Job 18:5
Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.
Original Language Analysis
גַּ֤ם
H1571
גַּ֤ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
א֣וֹר
Yea the light
H216
א֣וֹר
Yea the light
Strong's:
H216
Word #:
2 of 8
illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
of the wicked
H7563
רְשָׁעִ֣ים
of the wicked
Strong's:
H7563
Word #:
3 of 8
morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person
יִדְעָ֑ךְ
shall be put out
H1846
יִדְעָ֑ךְ
shall be put out
Strong's:
H1846
Word #:
4 of 8
to be extinguished; figuratively, to expire or be dried up
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Proverbs 13:9The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.Proverbs 24:20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.Proverbs 20:20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.Job 21:17How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.Isaiah 50:11Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.Proverbs 4:19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Historical Context
Light and darkness served as primary metaphors for blessing and curse in ancient thought. Bildad uses this cultural framework to suggest Job's catastrophic reversal proves divine judgment for wickedness.
Questions for Reflection
- How do we distinguish between temporary darkness and final judgment?
- What does the Bible teach about righteous people experiencing darkness?
Analysis & Commentary
'Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.' Bildad returns to retribution theology: the wicked's 'light' (אוֹר, or) will be 'put out' (יִדְעָךְ, yida'akh—extinguished), and 'spark' (שְׁבִיב, sheviv) won't 'shine' (יִגַּהּ, yigah). Light represents life, prosperity, and hope; darkness means death and disaster. Bildad's theology is orthodox—Proverbs 13:9, 24:20 teach this. The application to Job is slanderous—implying Job's darkness proves wickedness. The error: assuming all light-to-darkness transitions indicate divine judgment. Sometimes darkness precedes dawn (Psalm 30:5). Bildad mistakes Job's dark night for final judgment. The Reformed understanding of temporal and eternal judgment avoids this confusion.