.

Job 18:17 nlt

All memory of their existence will fade from the earth;
no one will remember their names.

Job 18 verses

Job 18 17 Meaning

Job 18:17 describes the dire fate of the wicked, specifically concerning their legacy and public identity. It declares that any memory of them will completely vanish from the earth, and their name will no longer be spoken or acknowledged in public spaces. This signifies an ultimate obliteration of their existence, not only in the minds of others but also from the public record and collective memory, leaving no trace behind. It paints a picture of utter forgetfulness and disgrace for those who reject the way of the righteous.

Job 18 17 Context

Job 18:17 is part of Bildad the Shuhite's second speech to Job (Job 18:1-21). In this chapter, Bildad paints a grim and extensive picture of the suffering and eventual destruction that inevitably befalls the wicked. He describes the wicked man's dwelling being destroyed (vv. 15), his light being extinguished (vv. 5-6), and his children being consumed (vv. 19). Verse 17 directly addresses the wicked person's legacy, or lack thereof. Bildad, like Job's other friends, firmly adheres to the traditional understanding that severe suffering directly correlates with severe sin. Therefore, by describing the complete ruin of the wicked, he is indirectly implying that Job's dire situation is proof of his wickedness, despite Job's protestations of innocence. Culturally, in the ancient Near East, having a name and an enduring legacy (often through offspring) was of paramount importance; it signified one's continued existence and impact. To have one's name forgotten or blotted out was considered a complete and humiliating extinction, a punishment equivalent to utter destruction, making Bildad's pronouncement particularly harsh and fear-inducing for Job.

Job 18 17 Word analysis

• His: Refers to the "wicked" man (Hebrew: rasha') described by Bildad throughout this chapter (Job 18:5-20). Bildad employs a general description to implicitly target Job, suggesting his suffering is characteristic of such a person.
• remembrance (זֵכֶר, zekher): This word signifies not merely a fleeting memory, but a lasting memorial, a record, or an enduring mention of a person or event. It encapsulates one's legacy, the echo of their life. For this to perish implies that there will be no enduring trace, no descendants to perpetuate their name, and no public monument or record of their existence. It's about being erased from collective historical consciousness. The Bible contrasts this with God remembering the righteous and His own enduring zekher (e.g., Exo 3:15, Psa 135:13).
• shall perish (אָבַד, avad): This strong Hebrew verb means to be utterly destroyed, lost, ruined, to vanish completely, or to be wiped out. It's not a gradual fading but a decisive cessation of existence or influence. In the context of "remembrance," it implies total obliteration, as if the person never existed or left any impact.
• from the earth (מֵאֶרֶץ, me'eretz): "Earth" (eretz) here refers to the land of the living, the realm of human activity and memory. "From the earth" emphasizes the totality of the disappearance—no trace remaining anywhere on the planet where human history and memory are recorded.
• and he shall have no name (וְאֵין־לוֹ שֵׁם, v'ein-lo shem): This phrase further intensifies the previous statement, providing a powerful parallel parallelism. "Name" (שֵׁם, shem) in Hebrew culture encompassed much more than a mere identifier; it represented a person's character, reputation, authority, presence, and often their legacy through their descendants. To have "no name" is to lose one's identity, public standing, and the continuity of their lineage. It's a fate worse than death in some ancient cultures, as it denies even the memory of existence.
• in the street (בַּחוּץ, bachuts): Literally "outside" or "in the open country," but in an urban context, it means in public places, outside the home—in the squares, gates, markets, or thoroughfares where public life, discussions, and transactions occur. This specific location underscores the public and universal nature of the obliteration. Not only is one forgotten privately, but there will be no public mention, no gossip, no casual remembrance among the general populace. The very thought of them is expunged from all public discourse.

Words-group analysis:

• "His remembrance shall perish from the earth": This part emphasizes the utter effacement of the wicked person's enduring mark on history and the collective memory of humanity. It speaks to the vanishing of their historical and familial legacy, ensuring no one recalls their actions or identity.
• "and he shall have no name in the street": This complements the first part by focusing on the complete public ignominy and anonymity of the wicked. It highlights that there will be no public recognition, discussion, or even a casual mention of their identity or reputation in the community spaces, reinforcing their complete eradication from communal memory.
• Combined thought: Together, these two clauses describe a comprehensive and total erasure of the wicked from existence, memory, and public acknowledgement. They signify not just death, but the extinction of identity, reputation, and legacy in both private and public spheres. This aligns with ancient cultural anxieties about eternal anonymity and being forgotten, representing the most profound judgment short of eternal punishment.

Job 18 17 Bonus section

• This verse starkly contrasts with the biblical emphasis on the remembrance of God's Name and the everlasting memorial of the righteous (e.g., Exo 3:15, Psa 102:12, Mal 3:16). God promises an eternal name to those who cleave to Him (Isa 56:5), highlighting that true lasting legacy comes from Him, not human endeavor or temporary prosperity.
• The concept of having "no name" or one's name being "blotted out" resonated deeply in ancient cultures that valued lineage, historical records, and monumental inscriptions. Pharaohs would obliterate the names of rivals, and family genealogies were vital. This verse invokes that primal fear of utter extinction, where one's very existence is annulled.
• While Bildad's theological premise regarding the direct and immediate retribution for wickedness is overly simplistic and misapplied to Job, the principle that those who reject God will ultimately fade into insignificance compared to the enduring nature of God's kingdom and the names written in the Book of Life carries spiritual truth.

Job 18 17 Commentary

Job 18:17, spoken by Bildad, encapsulates a core tenet of traditional wisdom regarding the consequences of wickedness: ultimate and complete obliteration of identity and legacy. Bildad posits that not only will the wicked suffer materially, but their very name and remembrance will vanish from the earth and from public discourse. This verse profoundly taps into the ancient Near Eastern fear of anonymity and the value placed on an enduring name and progeny. To be forgotten was seen as a second, greater death. While Bildad misapplies this principle to Job, implying his suffering means he is wicked, the principle itself (that the wicked will not ultimately endure in renown) is affirmed elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Psa 34:16, Prov 10:7). The irony is that the true everlasting remembrance and an "everlasting name" are bestowed by God upon the righteous, rather than being self-achieved or stemming from earthly legacy (Isa 56:5). The verse serves as a powerful reminder of the ephemeral nature of earthly fame and legacy not rooted in righteousness or the Lord.