Tyndale Open Study NotesJob 18

How long until you end these speeches?: Bildad spoke to Job as if addressing a group, possibly meaning "people like you."

The phrase, "the lamp of the wicked is extinguished," might symbolize a life filled with confusion and darkness (Proverbs 4:19). More likely, it suggests an early death (Proverbs 13:9; 24:20).

A shortened stride is the opposite of walking and running in a life of blessings (Proverbs 4:12).

A series of devices for hunting shows the biblical principle of revenge (see study note on 34:11).

Bildad uses the biblical idea of revenge (consequences for doing wrong) in Job's case, as do Eliphaz and Zophar.

death devours: The prophet Isaiah later changed this image. He pictured the Lord as defeating death (Isaiah 25:8; see 1 Corinthians 15:54).

The image of burning sulfur reminds the reader of what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). It suggests what will happen to all evil people (Psalm 11:6; Revelation 19:20; 21:8).

People often speak against (curse) evil people by saying that future generations will forget their memory (see 18:19; Psalms 34:16; 109:13; Proverbs 10:7).

This bad fortune (curse) of Job no longer having children and Bildad’s earlier cruel acts show that he believed Job's suffering was a fair punishment because he did wrong (see 18:16; Psalms 109:13; Isaiah 14:21–22; Job 8:4; 1:18–19).

in the west … in the east: These phrases might refer to people from the past and future or from different places.

Bildad kept implying that Job had rejected God (15:4, 13, 25).