Bible Commentaries
Job 8

Verse 2

8:2 How long wilt thou speak these [things]? and [how long shall] the words of thy mouth {a} [be like] a strong wind?

(a) He declares that their words which would diminish anything from the justice of God, are but as a puff of wind that vanishes away.

Verse 4

8:4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their {b} transgression;

(b) That is, has rewarded them according to their iniquity, meaning that Job should be warned by the example of his children, that he not offend God.

Verse 5

8:5 If thou {c} wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

(c) That is, if you turn while God calls you to repentance.

Verse 7

8:7 Though thy beginning {d} was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

(d) Though the beginning is not as pleasant as you would like, yet in the end you will have sufficient opportunity to please yourself.

Verse 8

8:8 For {e} enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

(e) He wills Job to examine all antiquity and he will find it true which he here says.

Verse 9

8:9

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

(f) Meaning, that it is not enough to have the experience of ourselves, but to be confirmed by the examples of those who went before us.

Verse 11

8:11 Can the rush {g} grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

(g) As a rush cannot grow without moisture, so the hypocrite because he does not have faith which is watered with God’s Spirit.

Verse 14

8:14 Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust [shall be] a {h} spider’s web.

(h) Which is today and tomorrow swept away.

Verse 16

8:16 He [is] {i} green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.

(i) He compares the just to a tree, which although it is moved from one place to another, yet flourishes: so the affliction of the godly turns to their profit.

Verse 18

8:18 If he destroy him from his place, then [it] shall {k} deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.

(k) That is, so that there remains nothing there to prove whether the tree had grown there or not.

Verse 19

8:19 Behold, this [is] the joy {l} of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

(l) To be planted in another place, where it may grow as it pleases.

Verse 21

8:21 Till he fill thy mouth with {m} laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.

(m) If you are godly, he will give you opportunity to rejoice and if not your affliction will increase.