The Meaning of Job 8:5 Explained

Job 8:5

KJV: If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

YLT: If thou dost seek early unto God, And unto the Mighty makest supplication,

Darby: If thou seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty,

ASV: If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If thou wouldest seek  unto God  betimes,  and make thy supplication  to the Almighty; 

What does Job 8:5 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 8:5 mean?

if you would earnestly seek unto God and to the Almighty make your supplication
אִם־ אַ֭תָּה תְּשַׁחֵ֣ר אֶל־ אֵ֑ל וְאֶל־ שַׁ֝דַּ֗י תִּתְחַנָּֽן

תְּשַׁחֵ֣ר  would  earnestly  seek 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַר  
Sense: to seek, seek early or earnestly, look early or diligently for.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אֵ֑ל  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
וְאֶל־  and  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
שַׁ֝דַּ֗י  the  Almighty 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁדַּי  
Sense: almighty, most powerful.
תִּתְחַנָּֽן  make  your  supplication 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.