Job 4 · Verse 8

Job 4:8

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Job 4:8, King James Version

Job 4:8 in other translations

BSBAs I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.
WEBAccording to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.
ASVAccording as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same.
YLTAs I have seen--ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!
DARBYEven as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
BBEWhat I have seen is that those by whom trouble has been ploughed, and evil planted, get the same for themselves.
WebsterEven as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

What does Job 4:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
8. they that plough iniquity ... reap the same--(Pr 22:8; Ho 8:7; 10:13; Ga 6:7, 8).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 They that plough iniquity - A proverbial form of speech drawn from nature. Whatever seed a man sows in the ground, he reaps the same kind; for every seed produces its like. Thus Solomon, Pro 22:8 : "He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity." And St. Paul, Gal 6:7, Gal 6:8 : "Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he who soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." And of the same nature is that other saying of the apostle, He that soweth sparingly, shall reap sparingly, 2Cor 9:6. The same figure is employed by the Prophet Hosea Hos 8:7 : They have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind; and Hos 10:12, Hos 10:13 : Sow to yourselves in righteousness; reap in mercy. Ye have ploughed wickedness; ye have reaped iniquity. The last sentence contains, not only the same image, but almost the same words as those used by Eliphaz. Our Lord expresses the same thing, in the following words: Mat 7:16-18 : Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. So the Greeks: - Ατης αρουρα θανατον εκκαρπιζεται. Aesch. Ἑπτα επι Θηβαις, ver. 607. "The field of iniquity produces the fruit of death." Ὑβρις γαρ εξανθους εκαρπωσε σταχυν Ατης, ὁθεν παγκλαυτον εξαμᾳ θερος. IB. Περσαι, ver. 823. "For oppression, when it springs, Puts forth the blade of vengeance; and its fruit Yields a ripe harvest of repentant wo." - Potter. The image is common every where because it is a universal law of nature.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 4:7-11

Eliphaz argues, 1. That good men were never thus ruined. But there is one event both to the righteous and to the wicked, Ec 9:2, both in life and death; the great and certain difference is after death. Our worst mistakes are occasioned by drawing wrong views from undeniable truths. 2. That wicked men were often thus ruined: for the proof of this, Eliphaz vouches his own observation. We may see the same every day.

Read the full comment on Job 4:7-11 →

Job 4:8 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.

כַּאֲשֶׁ֣רka.'a.Sherjust asH834
רָ֭אִיתִיRa.'i.tiI have seenH7200
חֹ֣רְשֵׁיCho.re.sheiplowers ofH2790
אָ֑וֶן'A.venwickednessH205
וְזֹרְעֵ֖יve.zo.re.'Eiand sowers ofH2232
עָמָ֣ל'a.MalmischiefH5999
יִקְצְרֻֽהוּ\׃yik.tze.Ru.huthey harvest itH7114

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

Cross references for Job 4:8

  • Galatians 6:7-8

    Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

  • Proverbs 22:8

    He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

  • Hosea 8:7

    For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:6

    But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

  • Hosea 10:12-13

    Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

  • Jeremiah 4:18

    Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

  • Job 15:35

    They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.

  • Psalms 7:14-16

    Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they that plow.
Ps 7:14-16; Pr 22:8; Jer 4:18; Ho 8:7; 10:12,13; 2Co 9:6; Ga 6:7,8

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

Context

  • Job 4:7

    Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

  • Job 4:8

    Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

  • Job 4:9

    By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

Read all of Job 4

Job 4:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Como yo he visto, los que aran iniquidad y siembran injuria, la siegan.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Selon ce que j’ai vu, ceux qui labourent l’iniquité et qui sèment la misère, la moissonnent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		So wie ich es gesehen habe: die Unheil pflügen und Mühsal säen, ernten es.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quin potius vidi eos qui operantur iniquitatem, et seminant dolores, et metunt eos,