Job 18:12 reads, "His strength shall be famished, and destruction [or calamity] shall be ready at his side." This is part of Bildad's second speech, where he is essentially telling Job that the wicked will suffer terribly. Let's break down the meaning:
"His strength shall be famished": This suggests that the wicked person's power, vitality, and vigor will diminish. They will become weak, both physically and figuratively. They will lack the resources (strength, influence, resilience) to withstand the trials they face. It implies a gradual erosion of their ability to cope.
"Calamity shall be ready at his side": This means that disaster, misfortune, or ruin will be constantly present, waiting to strike. The wicked person will be constantly vulnerable, with calamity lurking nearby, ready to pounce. The phrase emphasizes the imminence and inevitability of the wicked's downfall.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of a wicked person whose strength is dwindling, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to impending disaster. Bildad uses this language to illustrate what he believes is the inevitable fate of the ungodly. He is arguing that suffering is a consequence of wickedness, which he believes Job is guilty of.
Context within Job:
It is important to remember the context of this verse within the book of Job. Bildad, like the other friends, is operating under the assumption that Job's suffering is proof of his sin. Therefore, he is using the imagery of weakness and impending doom to illustrate his view of what happens to those who disobey God.
However, the book of Job challenges this simplistic view of suffering. Job is presented as righteous, yet he endures immense suffering. The book ultimately explores the complex relationship between suffering and righteousness, rejecting the notion that all suffering is a direct result of sin.
Job 18:12 reads, "His strength shall be famished, and destruction [or calamity] shall be ready at his side." This is part of Bildad's second speech, where he is essentially telling Job that the wicked will suffer terribly. Let's break down the meaning:
"His strength shall be famished": This suggests that the wicked person's power, vitality, and vigor will diminish. They will become weak, both physically and figuratively. They will lack the resources (strength, influence, resilience) to withstand the trials they face. It implies a gradual erosion of their ability to cope.
"Calamity shall be ready at his side": This means that disaster, misfortune, or ruin will be constantly present, waiting to strike. The wicked person will be constantly vulnerable, with calamity lurking nearby, ready to pounce. The phrase emphasizes the imminence and inevitability of the wicked's downfall.
In essence, the verse paints a picture of a wicked person whose strength is dwindling, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to impending disaster. Bildad uses this language to illustrate what he believes is the inevitable fate of the ungodly. He is arguing that suffering is a consequence of wickedness, which he believes Job is guilty of.
Context within Job:
It is important to remember the context of this verse within the book of Job. Bildad, like the other friends, is operating under the assumption that Job's suffering is proof of his sin. Therefore, he is using the imagery of weakness and impending doom to illustrate his view of what happens to those who disobey God.
However, the book of Job challenges this simplistic view of suffering. Job is presented as righteous, yet he endures immense suffering. The book ultimately explores the complex relationship between suffering and righteousness, rejecting the notion that all suffering is a direct result of sin.