Job 8:4

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 8:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;
Job 8:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
4If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“If thy children have sinned against him, etc.] As no doubt they had, and, as Bildad thought, in a very notorious manner, and therefore were righteously punished for them; this instance is produced as a proof of God’s not perverting, but doing justice, and the rather, because it was on account of this that it was supposed that Job charged, or was ready to charge, God with injustice; this was so far from it, that it was a righteous thing to do it, “if” or “seeing” his children had sinned; or “because” they have sinned, or “though” they have sinned, as the words f338 are by some differently rendered; and either way shows that God did not pervert justice, but acted agreeably to it. Mr. Broughton…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If--Rather, "Since thy children have sinned against Him, and (since) He has cast them away (Hebrew, by the hand of) for their transgressions, (yet) if thou wouldst seek unto God, &c., if thou wert pure, &c., surely [even] now He would awake for thee." UMBREIT makes the apodosis to, "since thy children," &c., begin at "He has cast them away." Also, instead of "for," "He gave them up to (literally, into the hand of) their own guilt." Bildad expresses the justice of God, which Job had arraigned. Thy children have sinned; God leaves them to the consequence of their sin; most cutting to the heart of the bereaved father.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“If thy children have sinned against him - Bildad here assumes that the children of Job had been wicked, and had been cut off in their sins. This must have cut him to the quick, for there was nothing which a bereaved father would feel more acutely than this. The meaning here is somewhat weakened by the word “if.” The Hebrew אם 'ı̂m is rather to be taken in the sense of “since” - assuming it as an indisputable point, or taking it for granted. It was not a supposition that if they should now do it, certain other consequences would follow; but the idea is, that since they had been cut off in their sins, if Job would even now seek God with a proper spirit, he might be restored to prosperity,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“If - If thou wast innocent, thy children, upon whom a great part of these calamities fell, might be guilty; and therefore God is not unrighteous in these proceedings. Job 8:5”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“he have cast: Job 1:5, Job 1:18, Job 1:19, Job 5:4, Job 18:16-19; Gen 13:13, Gen 19:13-25 for their transgression: Heb. in the hand of their transgression Job 8:5”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification