Job 8 9

Job 8:9 kjv

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

Job 8:9 nkjv

For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on earth are a shadow.

Job 8:9 niv

for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.

Job 8:9 esv

For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.

Job 8:9 nlt

For we were born but yesterday and know nothing.
Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow.

Job 8 verses

Job 8 9 Meaning

Bildad the Shuhite asserts that human beings have a very short lifespan and limited knowledge, metaphorically describing human existence as if born "yesterday" and passing like a fleeting "shadow" on earth. This statement underscores the transient and insubstantial nature of human life and its inherent lack of deep understanding when contrasted with the vastness of time and divine wisdom, forming a premise for his appeal to ancient wisdom.

Job 8 9 Context

Job 8:9 is spoken by Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job's three friends, in his first of three speeches (Job 8:1-22). Bildad is responding to Job's earlier lament and protests of innocence. He represents a conventional wisdom tradition, deeply rooted in the belief that God is just and always punishes the wicked, while prospering the righteous.

In this chapter, Bildad argues that if Job's children had sinned, they deserved their fate (Job 8:4), and if Job himself were pure, God would restore him (Job 8:5-7). His foundational argument for this traditional view is an appeal to ancestral wisdom and accumulated knowledge. He contrasts Job's immediate, short-lived experience with the vast knowledge of past generations, claiming that understanding comes from looking to the "former ages" and "searching into the fathers" (Job 8:8). Verse 9 serves to bolster this point: because current human experience is so fleeting and inherently limited ("but of yesterday," "know nothing," "our days... are a shadow"), one cannot truly comprehend the complexities of life or God's ways through personal experience alone. Therefore, the wisdom of the ancients, as interpreted by Bildad, must be the authoritative source of truth regarding divine justice and the cause of suffering. Bildad is not expressing humility for himself, but using the general truth of human frailty to dismiss Job's protestations and compel him to acknowledge presumed sin based on a rigid theological framework.

Job 8 9 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): A conjunction meaning "for," "because," "indeed." It introduces the reason or explanation for Bildad's preceding statements, particularly the call to inquire of the past (Job 8:8). It grounds his argument in a presumed reality of human existence.
• we are (אֲנָחְנוּ - anakhnu): First person plural pronoun, "we." Bildad includes himself, implying this is a universal human condition, adding a tone of shared experience and supposed objectivity to his pronouncement.
• but of yesterday (תְּמוֹל - temol): A temporal adverb meaning "yesterday." Metaphorically signifies extreme recency, novelty, or a very short duration. It emphasizes human brevity and limited personal history, directly contrasting with the long history of "former ages" (Job 8:8). Our experience is shallow because our time is so short.
• and know nothing (וְלֹא נֵדָע - v'lo nedah):
  • and (וְ - ve): Conjunction, links the two ideas.
  • know (נֵדָע - nedah): From the verb יָדַע (yada), meaning to know, understand, perceive, or have intimate knowledge/experience. The negative particle לֹא (lo, "not") precedes it. This phrase asserts an inherent human limitation in comprehensive understanding, especially concerning the deeper mysteries of God's ways or the complex causes of suffering. It implies our short existence prevents us from acquiring profound wisdom naturally.
• because (כִּי - ki): A conjunction, reiterating "for" or "because," introducing the justification for the prior statement about not knowing.
• our days (יָמֵינוּ - yameinu): "Our days," referring to the span of human life. Reinforces the focus on the limited duration of human existence.
• upon earth (עֲלֵי אָרֶץ - alei aretz): Literally "upon land/earth." Specifies that this brevity and insubstantiality apply to our mortal, terrestrial existence, distinct from God's eternal, heavenly existence.
• are a shadow (צֵל - tzel): "Shadow." This is a powerful, concise metaphor. A shadow is transient (moves and vanishes with the sun), insubstantial (has no solid form), and ultimately fleeting. It signifies ephemerality, illusoriness, and lack of permanence.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• For we are but of yesterday: This phrase sets up the fundamental premise: human existence is extremely recent and therefore inherently limited in its direct experience and accumulated knowledge. It's a foundational statement of human humility (though ironically, Bildad isn't using it for true humility).
• and know nothing: This directly follows from the "yesterday" clause, stating the consequence of our brevity. Our limited time on earth means our direct, personal knowledge is profoundly inadequate for grasping divine truth or life's ultimate realities. This statement highlights epistemological limitations.
• because our days upon earth are a shadow: This explains why we are like those "of yesterday" and "know nothing." The comparison of life to a "shadow" is the primary visual and experiential metaphor. It captures the fleeting, unsubstantial, and transient nature of human life on a physical, earthly plane. It contrasts sharply with God's permanence and substantial reality.

Job 8 9 Bonus section

The irony of Bildad's statement lies in the fact that while he speaks a profound general truth about human limitation, he himself is limited by his own conventional understanding of God. He believes his "wisdom" is comprehensive and complete, despite asserting that "we know nothing." This highlights a central tension in the Book of Job: the insufficiency of even the most respected human wisdom (represented by the friends) to fully grasp divine truth and the complexities of God's ways, particularly regarding innocent suffering. True knowledge ultimately comes from God Himself (Job 42:3), a revelation beyond what any ancient tradition could fully convey.

Job 8 9 Commentary

Job 8:9, uttered by Bildad the Shuhite, encapsulates a profound truth about the transient and limited nature of human existence. Bildad's words, "For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow," articulate the universal human condition of being finite, short-lived, and restricted in knowledge when compared to the vastness of divine wisdom or eternal time. Our personal experiences, given life's brevity, cannot possibly encompass all understanding, prompting a necessary reliance on broader sources of truth—be they ancient traditions or divine revelation.

However, the power and partial truth of this statement must be understood within its context. Bildad employs this truth not to cultivate genuine humility in himself or Job, but as a rhetorical tool to enforce his own rigid, traditional theology. He uses the accepted wisdom of human ephemerality to invalidate Job's claims of innocence and to reassert the traditional belief that suffering is solely a consequence of sin. He implies that Job's individual suffering and protestations of innocence, springing from his limited personal "yesterday," cannot contradict the accumulated wisdom of "the fathers" (Job 8:8) regarding God's just governance.

While Bildad's understanding of Job's specific situation is flawed and insensitive, the verse itself resonates as a timeless reminder of human fragility and intellectual humility before God. It echoes themes found throughout Scripture concerning the brevity of life (e.g., Ps 90, Jas 4:14) and the incomprehensibility of God's ways (e.g., Rom 11:33, Is 55:8-9). This inherent limitation necessitates faith and dependence on God's revelation, rather than self-derived wisdom or the misapplication of a rigid doctrine.