Job 8:14
Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.
Original Language Analysis
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
1 of 6
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
כִּסְל֑וֹ
Whose hope
H3689
כִּסְל֑וֹ
Whose hope
Strong's:
H3689
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, fatness, i.e., by implication (literally) the loin (as the seat of the leaf fat) or (generally) the viscera; also (figuratively) silliness o
וּבֵ֥ית
web
H1004
וּבֵ֥ית
web
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
4 of 6
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Historical Context
Spiders and their webs were common in ancient Near Eastern dwellings. The web's combination of intricate construction and extreme fragility made it natural metaphor for false security. Ancient builders would clear webs from corners, illustrating how easily impressive-appearing structures collapse.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern equivalents to the spider's web—impressive but insubstantial securities—tempt Christians to trust?
- How does the spider's web metaphor illustrate the difference between trusting our faith (the web) versus trusting God (the solid rock)?
- In what ways can we examine whether our hope rests on Christ alone or includes spider's web additions?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Bildad describes the hypocrite's false security: 'Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.' The verb 'cut off' (qut, קוּט) means to sever or loathe—the hypocrite's hope is both severed and contemptible. The comparison to 'spider's web' (bayit akkabish, בַּיִת עַכָּבִישׁ, literally 'spider's house') is vivid: intricate, impressive-looking, but utterly fragile and unable to bear weight. Touch it, and it collapses.
The spider's web metaphor appears elsewhere in Scripture (Isaiah 59:5-6) representing works that cannot save. The web may appear substantial, carefully constructed through the spider's effort, but provides no real security. Similarly, trust in anything besides God—ritual, morality, heritage, wealth—resembles the spider's web: impressive but insubstantial when testing comes.
The Reformed doctrine of sola fide (faith alone) finds illustration here: trust in works, tradition, or self-righteousness cannot support us before God. Only Christ's finished work provides security that endures. Bildad correctly identifies false trust's inadequacy but tragically assumes Job's trust is the spider's web rather than recognizing Job's genuine faith in God despite suffering.