Job 18:2
in Job 18“How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
How long will ye hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
KJV
How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
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This verse in Job 18
Commentary
11 notes on this verseHow long will it be ere ye make an end - It is difficult to say to whom this address is made: being in the plural number, it can hardly be supposed to mean Job only. It probably means all present; as if he had said, It is vain to talk with this man, and follow him through all his quibbles: take notice of this, and then let us all deliver our sentiments fully to him, without paying any regard to his self-vindications.
This site's exposition
Then Bildad the Shuhite replied
on Job 18:1-4
Bildad opens irritated, "How long until you end these speeches". In "You who tear yourself in anger" the tearing Job used of God at 16:9 turns on Job. The question "should the earth be forsaken on your account" accuses him of asking the world to bend for him.
This site's exposition
How long until you end these speeches
The plural of Bildad's question puzzles the commentators. Wesley takes it as Job alone, addressed in the plural of respect. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown think Bildad tells his two companions to end their long speeches and talk sense.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
It seems that Bildad ignores Job when he draws his resolutions, or when the logic of his words comes to him or when the power of his words comes to him, and where his will leads him, because the fighter "continues" to fight. The more …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Since Baldath of Shuah could not understand what blessed Job meant with his intellect, he thought that what he himself did not understand was spoken without basis even by the speaker, and so in the beginning of his answer he says, "To what end will …
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said, Unto what end will ye cast abroad words? understand first, and so let us speak. ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION We have already said frequently that blessed Job bears a type of the Holy Church universal, and that his friends bear the likeness of heretics, who as it were on the plea of defence of the Lord find occasion of foolish talking, and let loose insulting words against good men; to whom all is displeasing that is thought by the faithful, as though it were uttered to the wind.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Ye - Thou, O Job; of whom he speaks here, as also ver. 3, in the plural number, as was a common idiotism of the Eastern language, to speak thus of one person, especially where he was one of eminency.
How long will it be ere ye make an end of words?....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
It is common for contenders to monopolize the reputation of wisdom, and then to insist upon it as their privilege to be dictators. How unbecoming this conduct is in others every one can see; but few that are guilty of it can see it in themselves.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
ye--the other two friends of Job, whom Bildad charges with having spoken mere "words," that is, empty speeches; opposed to "mark," that is, come to reason, consider the question intelligently; and then let us speak.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? - It has been made a question to whom this is addressed. It is in the plural number, and it is not usual in Hebrew when addressing an individual to make use of the plural form. Some have supposed that it is addressed to Job and to Eliphaz, as being both “long-winded” and tedious in their remarks. Others have supposed that it refers to Job “and the members of his family,” who possibly interposed remarks, and joined Job in his complaints. Others suppose that it refers to Eliphaz and Zophar, as being silent during the speech of Job, and not arresting his remarks as they ought to have done. Rosenmuller supposes that it refers to Job and those similar to him, who were mere feigners of piety, and that Bildad means to ask how long it would be before they would be effectually silenced, and their complaints hushed. I see no great difficulty in supposing that the reference is to Job. The whole strain of the discourse evidently supposes it; and there is no evidence that any of the family of Job had spoken, nor does it seem at all probable that Bildad would reprove his own friends either for the length of their speeches, or for not interrupting an other. The custom in the East is to allow a man to utter all that he has to say without interruption. Mark - Hebrew understand; or be intelligent - תבינו tābı̂ynû; that is, either speak distinctly, clearly, intelligently; or consider and weigh our arguments. The former is the interpretation of Schultens, and seems to me to be the true one. The idea is this: “You, Job, have been altering mere words. They are words of complaint, without argument. Speak now in a different manner; show that you understand the case; advance arguments that are worthy of attention, and then we will reply.”
The words behind it
8 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| עַד־ | ʾad- | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| אָ֤נָה׀ | ʾanah | when? | H575 → | 41 times |
| תְּשִׂימ֣וּן | tesimun | will you make ! | H7760 → | 584 times |
| קִנְצֵ֣י | kintzei | ends | H7078 → | |
| לְמִלִּ֑ין | lemilin | of words | H4405 → | 38 times |
| תָּ֝בִ֗ינוּ | tavinu | you will consider | H995 → | 170 times |
| וְאַחַ֥ר | veachar | and after | H310 → | 715 times |
| נְדַבֵּֽר׃ | nedaber | we will speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
עַד־until
ʾad-H5704 →1261 times
אָ֤נָה׀when?
ʾanahH575 →41 times
תְּשִׂימ֣וּןwill you make !
tesimunH7760 →584 times
קִנְצֵ֣יends
kintzeiH7078 →
לְמִלִּ֑יןof words
lemilinH4405 →38 times
תָּ֝בִ֗ינוּyou will consider
tavinuH995 →170 times
וְאַחַ֥רand after
veacharH310 →715 times
נְדַבֵּֽר׃we will speak
nedaberH1696 →1141 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Proverbs 18:13He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
it leads to
- John 7:51
“Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?”
- Deuteronomy 13:14
then you must inquire, investigate, and interrogate thoroughly. And if it is established with certainty that this abomination has been committed among you,
- Proverbs 20:25
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
- John 7:51
Through
Job 3:17There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary find rest.
it leads to
- Revelation 14:13
And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead—those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labors,…
- Job 17:16
Will it go down to the gates of Sheol? Will we go down together into the dust?”
- Isaiah 57:1–2
The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; devout men are swept away, while no one considers that the righteous are guided from the presence of evil.
- Job 14:13
If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me!
- Revelation 14:13
Through
Job 33:1“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.
it leads to
- Job 13:6
Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
- Job 13:6
About Job
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, Morals on the Book of Job, Book XIV; Hesychius of Jerusalem, HOMILIES ON JOB 21.18.2-3; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Job.