Job 8:9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.

◄ Job 8:9 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.

English Standard Version
For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.

New American Standard Bible
"For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow.

King James Bible
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

Holman Christian Standard Bible
since we were born only yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are but a shadow.

International Standard Version
Because we are of yesterday and we know nothing, for our time on earth is only a shadow.

American Standard Version
(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);

Douay-Rheims Bible
(For we are but of yesterday, and are ignorant that our days upon earth are but a shadow:)

Darby Bible Translation
For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days upon earth are a shadow.

Young's Literal Translation
(For of yesterday we are, and we know not, For a shadow are our days on earth.)

Cross References

2 Chronicles 10:6
And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give you me to return answer to this people?

Job 8:10
Shall not they teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart?

Job 14:2
He comes forth like a flower, and is cut down: he flees also as a shadow, and continues not.

Job 32:7
I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

Psalm 144:4
Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passes away.

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

8:8-19 Bildad discourses well of hypocrites and evil-doers, and the fatal end of all their hopes and joys. He proves this truth of the destruction of the hopes and joys of hypocrites, by an appeal to former times. Bildad refers to the testimony of the ancients. Those teach best that utter words out of their heart, that speak from an experience of spiritual and divine things. A rush growing in fenny ground, looking very green, but withering in dry weather, represents the hypocrite's profession, which is maintained only in times of prosperity. The spider's web, spun with great skill, but easily swept away, represents a man's pretensions to religion when without the grace of God in his heart. A formal professor flatters himself in his own eyes, doubts not of his salvation, is secure, and cheats the world with his vain confidences. The flourishing of the tree, planted in the garden, striking root to the rock, yet after a time cut down and thrown aside, represents wicked men, when most firmly established, suddenly thrown down and forgotten. This doctrine of the vanity of a hypocrite's confidence, or the prosperity of a wicked man, is sound; but it was not applicable to the case of Job, if confined to the present world.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. of yesterday—that is, a recent race. We know nothing as compared with them because of the brevity of our lives; so even Jacob (Ge 47:9). Knowledge consisted then in the results of observation, embodied in poetical proverbs, and handed down by tradition. Longevity gave the opportunity of wider observation.

a shadow—(Ps 144:4; 1Ch 29:15).