Job 8:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Bildad states his governing rule: God never rejects the blameless nor strengthens the wicked.
What Does Job 8:20 Mean?
Here Bildad sums up his whole theology in a single line. God will not cast off a blameless man, nor will He lend His hand to evildoers; the upright are upheld and the wicked are not. To Bildad this settles everything.
The statement holds a real truth about God's character, for He does sustain the upright and oppose the wicked. Yet Bildad turns a general truth into an airtight rule that leaves no room for the righteous sufferer standing before him. Job's very existence troubles the formula. The cross would shatter it entirely, where the only truly blameless Man was not spared but offered up, that He might uphold a world of evildoers by grace.
Job 8:20 in the Original Language
tam (תָּם), 'perfect' -- blameless and whole in integrity, the same word used of Job at the book's opening.
Frequently Asked Questions About Job 8:20
What does Job 8:20 mean?
Bildad states his governing rule: God never rejects the blameless nor strengthens the wicked.