New English Translation
Job 8:20
20“Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers.
Job 8:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:
- New International Version (NIV)“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Behold, God will not cast away the blameless, Nor will He uphold the evildoers.
Context of Job 8:20
18If he is uprooted from his place, then that place will disown him, saying, ‘I have never seen you!’ 19Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up. “Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers. 21He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness. 22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”
Read all of Job 8Job 8:20 word by word
הֶן־אֵ֭ל לֹ֣א יִמְאַס־תָּ֑ם וְלֹֽא־יַ֝חֲזִ֗יק בְּיַד־מְרֵעִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Job 8:20
- Job 4:7Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished? And where were upright people ever destroyed?
- Job 9:22“It is all one! That is why I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’
- Psalms 37:24Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the Lord holds his hand.
- Psalms 94:14Certainly the Lord does not forsake his people; he does not abandon the nation that belongs to him.
- Isaiah 45:1This is what the Lord says to his chosen one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him, and disarm kings, to open doors before him, so gates remain unclosed:
Commentaries on Job 8:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man - This is another of the maxims of the ancients, which Bildad produces: "As sure as he will punish and root out the wicked, so surely will he defend and save the righteous."Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man - On the meaning of the word perfect, see the note at Job 1:1. The sentiment of Bildad, or the inference which he draws from the whole argument is, that God will be the friend of the pious, but that he will not aid the wicked. This accords with the general sentiment maintained in the argument of the friends of Job. Neither will he help the evil doers - Margin, “Take the ungodly by the hand.” This is in…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-22Verses 20-22 Bildad here assures Job, that as he was so he should fare; therefore they concluded, that as he fared so he was. God will not cast away an upright man; he may be cast down for a time, but he shall not be cast away for ever. Sin brings ruin on persons and families. Yet to argue, that Job was an ungodly, wicked man, was unjust and uncharitable. The mistake in these reasonings arose from Job's friends not distinguishing between the present state…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Bildad regards Job as a righteous man, who has fallen into sin. God will not cast away a perfect man--(or godly man, such as Job was), if he will only repent. Those alone who persevere in sin God will not help (Hebrew, "take by the hand," Psa 73:23; Is 41:13; 42:6) when fallen.Read the comment
Topics related to Job 8:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Job 8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries