Job 18:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Bildad feels insulted, accusing Job of treating the friends as stupid and unclean.
What Does Job 18:3 Mean?
Bildad takes Job's earlier words as a personal affront. Job had complained that his friends mocked him; now Bildad protests that Job regards them 'as beasts' as senseless animals and 'vile' as unclean and contemptible. His pride has been wounded, and he answers grievance with grievance.
The exchange has slid from helping Job to defending themselves. When we feel slighted, it is easy to make the conversation about our own honor rather than another's pain. Bildad's stung dignity blinds him to the man in ashes before him. The gospel calls us the opposite direction: to count others more significant than ourselves, and to bear insult patiently as our Lord did when He was reviled and did not revile in return.
Job 18:3 in the Original Language
behemah (בְּהֵמָה), 'beasts' -- domestic animals or cattle, here used to mean dumb, unthinking creatures.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 18:3
What does Job 18:3 mean?
Bildad feels insulted, accusing Job of treating the friends as stupid and unclean.