Job 8 5

Job 8:5 kjv

If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

Job 8:5 nkjv

If you would earnestly seek God And make your supplication to the Almighty,

Job 8:5 niv

But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty,

Job 8:5 esv

If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,

Job 8:5 nlt

But if you pray to God
and seek the favor of the Almighty,

Job 8 verses

Job 8 5 Meaning

Job 8:5 states Bildad's counsel to Job: that if Job would sincerely and earnestly seek God and humbly implore the Almighty, then God would surely hear him and bring about his restoration. It presents a conditional promise rooted in the belief that God justly rewards the righteous who turn to Him.

Job 8 5 Context

Job 8:5 is spoken by Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job's three friends. This verse is part of Bildad's first speech, where he asserts a conventional "retribution theology" prevalent in much of the ancient Near East: that God is perfectly just and that severe suffering is always a direct consequence of sin, while prosperity follows righteousness. Bildad directly challenges Job, implying that his immense suffering must be due to his iniquity and the death of his children (Job 8:4) was their deserved punishment. Verse 5 acts as a conditional statement: if Job would truly turn to God with intense earnestness and humble prayer, then God, in His absolute power and justice, would intervene to restore him (as suggested in Job 8:6-7). Bildad's advice, while containing general biblical truths about seeking God, is fundamentally misapplied to Job's situation, as Job was righteous and his suffering was part of a divine test, not a punishment for personal sin. The overall book of Job challenges and refines this simplistic view of divine justice.

Job 8 5 Word analysis

• If (אִם, im): This particle establishes a strong condition. It indicates that Bildad's subsequent promises of restoration (Job 8:6-7) are entirely dependent upon Job fulfilling the specified actions of seeking and supplicating. It places the burden of initiative squarely on Job.
• you would seek diligently (תְשַׁחֵר, teshaḥer): This is from the Hebrew verb root shāḥar (שחר), meaning "to seek early" or "to seek earnestly." The Piel stem, used here, intensifies the meaning, implying an ardent, persistent, and dedicated pursuit, much like rising before dawn to seek something vital. It's not a casual or half-hearted inquiry, but a fervent, intentional effort to connect with and find God, indicating a deep desire.
• God (אֵל, El): This is a common Semitic noun for "god" or "deity." In the Hebrew Bible, El can refer to God generally or, especially when coupled with other titles or in context, specifically to the one true God, Yahweh. Here, in Bildad's speech, it refers to the divine power from whom Job is expected to seek favor.
• and make your supplication (תִּתְחַנָּן, tithaḥnen): This is from the root ḥānan (חנן), meaning "to be gracious" or "to show favor." The Hithpael stem here denotes a reflexive or reciprocal action, meaning to "implore grace," "plead for favor," or "make supplication." It describes humble, heartfelt prayer that acknowledges dependence and appeals for mercy rather than demanding rights. It signifies casting oneself upon the unmerited kindness of the one being addressed.
• to the Almighty (אֶל־שַׁדַּי, El-Shaddai): This significant divine name translates as "God Almighty" or "God All-Sufficient." It emphasizes God's omnipotence, overwhelming power, and ability to fulfill His purposes and promises. The name Shaddai often denotes God's power in sustaining and providing, and His sovereign ability to bless or to judge. By invoking El-Shaddai, Bildad underscores God's absolute capability to intervene decisively in Job's situation if Job meets the condition. It evokes God's power as revealed to the patriarchs (Exo 6:3).

• "If you would seek God diligently": This phrase highlights the critical aspect of intention, effort, and depth required in one's pursuit of God. It is an active, demanding, and intensely personal quest, rather than passive contemplation or a superficial act of religiosity. It implies that true seeking involves the whole heart and being.
• "and make your supplication to the Almighty": This segment complements the first, focusing on the manner of approach: humble, earnest prayer for grace, coupled with a recognition of God's immense power and sovereignty (Almighty). It means coming before God acknowledging His boundless ability and relying on His mercy, not human merit. This combining of intense seeking with humble pleading to the omnipotent God outlines Bildad's perceived pathway to divine favor and restoration.

Job 8 5 Bonus section

• This verse stands as an example of classic retribution theology, which posits a direct, immediate, and understandable correlation between righteousness/wickedness and blessing/suffering. While prominent in books like Proverbs, Job itself serves as a profound critique and nuance of this theology, demonstrating that suffering is not always punitive.
• Bildad, like his friends, frames his argument from the standpoint of ancestral tradition and established wisdom ("inquire, please, of past generations," Job 8:8), portraying his counsel as unquestionable truth passed down from the sages.
• The emphasis on diligent seeking and making supplication uses intensive verb forms in Hebrew, indicating a deep, soul-level engagement with God, far beyond mere outward rituals or words. This speaks to the qualitative nature of prayer and spiritual pursuit that pleases God.

Job 8 5 Commentary

Job 8:5 captures the essence of Bildad's conventional theology: suffering is caused by sin, and restoration comes through earnest repentance and turning to God. While the principles that God responds to diligent seeking and humble supplication from the heart are fundamentally true and affirmed throughout the Scriptures (Jer 29:13; Heb 11:6), Bildad misapplies them to Job's unique circumstance. His counsel implicitly accuses Job of hidden sin, assuming a simple cause-and-effect relationship between behavior and divine action. He views God as predictable and mechanistic, bound to react according to human deeds alone, thereby failing to grasp the complexities of God's ways, His testing of the righteous, or the unseen spiritual warfare affecting Job. Yet, even in this flawed counsel, there is a profound biblical truth: genuine, diligent seeking of God, accompanied by heartfelt supplication to His almighty power, remains a central tenet of the covenant relationship and a path to His intervention.