Job 8:2

"Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,"

Key Reflection

In the context of the narrative, when Bildad the Shuhite answers Job's lamentations in chapter 8, 2, the original audience would recognize that this is part of a larger dialogue among friends and God concerning the suffering Job endures. The Shuhites were a people from Sheba and Dedan, located to the south of Israel, and their response reflects their cultural and theological perspectives on divine justice and human trials, which would have been familiar to first-century readers in the context of the broader Mesopotamian literature dealing with similar themes of suffering and divine retribution.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

How long wilt thou speak these things? -The flyings of murmuring and complaint, such as he had uttered in the previous chapters. The words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? -The Syriac and Arabic (according to Walton) render this, “the spirit of pride fill thy mouth.” The Septuagint renders it, “The spirit of thy mouth is profuse of words” -πολυῤῥῆμονpolurrēmon. But the common rendering is undoubtedly correct, and the expression is a very strong and beautiful one. His language of complaint and murmuring was like a tempest. It swept over all barriers, and disregarded all restraint. The same figure is found in Aristophanes, Ran.

More from Job 8

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