Job 18 · Verse 3

Job 18:3

Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?
Job 18:3, King James Version

Job 18:3 in other translations

BSBWhy are we regarded as cattle, as stupid in your sight?
WEBWhy are we counted as animals, which have become unclean in your sight?
ASVWherefore are we counted as beasts, And are become unclean in your sight?
YLTWherefore have we been reckoned as cattle? We have been defiled in your eyes!
DARBYWherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed stupid in your sight?
BBEWhy do we seem as beasts in your eyes, and as completely without knowledge?
WebsterWhy are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?

What does Job 18:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. beasts--alluding to what Job said (Job 12:7; so Is 1:3). vile--rather from a Hebrew root, "to stop up." "Stubborn," answering to the stupidity implied in the parallel first clause [Umbreit]. Why should we give occasion by your empty speeches for our being mutually reputed, in the sight of Job and one another, as unintelligent? (Job 17:4, 10).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Counted as beasts - Thou treatest us as if we had neither reason nor understanding.

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 18:3 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.

מַ֭דּוּעַMa.du.a'why?H4069
נֶחְשַׁ֣בְנוּnech.Shav.nuare we regardedH2803
כַבְּהֵמָ֑הkha.be.he.Mahlike <the> cattleH929
נִ֝טְמִ֗ינוּnit.Mi.nuare we considered stupid?H2933
בְּעֵינֵיכֶֽם\׃be.'ei.nei.Khemin view yourH5869

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

Cross references for Job 18:3

  • Psalms 73:22

    So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

  • Job 17:4

    For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.

  • Job 17:10

    But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:18

    I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

  • Romans 12:10

    Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

  • Job 12:7-8

    But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Wherefore.
12:7,8; 17:4,10; Ps 73:22; Ec 3:18; Ro 12:10

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

Context

  • 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?

  • Job 18:4

    He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?

Read all of Job 18

Job 18:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		¿Por qué somos tenidos por bestias, y en vuestros ojos somos viles?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Pourquoi sommes-nous considérés comme des bêtes, et sommes-nous stupides à vos yeux?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Warum werden wir dem Vieh gleich geachtet, sind dumm in euren Augen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quare reputati sumus ut jumenta, et sorduimus coram vobis?