Job 8:13
Verse
Context
Sermons


Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
So are the paths - The papyrus and the rush flourish while they have a plentiful supply of ooze and water; but take these away, and their prosperity is speedily at an end; so it is with the wicked and profane; their prosperity is of short duration, however great it may appear to be in the beginning. Thou also, O thou enemy of God, hast flourished for a time; but the blast of God is come upon thee, and now thou art dried up from the very roots. The hypocrite's hope shall perish - A hypocrite, or rather profligate, has no inward religion, for his heart is not right with God; he has only hope, and that perishes when he gives up the ghost. This is the first place in which the word hypocrite occurs, or the noun חנף chaneph, which rather conveys the idea of pollution and defilement than of hypocrisy. A hypocrite is one who only carries the mask of godliness, to serve secular purposes; who wishes to be taken for a religionist, though he is conscious he has no religion. Such a person cannot have hope of any good, because he knows he is insincere: but the person in the text has hope; therefore hypocrite cannot be the meaning of the original word. But all the vile, the polluted, and the profligate have hope; they hope to end their iniquities before they end life; and they hope to get at last to the kingdom of heaven. Hypocrite is a very improper translation of the Hebrew.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
paths--so "ways" (Pro 1:19). all that forget God--the distinguishing trait of the godless (Psa 9:17; Psa 50:22).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Whose hope shall be cut off,.... The same thing as before, expressed in different words, and repeated for the certainty of it; signifying that it should be of no manner of use, should be wholly lost, and issue in black despair: the word has the signification of loathing, and is differently rendered, either, "whom his hope shall loathe" (e) or, "who shall loathe his hope" (f); he shall fret and tease, and vex himself that he should be such a fool to entertain such a vain hope, or to place hope and confidence in such vain things, finding himself most sadly disappointed: and whose trust shall be a spider's web; or "a spider's house" (g); and such its web is to it; having made it, it encloses itself in it, and dwells securely: very fitly is the hope and confidence of an hypocrite compared to a spider's web, which is a very nice and curious piece of workmanship, as are the outward works of righteousness, done by hypocrites they are wrought out and set off to the best advantage, to be seen of men; yet very slight and thin, and will bear no weight; such are the best works of carnal professors; they make a fine appearance, but have no substance, do not flow from principles of grace, nor are done in the strength of Christ, or to the glory of God; are but "splendida peccata", as one calls them, and fall infinitely short of bearing the weight of the salvation of the soul: as the spider's web is spun out of its own bowels, so the works of such persons are wholly of themselves; they are their own, done without the grace of God and spirit of Christ; and such webs are not fit for garments, are too thin to cover naked souls; insufficient to shelter from divine wrath and vengeance; cannot bear the besom of justice, one stroke of which will sweep them all away; and though they may think themselves safe enclosed in them as in a house, they will find themselves in the issue wretchedly mistaken; for there is no shelter, safety, and security, in such cobwebs; there is none but in Christ and his righteousness. (e) "quem abominabitur spes ejus", Montanus; "fastidit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "cum taedio rejectabit", Schultens. (f) "Quippe abominabitur spem suam", Schmidt. (g) "domus araneae, vel aranei"; Pagninus, Montanus, &c.
Job 8:13
Bildad: Job Should Repent
12While the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass. 13Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so the hope of the godless will perish. 14His confidence is fragile; his security is in a spider’s web.
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Epistle 229
By George Fox0JOB 8:13DAN 8:25JHN 4:24ROM 13:12CO 5:16GAL 2:4EPH 4:3PHP 1:5COL 3:2HEB 6:13JAS 1:25JAS 2:172PE 2:1REV 17:15George Fox preaches about the importance of living in the spirit rather than the flesh, emphasizing the need to set our affections on heavenly things and subject our souls to the higher power of truth. He urges believers to maintain spiritual minds above earthly concerns, highlighting the significance of true worship in spirit and truth. Fox also stresses the unity in the spirit as the bond of peace, fellowship in the gospel, and the liberty found in perfect unity above bondage.
