The Meaning of Job 8:7 Explained

Job 8:7

KJV: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

YLT: And thy beginning hath been small, And thy latter end is very great.

Darby: And though thy beginning was small, yet thine end shall be very great.

ASV: And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Though thy beginning  was small,  yet thy latter end  should greatly  increase. 

What does Job 8:7 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 8:7 mean?

And Though was your beginning small and yet your latter end would increase abundantly
וְהָיָ֣ה רֵאשִׁיתְךָ֣ מִצְעָ֑ר וְ֝אַחֲרִיתְךָ֗ יִשְׂגֶּ֥ה מְאֹֽד

וְהָיָ֣ה  And  Though  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
רֵאשִׁיתְךָ֣  your  beginning 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
מִצְעָ֑ר  small 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִצְעָר  
Sense: a small thing.
וְ֝אַחֲרִיתְךָ֗  and  yet  your  latter  end 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אַחֲרִית  
Sense: after part, end.
יִשְׂגֶּ֥ה  would  increase 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂגָה  
Sense: to grow, increase.
מְאֹֽד  abundantly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.