Job 18:4
He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?
Original Language Analysis
טֹֽרֵ֥ף
He teareth
H2963
טֹֽרֵ֥ף
He teareth
Strong's:
H2963
Word #:
1 of 9
to pluck off or pull to pieces; causatively to supply with food (as in morsels)
נַפְשׁ֗וֹ
himself
H5315
נַפְשׁ֗וֹ
himself
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
2 of 9
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
בְּאַ֫פּ֥וֹ
in his anger
H639
בְּאַ֫פּ֥וֹ
in his anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
3 of 9
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
הַֽ֭לְמַעַנְךָ
H4616
הַֽ֭לְמַעַנְךָ
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
4 of 9
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
וְיֶעְתַּק
be removed
H6275
וְיֶעְתַּק
be removed
Strong's:
H6275
Word #:
7 of 9
to remove (intransitive or transitive) figuratively, to grow old; specifically, to transcribe
Cross References
Job 16:9He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.Job 14:18And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.Job 13:14Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
Historical Context
Ancient cosmology assumed fixed natural order. Bildad's rhetorical questions suggest Job's complaints require overturning cosmic order, missing that Job questions how moral order works.
Questions for Reflection
- When does seeking answers about suffering become self-centered?
- How do you distinguish between legitimate theodicy and selfish complaint?
Analysis & Commentary
Bildad challenges Job: 'He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?' This accuses Job of demanding the universe revolve around his suffering. Yet Job's questions actually grapple with universal theodicy, not personal exception.