The Objects, Grounds, and Evidences of the Hope of the Righteous
By Samuel Davies0JOB 8:13JOB 11:20JOB 27:8PRO 10:28PRO 11:7PRO 11:23PRO 24:20Samuel Davies preaches about the objects, grounds, and evidences of the hope of the righteous in contrast to the despair of the wicked in death. He emphasizes the importance of having a well-founded hope in God's promises and the necessity of genuine repentance, faith, and holiness as evidence of a true hope. Davies warns against false hopes based on worldly comparisons, neglect of known duties, or unscriptural beliefs, highlighting the dreadful fate of those who die in their sins. He encourages believers to seek a hope that is supported by God's Word and the work of the Holy Spirit, leading to a peaceful and assured departure into eternal happiness.
The Hypocrite's Hope
By Thomas Brooks0HypocrisyTrue AssuranceJOB 8:13JOB 27:8PRO 11:7ROM 6:23GAL 6:7Thomas Brooks emphasizes the futility of the hypocrite's hope, warning that those who live in sin and presume upon God's grace without true repentance face dire consequences. He cites Job 27:8 and Proverbs 11:7 to illustrate that the hopes of the wicked perish at death, and that false assurance leads to greater misery in damnation. Brooks calls for deliverance from such false hopes and urges the pursuit of a divine hope that fosters a hatred for sin. The sermon serves as a stark reminder of the importance of genuine faith and repentance.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
So are the paths - The papyrus and the rush flourish while they have a plentiful supply of ooze and water; but take these away, and their prosperity is speedily at an end; so it is with the wicked and profane; their prosperity is of short duration, however great it may appear to be in the beginning. Thou also, O thou enemy of God, hast flourished for a time; but the blast of God is come upon thee, and now thou art dried up from the very roots. The hypocrite's hope shall perish - A hypocrite, or rather profligate, has no inward religion, for his heart is not right with God; he has only hope, and that perishes when he gives up the ghost. This is the first place in which the word hypocrite occurs, or the noun חנף chaneph, which rather conveys the idea of pollution and defilement than of hypocrisy. A hypocrite is one who only carries the mask of godliness, to serve secular purposes; who wishes to be taken for a religionist, though he is conscious he has no religion. Such a person cannot have hope of any good, because he knows he is insincere: but the person in the text has hope; therefore hypocrite cannot be the meaning of the original word. But all the vile, the polluted, and the profligate have hope; they hope to end their iniquities before they end life; and they hope to get at last to the kingdom of heaven. Hypocrite is a very improper translation of the Hebrew.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
paths--so "ways" (Pro 1:19). all that forget God--the distinguishing trait of the godless (Psa 9:17; Psa 50:22).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Whose hope shall be cut off,.... The same thing as before, expressed in different words, and repeated for the certainty of it; signifying that it should be of no manner of use, should be wholly lost, and issue in black despair: the word has the signification of loathing, and is differently rendered, either, "whom his hope shall loathe" (e) or, "who shall loathe his hope" (f); he shall fret and tease, and vex himself that he should be such a fool to entertain such a vain hope, or to place hope and confidence in such vain things, finding himself most sadly disappointed: and whose trust shall be a spider's web; or "a spider's house" (g); and such its web is to it; having made it, it encloses itself in it, and dwells securely: very fitly is the hope and confidence of an hypocrite compared to a spider's web, which is a very nice and curious piece of workmanship, as are the outward works of righteousness, done by hypocrites they are wrought out and set off to the best advantage, to be seen of men; yet very slight and thin, and will bear no weight; such are the best works of carnal professors; they make a fine appearance, but have no substance, do not flow from principles of grace, nor are done in the strength of Christ, or to the glory of God; are but "splendida peccata", as one calls them, and fall infinitely short of bearing the weight of the salvation of the soul: as the spider's web is spun out of its own bowels, so the works of such persons are wholly of themselves; they are their own, done without the grace of God and spirit of Christ; and such webs are not fit for garments, are too thin to cover naked souls; insufficient to shelter from divine wrath and vengeance; cannot bear the besom of justice, one stroke of which will sweep them all away; and though they may think themselves safe enclosed in them as in a house, they will find themselves in the issue wretchedly mistaken; for there is no shelter, safety, and security, in such cobwebs; there is none but in Christ and his righteousness. (e) "quem abominabitur spes ejus", Montanus; "fastidit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "cum taedio rejectabit", Schultens. (f) "Quippe abominabitur spem suam", Schmidt. (g) "domus araneae, vel aranei"; Pagninus, Montanus, &c.