Job 18:12

Job 18:12 Meaning and Explanation

His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.

King James Version (KJV)

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His strength is wasted by hunger, with disaster waiting close at hand.

What Does Job 18:12 Mean?

Bildad pictures the wicked man's vigor failing. His 'strength shall be hungerbitten' starved, gnawed away by famine and 'destruction' stands 'ready at his side,' poised like an attacker waiting for him to stumble. Ruin is no longer on the horizon; it crouches at his elbow.

The image is of a man hollowed out, his power drained, with catastrophe as his constant companion. Bildad means this as the certain wages of the godless. But the same Scriptures testify that real strength is not our own muscle, which fails, but the Lord who is the strength of our heart and our portion forever. Those who wait on Him renew their strength when their own is spent, and find Him near not to destroy but to uphold.

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What does Job 18:12 mean?

His strength is wasted by hunger, with disaster waiting close at hand.

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