Job 18:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Bildad concludes that this doom is the certain dwelling place of all who do not know God.
What Does Job 18:21 Mean?
Bildad ends his speech with a summary verdict. 'Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked' all he has described is their settled lot and 'this is the place of him that knoweth not God.' For Bildad, the root of every ruin he has painted is one thing: a life that does not know God. The clear implication, aimed at Job, is that Job's suffering proves Job does not know Him.
Bildad rightly names the deepest tragedy not to know God. There is no greater poverty than that. But he is wrong to assume Job is such a man, and wrong to make affliction the proof. Eternal life, Jesus says, is precisely this: to know God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent. That knowing is offered freely, even to those the world counts ruined, and it turns the darkest dwelling into a home with God forever.
Job 18:21 in the Original Language
yada (יָדַע), 'knoweth' -- to know by experience and relationship, not mere awareness but intimate, covenant knowing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 18:21
What does Job 18:21 mean?
Bildad concludes that this doom is the certain dwelling place of all who do not know God.