Job 30 8

Job 30:8 kjv

They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.

Job 30:8 nkjv

They were sons of fools, Yes, sons of vile men; They were scourged from the land.

Job 30:8 niv

A base and nameless brood, they were driven out of the land.

Job 30:8 esv

A senseless, a nameless brood, they have been whipped out of the land.

Job 30:8 nlt

They are nameless fools,
outcasts from society.

Job 30 verses

Job 30 8 Meaning

Job 30:8 portrays the deep contempt Job felt for those who now scorned him in his suffering. He describes them as inherently degenerate, born of the foolish and the ignoble. Their moral and social standing was so profoundly low that Job considered them viler and more debased than the very earth beneath their feet, signifying their utter worthlessness and a moral degradation beneath even the inanimate.

Job 30 8 Context

Job 30:8 occurs within Job's third speech, a lament in which he contrasts his former prestige and benevolent life (Ch. 29) with his present ignominious suffering. Having lost everything—family, wealth, health, and reputation—he now endures public ridicule, even from those whom he considers the lowest of society. These scorners, described in verses 1-7, are outcasts of their time: landless, desperate, and often morally bankrupt individuals who resorted to scavenging for survival in desolate regions. Job's indignant declaration in verse 8 is not merely an expression of personal offence, but a statement reflecting the societal degradation of these individuals whom he now contrasts with his former self. It emphasizes the profound depth of his humiliation, as even these vile people felt entitled to mock him, highlighting a world turned upside down.

Job 30 8 Word analysis

• They are children of fools:

  • Children of (בְּנֵי, bᵊnê): Lit. "sons of." In Hebrew idiom, "sons of [noun]" often denotes character, nature, or allegiance, rather than just direct paternity. It means "characterized by," "belonging to," or "possessing the qualities of." Here, it points to inherited character or an entrenched nature.
  • Fools (נָבָל, navāl): This is not merely lack of intelligence, but denotes moral emptiness, spiritual bankruptcy, and active rejection of wisdom or God. A navāl is one who is profane, insolent, contemptible, and often arrogant in their impiety. They may behave shamefully or foolishly in a moral sense, like Nabal in 1 Samuel 25, who was boorish, senseless, and churlish.

• yes, children of base men:

  • Children of (בְּנֵי, bᵊnê): Reiterates the familial or inherent character connection, emphasizing the nature of these individuals.
  • Base men (בְּלִי־שֵׁם, bᵊlî-šêm): Lit. "without a name" or "no-name." This phrase signifies someone insignificant, obscure, without standing, without lineage, or so disreputable that their name is unworthy of mention. In ancient societies, a "good name" was highly valued, representing honor, legacy, and reputation (e.g., Prov 22:1). To be "without a name" meant lacking all these, signifying utter ignobility and social degradation, almost as if they had been erased from public memory or tribal records.

• they were viler than the earth:

  • Viler than (נִכְּאוּ מֵאָרֶץ, nikkᵉ’û mê’āreṣ): This phrase is open to various interpretations, but most convey extreme degradation. נִכּא (nikkâ) can mean "to be smitten," "struck down," or "crushed," leading to a state of being utterly abased or vile. מֵאָרֶץ (mē’āreṣ) means "from the earth" or "than the earth."
    • Interpretation 1: "Smashed/Driven out from the earth." This suggests they were exiled or cast out from inhabited lands into desolate places, emphasizing their outcast status, literally driven from the face of civilization (similar to Job 30:3-7).
    • Interpretation 2: "More debased/vile than the earth." This aligns with versions like the KJV/NIV. It implies that these individuals possess a moral depravity lower than even the common ground, which universally supports life. This points to extreme worthlessness, lower than even the most fundamental and ordinary element, or perhaps, they have so fallen that they do not even belong on the earth's surface with other human beings.
  • The earth (אָרֶץ, ’āreṣ): Refers to the ground, land, or world. Here, it likely symbolizes the common, basic element from which humans are made and to which they return (Gen 3:19). To be "viler than" this implies the lowest possible state of existence, a profound degradation beyond even what is fundamental and foundational.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Children of fools... children of base men": This parallel structure powerfully reinforces the idea of inherited or ingrained moral deficiency and societal worthlessness. It emphasizes that their depravity is not incidental but intrinsic to their nature and lineage, a complete contrast to Job's once-exalted social standing and moral uprightness. It's a double emphasis on their moral and social nothingness.
  • "Viler than the earth": This serves as a hyperbole to underscore the extreme level of contempt and degradation that Job perceives in his tormentors. It encapsulates both their despised social standing (being exiled or cast out) and their deep moral corruption, highlighting the indignity Job feels at being mocked by those he deems utterly inferior.

Job 30 8 Bonus section

The concept of "fools" (navāl) in biblical wisdom literature, particularly Proverbs and Psalms, goes beyond mere lack of intelligence to signify one who denies God or wisdom, demonstrating a rebellious, arrogant, and immoral character (e.g., Psa 14:1, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'"). Job’s use of this term here places his scorners not just as socially low but morally reprehensible in the sight of God, adding a spiritual dimension to their degeneracy. Furthermore, the societal hierarchy implied in Job's lament is significant. In ancient Near Eastern tribal societies, lineage, honor, and a "good name" were paramount. To be "without a name" was the ultimate social disgrace, often associated with outcasts, brigands, or those who had lost all claim to family and community identity. Job's present situation, where he, a man of great "name" and standing, is tormented by such nameless and vile individuals, underscores the chaotic and upside-down nature of his suffering, defying all conventional understanding of divine justice or social order.

Job 30 8 Commentary

Job 30:8 encapsulates Job’s profound indignation and sense of injustice. Having lost his revered status, he is now mocked by individuals whom he regards as the dregs of society – those inherently corrupt ("children of fools") and utterly ignoble ("children of base men"). His contempt culminates in the powerful assertion that they are "viler than the earth," a hyperbolic expression conveying extreme moral and social debasement. This signifies that they are not only the lowest in societal standing but are also morally decayed, beneath even the basic dust from which humanity is formed. Job's words reveal his distress not just from physical pain, but from the unbearable humiliation of being scorned by those he perceived as devoid of honor and virtue. This lament serves to highlight the cruel irony of Job’s suffering: the righteous one, upright in every way, is subjected to indignity by the most ignoble among people.