Job 8 17

Job 8:17 kjv

His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.

Job 8:17 nkjv

His roots wrap around the rock heap, And look for a place in the stones.

Job 8:17 niv

it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.

Job 8:17 esv

His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.

Job 8:17 nlt

Its roots grow down through a pile of stones;
it takes hold on a bed of rocks.

Job 8 verses

Job 8 17 Meaning

Job 8:17, spoken by Bildad, vividly describes the superficial and ultimately fragile rooting of a plant, using it as an allegory for the temporary prosperity and eventual downfall of the wicked. Though a plant might appear to hold strong by wrapping its roots around stones, and even seems to search for stability among them, this signifies a reliance on an unstable and unsupportive foundation rather than fertile ground. It depicts a deceptive appearance of strength that lacks genuine life-giving nourishment, leading to inevitable collapse.

Job 8 17 Context

Job 8:17 is part of Bildad the Shuhite's first response to Job. Job has been lamenting his suffering, expressing confusion and desiring an answer from God. Bildad, along with Job's other friends, adheres to the traditional wisdom theology prevalent at the time: God is just, and He rewards the righteous while punishing the wicked. Therefore, if Job is suffering immensely, it must be because he has committed grave sins. In verses 11-19, Bildad uses the metaphor of a papyrus or rush plant, which thrives briefly in marshes but withers swiftly without water, to illustrate the short-lived prosperity and ultimate destruction of those who forget God (v. 13). Verse 17 specifically extends this imagery by focusing on the false security of such a plant. He is essentially accusing Job of being like this shallow-rooted plant, implying Job's supposed righteousness is an illusion that cannot withstand adversity. This speech, while rooted in conventional understanding of divine justice, ultimately proves inadequate and misapplied to Job's unique situation, and God later rebukes the friends for their misrepresentation of Him.

Job 8 17 Word analysis

• His roots:

  • Hebrew: שָׁרָשָׁיו (shārāshāyw). Derived from שֶׁרֶשׁ (sheresh), meaning "root." The possessive suffix "his" links this directly to the subject previously introduced in verse 16 (the prosperous plant, metaphor for the wicked person). Roots signify foundation, source, and vital connection for life and stability.

• are wrapped around:

  • Hebrew: יֵאָסְפוּ (yē’āsep̄ū). From the verb אָסַף (āsāph), often meaning "to gather," "collect," "withdraw." In this context, it implies an encircling, clinging, or entwining action. It denotes a superficial grasp rather than deep penetration into nurturing soil, suggesting a forced or precarious attachment.

• the rock pile:

  • Hebrew: קִצְעַת (qiṣʿat). This term can mean "end," "side," "border," or a "pile of rubble" or "stony heap." In the context of roots, it signifies an unfertile, unproductive, and likely unstable collection of stones. It contrasts sharply with rich, life-giving soil. The imagery portrays an attempt to gain sustenance and stability from an infertile and unyielding source.

• he looks for:

  • Hebrew: יֶחֱזֶה (yeḥĕzeh). From חָזָה (ḥāzāh), "to see," "behold," "perceive." In this specific context, it suggests an active seeking, searching, or designating. It highlights a conscious effort or a tendency to establish a dwelling, yet the chosen "place" is problematic.

• a home:

  • Hebrew: בֵּית (bēyt). "House," "place," "dwelling." In this figurative sense, it implies a desired place of stability, security, or belonging. For a plant, it is where it derives its life and continues its existence.

• among the stones:

  • Hebrew: אֲבָנִים (’ăvānīm), plural of אֶבֶן (’even), "stone." This reiterates the nature of the "rock pile." Stones are hard, barren, and cannot provide the necessary nutrients or moisture for healthy growth. The act of seeking a "home" here reinforces the self-deceiving or misguided nature of the wicked person's quest for security.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "His roots are wrapped around the rock pile": This phrase powerfully illustrates a deceptive appearance of stability. The roots cling, implying some form of attachment, but not healthy penetration into nourishing soil. This superficial grip, around barren rocks, foreshadows inevitable decline because true life cannot be sustained there. It highlights a false security rooted in unyielding, dead material, symbolizing the reliance of the wicked on material wealth or self-made foundations.
  • "he looks for a home among the stones": This extends the metaphor of precarious stability. The verb "looks for" implies an active desire or even desperation for security, but "among the stones" signifies a choice of dwelling that offers no genuine life or future. It underscores the ultimate futility and misguided nature of seeking true peace or lasting prosperity in places that cannot provide it, emblematic of the wicked person's misplaced confidence in worldly and fleeting foundations.

Job 8 17 Bonus section

The "rock pile" or "heap" (קִצְעַת - qiṣʿat) can also refer to a stone boundary marker, used to denote the edge of a field. In such a setting, a plant might attempt to extend its roots into this pile, creating a deceptive appearance of strength. This subtly emphasizes that the wicked, even in their prosperity, operate "on the borders" of true life or in barren spaces, unable to genuinely connect with the fertile essence of God's blessings. Their "home" is among sterility, not fertility. The language subtly communicates a system that promises security without substance, a temporary, brittle success for the wicked which Bildad wrongly attributes to Job's situation.

Job 8 17 Commentary

Job 8:17, embedded within Bildad's speech, serves as a crucial component of his argument on the transience of the wicked. Through the metaphor of a plant whose roots merely encircle a rock pile and seek a "home" among barren stones, Bildad illustrates an outward show of strength or prosperity that lacks true foundation. Such a plant is not truly rooted; it merely clings. This suggests that the prosperity of the wicked is not deep or vital but superficial and temporary, lacking the nourishment that only fertile ground (symbolizing genuine righteousness and divine favor) can provide. The imagery speaks to the futility of seeking enduring security and sustenance from sources incapable of supporting true life. Bildad, from his limited theological perspective, applies this to Job, implying Job's past success was built on such a precarious foundation. Ultimately, the verse highlights the contrast between apparent stability and real, enduring rootedness in what is truly life-giving and blessed by God.