Logos Bible Study

Job 8:8–9

The NET BibleOther versions

English

Arabic

Czech

French

German

Hebrew

Hungarian

Italian

Korean

Latin

Portuguese

Russian

Simplified Chinese

Spanish

Traditional Chinese

8:8“For inquire now of the former22 generation,

and pay attention23 to the findings24

of their ancestors;25

8:9For we were born yesterday26 and do not have knowledge,

since our days on earth are but a shadow.27

Read in Logos

Footnotes

  1. 22 Bildad is not calling for Job to trace through the learning of antiquity, but of the most recent former generation. Hebrews were fond of recalling what the “fathers” had taught, for each generation recalled what their fathers had taught.
  2. 23 The verb כוֹנֵן (khonen, from כּוּן, kun) normally would indicate “prepare yourself” or “fix” one’s heart on something, i.e., give attention to it. The verb with the ל (lamed) preposition after it does mean “to think on” or “to meditate” (Isa 51:13). But some commentators wish to change the ךּ (kaf) to a בּ (bet) in the verb to get “to consider” (from בִּין, bin). However, M. Dahood shows a connection between כּנן (knn) and שׁאל (sh’l) in Ugaritic (“Hebrew-Ugaritic Lexicography,” 46 [1965]: 329).
  3. 24 The Hebrew has “the search of their fathers,” but the word is probably intended to mean what that observation or search yielded (so “search” is a metonymy of cause).
  4. 25 Heb “fathers.”
  5. 26 The Hebrew has “we are of yesterday,” the adverb functioning as a predicate. Bildad’s point is that they have not had time to acquire great knowledge because they are recent.
  6. 27 E. Dhorme (Job, 116) observes that the shadow is the symbol of ephemeral things (14:2; 17:7; Ps 144:4). The shadow passes away quickly (116).

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“For inquire, please, of bygone ages,

and consider what the fathers have searched out.

For we are but of yesterday and know nothing,

for our days on earth are a shadow.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Ask the former generation

and find out what their ancestors learned,

for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,

and our days on earth are but a shadow.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For ask the previous generation,

and pay attention to what their ancestors discovered,

since we were born only yesterday and know nothing.

Our days on earth are but a shadow.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

“Just ask the previous generation.

Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors.

For we were born but yesterday and know nothing.

Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Indeed, please inquire of former generations,

and consider what their ancestors have found,

for we are of yesterday, and we do not know,

for our days on earth are a shadow.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age,

And prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing,

Because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

Public Domain