Job 8 15

Job 8:15 kjv

He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.

Job 8:15 nkjv

He leans on his house, but it does not stand. He holds it fast, but it does not endure.

Job 8:15 niv

They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.

Job 8:15 esv

He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.

Job 8:15 nlt

They cling to their home for security, but it won't last.
They try to hold it tight, but it will not endure.

Job 8 verses

Job 8 15 Meaning

This verse asserts that the wicked person, despite their attempts to secure their future and build a lasting legacy ("his house"), will find their endeavors to be utterly unstable and fleeting. Their reliance on these worldly constructs proves to be baseless, leading to inevitable collapse and failure. It describes a desperate but futile clinging to what is destined to fall.

Job 8 15 Context

Job 8:15 is spoken by Bildad the Shuhite, the second of Job's three friends who come to console him. This verse forms a key part of Bildad's argument in his first speech to Job (Job 8:1-22). Bildad represents the traditional wisdom theology of his time: he firmly believes in the principle of divine retribution, asserting that God always rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked, directly and immediately. To Bildad, Job's immense suffering can only mean that Job has sinned, and that he is among the wicked whose prosperity is ephemeral.

Bildad's speech contrasts the secure future of the righteous (implied in Job 8:5-7) with the doomed prospects of the wicked, using nature imagery and common observations to bolster his points (like the reed and papyrus, which wither without water, Job 8:11-13). Verse 15 directly applies this principle of instability to the wicked, portraying their attempts to build a lasting "house" or foundation as futile. The historical and cultural context values the "house" (בית, bayit) not merely as a physical structure, but as a comprehensive symbol of family, lineage, prosperity, reputation, and security. To have one's "house" not stand or endure signifies total ruin—social, economic, and familial—the ultimate downfall envisioned for those who are considered wicked in Bildad's simplistic theology. His argument, while containing general truths about God's character and the consequences of sin, utterly fails to apply to Job, whose suffering is not due to his wickedness.

Job 8 15 Word analysis

• He leans (יִשָּׁעֵן - yish·shā·‘ên):

  • From the Hebrew root שָׁעַן (sha'an), meaning "to lean upon," "to rely," "to depend."
  • Conveys an act of trust and seeking support.
  • Signifies a desperate or habitual act of seeking security.
  • The wicked place their ultimate confidence and dependence on their material and earthly constructs.

• on his house (בֵיתוֹ - bê·ṯōw):

  • The Hebrew term בַּיִת (bayit) often means more than just a physical dwelling.
  • It symbolizes one's entire household, family, lineage, reputation, accumulated wealth, prosperity, and the security or dynasty built up over time.
  • This is the focus of the wicked person's hope and security.
  • It represents all that the wicked deem their source of stability and legacy in the world.

• but it does not stand (לֹא יָקוּם - lō yā·qūm):

  • לֹא (lo) means "not," negating the action.
  • From the Hebrew root קוּם (qum), meaning "to rise," "to stand," "to be established," "to endure."
  • Indicates a failure to maintain uprightness, stability, or continuity.
  • Signifies the inevitable collapse and inability of their false foundation to sustain them.

• he holds fast to it (יַחֲזִיק בָּהּ - ya·ḥa·zîq bāh):

  • From the Hebrew root חָזַק (ḥāzaq), meaning "to be strong," "to seize," "to grasp," "to hold fast."
  • Suggests a tenacious and determined effort to cling to something.
  • It underscores the wicked person's desperation to secure their earthly achievements.
  • Despite their fervent grip, the object of their trust is unreliable.

• but it does not endure (וְלֹא יַעֲמֹד - wə·lō ya·‘ă·mōḏ):

  • וְלֹא (wə·lō) is "and not" or "but not."
  • From the Hebrew root עָמַד (amad), meaning "to stand," "to remain," "to abide," "to last."
  • A synonym and reinforcing parallel to "does not stand."
  • Emphasizes the complete and utter lack of permanence. It will not last, remain, or offer lasting security.

Words-group Analysis:

• "He leans on his house, but it does not stand": This phrase establishes the act of trusting (leaning) in something unreliable (his house), which consequently proves unable to bear weight or provide stability (does not stand). It metaphorically portrays the inherent fragility of human-made or ill-gotten security when it is built without a divine foundation.
• "he holds fast to it, but it does not endure": This second phrase is a poetic parallelism, reiterating and intensifying the first. "Holds fast" highlights the person's strenuous effort to maintain control or stability, while "does not endure" reinforces the complete and inevitable failure of that attempt. The combination of these two parallel phrases drives home the message of the ultimate futility and transience of worldly trust for those who are apart from God's favor. The 'house' is a powerful metaphor for everything a person might rely on outside of God—wealth, power, reputation, earthly achievements, or family lineage built on corrupt means.

Job 8 15 Bonus section

The metaphor of "house" falling or not standing is deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern thought and extends throughout the biblical narrative as a symbol of lineage, prosperity, and permanence. The failure of one's "house" represents total collapse—not just of wealth, but of family, future, and societal standing. Bildad’s conviction mirrors common ancient beliefs where material prosperity was often seen as direct evidence of divine blessing for righteousness, and suffering as direct proof of sin.

The verse also implicitly points to the contrast with what does stand and does endure. If the "house" of the wicked does not stand, the implication is that what is founded on God will stand. This points to themes like God as a firm foundation, a rock, and the security of those who trust in Him, as depicted in many Psalms and ultimately fulfilled in Christ, the chief cornerstone of God's unshakable kingdom.

Job 8 15 Commentary

Job 8:15 encapsulates Bildad's conventional understanding of divine justice: a direct, inevitable link between wickedness and downfall. He presents the wicked person as one who desperately clings to the security and legacy they have built (their "house"), but this reliance is vain. The "house" symbolizes not just a physical dwelling, but all that gives one earthly security, standing, and identity – wealth, lineage, and reputation.

Bildad's statement highlights a core biblical truth frequently expounded in wisdom literature: security built on anything other than the Living God is inherently unstable. It may appear solid, but it lacks true foundation and spiritual substance. The dual negation—"does not stand" and "does not endure"—underscores the absolute lack of permanence. Despite any human effort to grasp and maintain it, such worldly security crumbles.

However, the irony and limitation of Bildad's argument within the book of Job is that he applies this truth to Job. While the general principle is true for the wicked, Job himself is not wicked, rendering Bildad's diagnosis false. The verse is a powerful metaphor for the ephemerality of trusting in transient worldly assets instead of the eternal Lord, even if its immediate application by Bildad is flawed concerning Job. The ultimate message is clear: True and lasting security comes only from God; anything else is like building on sand, destined to fall.