Job 8 12

Job 8:12 kjv

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

Job 8:12 nkjv

While it is yet green and not cut down, It withers before any other plant.

Job 8:12 niv

While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass.

Job 8:12 esv

While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.

Job 8:12 nlt

While they are still flowering, not ready to be cut,
they begin to wither more quickly than grass.

Job 8 verses

Job 8 12 Meaning

Job 8:12 conveys the fleeting and inherently fragile nature of the prosperity of the wicked, likening it to a plant that, despite appearing healthy and vigorous ("in its greenness"), inexplicably withers quickly and prematurely without being externally cut down, even before other ordinary plants. This verse, spoken by Bildad, posits that the downfall of the wicked is swift, spontaneous, and divinely ordained, highlighting an intrinsic instability rather than external destruction.

Job 8 12 Context

Job 8:12 is spoken by Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job's three friends, in his first speech. Bildad's theological perspective, like that of his companions, is rooted in the traditional wisdom of their time: suffering is a direct consequence of sin, and prosperity is a reward for righteousness. He asserts that God is just and does not pervert justice (Job 8:3). His argument implies that Job's profound suffering must be due to some great sin, even urging Job to repent if his children had sinned (Job 8:4-6).

In Job 8:11-19, Bildad employs botanical imagery to illustrate the fleeting nature of the ungodly, contrasting them with those who trust in God. He presents the papyrus and reed that cannot thrive without water as analogies for the wicked who cannot endure without God's favor. Verse 12 is a direct example of this principle: even seemingly thriving wicked individuals will swiftly and inevitably perish. This serves as an implied polemic against Job's lamentations and his perceived defiance of this conventional wisdom. Bildad argues against the observation that the wicked often prosper, asserting that such prosperity is fundamentally unstable and doomed to sudden, inherent collapse, rather than being subject to an external cutting-down.

Historically, this perspective reflects ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions where cause-and-effect, particularly divine retribution and blessing, were often seen in immediate and tangible terms. Job's ordeal directly challenges this simplistic view, showing that suffering is not always punitive for specific sins.

Job 8 12 Word analysis

• Yet (עַד֮ - 'ad): A conjunction indicating a temporal connection or even a concession, suggesting that even while in a state of prosperity, something contrary occurs. It introduces a sharp contrast to the initial appearance of health.
• while it is still in its greenness (עֹדֶנּוּ בְאִבּוֹ - 'oḍenû bĕ'ibbô):
  • עֹדֶנּוּ ('oḍenû): "While it is still." Emphasizes an ongoing, present state.
  • בְּאִבּוֹ (bĕ'ibbô): "in its greenness," "in its freshness," "in its budding," "in its prime." From אֵב ('ev), meaning "fresh, new shoots" or "verdure." It signifies vigor, flourishing, peak health, and apparent stability, much like a vibrant plant. This highlights the unexpected and premature nature of its demise. It portrays a state of thriving, full of life.
• and not cut down (לֹא יִקָּטֵף - lo' yiqqaṭēp):
  • לֹא (lo'): "not." A strong negation.
  • יִקָּטֵף (yiqqaṭēp): "cut down," "plucked," "gathered," "snatched away." This verb often refers to the action of human hands harvesting flowers or branches (cf. Isa 55:13, Job 14:2). The significance here is that its perishing is not due to external, deliberate human action. It suggests an intrinsic failing rather than an imposed destruction, making the withering even more profound and inevitable.
• it withers (יִבַשׁ - yiḇaš): "It dries up," "it fades," "it withers." This is the core action and consequence. It describes a natural process of drying and decay. In this context, it implies a swift, intrinsic loss of vitality, a self-initiated or divinely programmed desiccation without any obvious external cause of being cut. This withering is a direct outcome of its inherent rootlessness and lack of sustenance, according to Bildad's logic.
• before any other herb (מִכָּל־חָצִיר מִינָף - mikol-ḥaṣir mina'af):
  • מִכָּל־חָצִיר (mikol-ḥaṣir): "Before all grass," "before any vegetation," "more than all plants." "חָצִיר" (ḥaṣir) broadly refers to grass or green herbs, common vegetation.
  • מִינָף (mînāf): This word is less common and can be interpreted in several ways. Some translate it as "without having been gathered/plucked" (Septuagint) or "before it ripens." The ESV/NIV "before any other herb" takes it in a comparative sense, emphasizing the extreme prematurity of its wilting. The implication is that its decay is exceptionally swift, quicker than the normal life cycle or harvesting of other plants.
• Words-Group analysis:
  • "Yet while it is still in its greenness and not cut down, it withers": This phrase constructs a vivid paradox. It challenges the conventional expectation that a green, uncut plant would continue to flourish. The contrast emphasizes that the wicked's strength is illusory and temporary, subject to an internal and immediate process of decay. This decay happens independently of external forces, indicating that their doom is self-contained and unavoidable. It highlights the futility and inherent instability of a life separated from genuine righteousness.
  • "it withers before any other herb": This emphasizes the unique speed and severity of the wicked's downfall. Their destruction is not merely inevitable, but astonishingly swift, outpacing the natural processes that affect other, perhaps more enduring, forms of vegetation. It paints a picture of exceptional vulnerability.

Job 8 12 Bonus section

• Literary Foreshadowing: Ironically, while Bildad intends this statement to condemn Job, it subtly foreshadows the ultimate, self-destructive fate of the unrighteous in a broader theological sense throughout the Bible, emphasizing God's sovereignty over all.
• Wisdom Literature Motif: The "plant" imagery (seed, growth, withering, uprooting) is a pervasive motif in biblical wisdom literature, representing life cycles, prosperity, divine judgment, and moral character. Job 8:12 uses it to depict rapid downfall.
• The Problem of Theodicy: This verse is part of Bildad's contribution to the core "theodicy" (problem of evil) explored in Job: why do righteous people suffer, and why do wicked people sometimes prosper? Bildad’s answer is a conventional one: the wicked's prosperity is short-lived. Job's experience challenges this, pushing for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of God's ways.

Job 8 12 Commentary

Bildad's statement in Job 8:12 serves as a vivid metaphor for the fleeting nature of the prosperity of the wicked, a core tenet of traditional wisdom literature. He uses the imagery of a vigorous plant, healthy and seemingly secure, yet which unaccountably withers and perishes swiftly without being touched by a human hand, and indeed, quicker than any other plant. The essence of the verse lies in the inherent fragility of the ungodly: their perceived strength and flourishing are superficial and destined for a rapid, self-inflicted, or divinely initiated decay from within. Their lack of deep roots—spiritual foundations or genuine righteousness—renders their vibrant exterior temporary and hollow. Though true in general biblical principle, Bildad's misapplication to Job illustrates the limited human understanding of divine justice and the complexities of suffering beyond a simple cause-and-effect relationship between sin and calamity. This truth of the swift end of evil's seeming triumph resonates throughout Scripture, reassuring the righteous that justice will ultimately prevail.