Job 8:19 kjv
Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
Job 8:19 nkjv
"Behold, this is the joy of His way, And out of the earth others will grow.
Job 8:19 niv
Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow.
Job 8:19 esv
Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring.
Job 8:19 nlt
That's the end of its life,
and others spring up from the earth to replace it.
Job 8 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 1:4-6 | The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away... The way of the ungodly shall perish. | Fate of wicked; quick perishing. |
| Psa 37:2 | For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. | Brevity of wicked's life. |
| Psa 37:10 | For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be... | Swift disappearance of wicked. |
| Psa 73:17-19 | ...Then understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places... How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! | Sudden destruction of the prosperous wicked. |
| Prov 10:27 | The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. | Shortened life of the wicked. |
| Prov 11:5-6 | ...but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness... | Wicked undone by own actions. |
| Prov 24:20 | For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. | No enduring hope for wicked. |
| Isa 40:24 | Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown... and the whirlwind shall take them away. | Wicked uprooted and removed. |
| Mal 4:1 | For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud... shall be stubble... | Wicked consumed as stubble. |
| Jam 1:11 | For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass... | Fleeting nature of human life/glory. |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth... | Humanity's transience; glory fades. |
| Psa 9:5-6 | Thou hast rebuked the heathen... Thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end... | Names of wicked obliterated. |
| Psa 10:4 | The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. | Wicked forget God; hence their end. |
| Psa 103:14 | For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. | Humanity's origin and end in dust. |
| Gen 3:19 | In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. | Origin from dust, return to dust. |
| Eccl 3:20 | All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. | Universal return to dust. |
| Eccl 12:7 | Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God... | Body to dust, spirit to God. |
| Psa 90:5-6 | Thou carriest them away as with a flood... in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the evening it is cut down... | Life's brevity compared to grass. |
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. | Deceptive nature of evil ways. |
| Ezek 19:12 | But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground... | Uprooting and downfall. |
| Matt 3:10 | And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. | Trees bearing no fruit cut down. |
| John 15:6 | If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch... and they are gathered, and cast into the fire, and burned. | Branches that wither are removed. |
| Rom 1:28 | And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind... | God giving over those who forget Him. |
Job 8 verses
Job 8 19 Meaning
Job 8:19 describes the fleeting nature and inevitable downfall of the wicked according to Bildad's perspective. It portrays their life, which might appear successful or joyful for a time, as ultimately ending in oblivion and being quickly replaced. The phrase "joy of his way" is best understood ironically, highlighting that their transient delight quickly leads to utter desolation, and out of the same 'dust' from which they came, new generations effortlessly spring up, implying their utter forgettability and insignificance.
Job 8 19 Context
Job chapter 8 forms part of Bildad the Shuhite's first response to Job. Job has been maintaining his innocence, questioning why a righteous God would inflict such suffering upon him. Bildad, along with Eliphaz and Zophar, represents the conventional wisdom of their day, which strongly adheres to retribution theology: God punishes the wicked and blesses the righteous.
In this chapter, Bildad argues that God is always just. If Job were truly righteous, he would not be suffering so intensely. He insists that Job's children must have sinned and thus deserved their death (v. 4). He then contrasts the short-lived, transient prosperity of the wicked with the stability and flourishing of the righteous. Verse 19 concludes Bildad's illustrative comparison of the wicked to a fragile, rootless plant (v. 11-18), asserting that their apparent "joy" is temporary and their end is quick annihilation and swift replacement. This polemical stance is against Job's assertion of innocent suffering, effectively accusing Job of hidden sin by linking his misfortune directly to divine punishment.
Job 8 19 Word analysis
- Behold (הִנֵּה, hinnēh): An interjection used to draw attention, signifying "Indeed!" or "Lo!" It serves to emphasize the declaration about to be made, highlighting the certainty and severity of the wicked's fate in Bildad's view.
- this is the joy (הוּא שְׂמוֹחַ, hu s'moach): Literally, "he is rejoicing" or "he is joyful." This phrase is often interpreted ironically or sarcastically in context. Bildad suggests that what appeared to be their "joyful" or prosperous path ultimately leads to their destruction. It's a bitter summary of their apparent good fortune. Alternatively, some scholars suggest a less common meaning or a variant reading for s'moach related to the "completion" or "end" of something, thereby stating "this is the end of his way." However, the traditional rendering of 'joyful' serves to emphasize the deceitful and transient nature of the wicked's superficial prosperity.
- of his way (דַּרְכּוֹ, darko): Refers to his life's path, conduct, course, or manner of living. It encapsulates all his actions, choices, and circumstances from his perspective. The irony deepens as this seemingly 'joyful way' is about to be terminated abruptly.
- and out of the dust (וּמֵעָפָר, u-me'āphār):
- and (וּ, u): Connects the two parts of the verse, indicating consequence or a further aspect of their end.
- out of the dust/earth (מֵעָפָר, me'āphār): 'Aphār signifies fine, dry earth, dust, or dirt. Biblically, "dust" frequently symbolizes humanity's mortality and humble origins (Gen 2:7, 3:19). Here, it emphasizes the return to insignificance and decay, contrasting with their brief, superficial 'joy'.
- others (אַחֵר, aḥēr): Means "another," "others," or "a succeeding one." It points to the immediate and effortless replacement of the wicked. Once the wicked are removed, new people or things simply fill the void, indicating the wicked's ultimate expendability and lack of lasting impact.
- will spring (יִבְלָח, yivlakh): Derived from a root meaning to sprout, spring up, or come forth. In context with 'dust' and plants, it refers to new growth. This implies that as quickly as the wicked vanish, new entities (people, life) emerge from the same humble origins, as if effortlessly replacing the eradicated memory of the wicked. It emphasizes the complete lack of enduring legacy for those who "forget God."
Job 8 19 Bonus section
The seemingly contradictory "joy" and subsequent perishing highlights the ancient Israelite understanding of deceptive appearances. While the wicked might prosper temporarily (as also explored in Psalm 73), their ultimate end, determined by divine justice, is inevitable ruin and historical erasure. This verse, therefore, serves as a warning against measuring life's success purely by transient external circumstances, reinforcing the idea that a relationship with God is the sole source of true, enduring stability and worth. This concept is a major theme throughout the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, directly challenging simplistic views that fail to account for the deeper spiritual realities of human existence and divine governance.
Job 8 19 Commentary
Job 8:19 encapsulates Bildad's stern, unwavering adherence to conventional retribution theology. He argues that the wicked's life, however seemingly prosperous or 'joyful' (an ironic twist of phrase), is fundamentally rooted in forgetting God, making it unstable and temporary. Like a plant with shallow roots that quickly withers and is replaced, the wicked individual and their legacy vanish without a trace. Their perceived success is merely an illusion, culminating not in genuine joy or lasting impact, but in swift annihilation and utter oblivion. The phrase "out of the dust others will spring" powerfully signifies their rapid replacement, reinforcing their insignificance and lack of a permanent mark, contrasting starkly with the enduring legacy of the righteous. It highlights the principle that true prosperity and stability are found only in remembrance and fellowship with God, not in fleeting worldly achievements.
Examples for practical usage:
- Failing to invest in spiritual growth: A person might accumulate wealth and pleasure but neglects their spiritual life, eventually facing emptiness when these worldly joys pass.
- Seeking only self-gratification: Living solely for one's own desires, ignoring biblical principles, leads to a legacy that quickly fades, being forgotten as new generations arise.
- Ephemeral fame: Those whose 'joyful way' is only based on fleeting trends or temporary popularity often find their influence and memory quickly supplanted by the next novelty.