Job 18 · Verse 2

Job 18:2

How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.
Job 18:2, King James Version

Job 18:2 in other translations

BSB“How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk.
WEB“How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
ASVHow long will ye hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.
YLTWhen do ye set an end to words? Consider ye, and afterwards do we speak.
DARBYHow long will ye hunt for words? Be intelligent, and then we will speak.
BBEHow long will it be before you have done talking? Get wisdom, and then we will say what is in our minds.
WebsterHow long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

What does Job 18:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
SECOND SERIES.

Job 18:1-21. Reply of Bildad.

2. ye--the other two friends of Job, whom Bildad charges with having spoken mere "words," that is, empty speeches; opposed to "mark," that is, come to reason, consider the question intelligently; and then let us speak.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 How long will it be ere ye make an end - It is difficult to say to whom this address is made: being in the plural number, it can hardly be supposed to mean Job only. It probably means all present; as if he had said, It is vain to talk with this man, and follow him through all his quibbles: take notice of this, and then let us all deliver our sentiments fully to him, without paying any regard to his self-vindications. It must be owned that this is the plan which Bildad followed; and he amply unburdens a mind that was laboring under the spirit of rancour and abuse. Instead of How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? Mr. Good translates: "How long will ye plant thorns (irritating, lacerating, wounding invectives) among words?" translating the unusual term קנצי kintsey, thorns, instead of bounds or limits. The word קנצי kintsey may be the Chaldee form for קצי kitsey, the נ nun being inserted by the Chaldeans for the sake of euphony, as is frequently done; and it may be considered as the contracted plural from קץ kats, a thorn, from קץ kats, to lacerate, rather than קץ kets, an end, from קצה katsah, to cut off. Schultens and others have contended that קנץ kanats, is an Arabic word, used also in Hebrew; that (Arabic) kanasa, signifies to hunt, to lay snares; and hence (Arabic) maknas, a snare: and that the words should be translated, "How long will you put captious snares in words?" But I prefer קנצי kintsey, as being the Chaldee form for קצי kitsey, whether it be considered as expressing limits or thorns; as the whole instance is formed after the Chaldee model, as is evident, not only in the word in question, but also in למלין lemillin, to words, the Chaldee plural instead of למלים lemillim, the Hebrew plural.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 18:1-4

Bildad had before given Job good advice and encouragement; here he used nothing but rebukes, and declared his ruin. And he concluded that Job shut out the providence of God from the management of human affairs, because he would not admit himself to be wicked.

Read the full comment on Job 18:1-4 →

Job 18:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עַד\־'ad-untilH5704
אָ֤נָה\׀'A.nahwhen?H575
תְּשִׂימ֣וּןte.si.Munwill you make !H7760
קִנְצֵ֣יkin.TzeiendsH7078
לְמִלִּ֑יןle.mi.Linof wordsH4405
תָּ֝בִ֗ינוּta.Vi.nuyou will considerH995
וְאַחַ֥רve.'a.Charand afterH310
נְדַבֵּֽר\׃ne.da.Berwe will speakH1696

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Job 18:2

  • Proverbs 18:13

    He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

  • Job 13:5-6

    O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

  • Job 16:2-3

    I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

  • Job 21:2

    Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.

  • Job 8:2

    How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

  • Job 11:2

    Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

  • Job 3:17

    There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.

  • Job 33:1

    Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.

  • James 1:19

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

  • Job 3:5-6

    Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
How long.
8:2; 11:2; 13:5,6; 16:2,3
mark.
3:5,6,17; 21:2; 33:1; Pr 18:13; Jas 1:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Job 18:1

    Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

  • Job 18:2

    How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.

  • Job 18:3

    Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?

Read all of Job 18

Job 18:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Cuándo pondréis fin á las palabras? Entended, y después hablemos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Jusques à quand tendrez-vous des pièges avec vos paroles? Soyez intelligents, et puis nous parlerons.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wie lange wollt ihr auf Worte Jagd machen? Werdet verständig, und hernach wollen wir reden!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Usque ad quem finem verba jactabitis? intelligite prius, et sic loquamur.