The Meaning of Job 8:12 Explained

Job 8:12

KJV: Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

YLT: While it is in its budding -- uncropped, Even before any herb it withereth.

Darby: Whilst it is yet in its greenness and not cut down, it withereth before any other grass.

ASV: Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whilst it [is] yet in his greenness,  [and] not cut down,  it withereth  before  any [other] herb. 

What does Job 8:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 8:1-22 - God Will Not Cast Away
Bildad now takes up the argument, appealing to the experience of former generations to show that special suffering, like Job's, indicated special sin, however deeply concealed. He feels that God could not pervert judgment, and that the sudden destruction of Job's children proved that they had transgressed.
Job 8:11-13 are probably quoted from an old poem, embodying the sententious observation of some older generation, which compared the ungodly to the rapid growth and more rapid destruction of the papyrus plant. Job 8:14-15 compare the state of the ungodly to the slight fabric of the spider's web, fine-spun, flimsy, and insecure. Job 8:16-19 employ yet another comparison-that of the weeds, which grow to rank luxuriance, spreading over heaps of stones and even walls, which they are figuratively said to see in the distance and creep toward; the very earth is ashamed of them, as presently they lie withered on the path. But notice the assurances that God will uphold all those who return to Him. Be of good cheer; thou shalt yet praise Him! [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 8

1  Bildad shows God's justice in dealing with men according to their works
8  He alleges antiquity to prove the certain destruction of the hypocrite
20  He applies God's just dealing to Job

What do the individual words in Job 8:12 mean?

while it [is] yet green [and] not cut down and before any [other] plant it withers
עֹדֶ֣נּוּ בְ֭אִבּוֹ לֹ֣א יִקָּטֵ֑ף וְלִפְנֵ֖י כָל־ חָצִ֣יר יִיבָֽשׁ

עֹדֶ֣נּוּ  while  it  [is]  yet 
Parse: Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
בְ֭אִבּוֹ  green 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵב  
Sense: freshness, fresh green, green shoots, or greenery.
לֹ֣א  [and]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִקָּטֵ֑ף  cut  down 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָטַף  
Sense: to pluck off or out, cut off.
וְלִפְנֵ֖י  and  before 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
כָל־  any 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
חָצִ֣יר  [other]  plant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָצִיר 
Sense: grass, leek, green grass, herbage.
יִיבָֽשׁ  it  withers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָבֵשׁ  
Sense: to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered.

What are the major concepts related to Job 8:12?

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