Bible Commentaries
Job 18

Verses 1-21

Job 18. Second Speech of Bildad.—“ Bildad speaks this time at unusual length, but his speech has no significance, since it simply describes the fate of the godless. Into the description of this, however, there are interwoven direct allusions to Job’ s case, so that to this degree it serves to increase Job’ s perplexity and bring on the crisis” (Duhm).

Job 18:2-4 contains the usual personal polemic; in Job 18:2 we must read sing. for plur.; Job 18:4 asks Job if the earth is to be turned upside down to suit him.

Job 18:5-21 contains an extended picture of the fate of the godless. In Job 18:13 “ the first-born of death” is probably “ the worst pestilence.” In Job 18:14 the “ king of terrors” is death.

Job 18:15 perhaps alludes to the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. In Job 18:20 it is best to translate as mg.