Job 8 · Verse 12

Job 8:12

Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
Job 8:12, King James Version

Job 8:12 in other translations

BSBWhile the shoots are still uncut, they dry up quicker than grass.
WEBWhile it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.
ASVWhilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, It withereth before any other herb.
YLTWhile it is in its budding--uncropped, Even before any herb it withereth.
DARBYWhilst it is yet in its greenness and not cut down, it withereth before any other grass.
BBEWhen it is still green, without being cut down, it becomes dry and dead before any other plant.
WebsterWhilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

What does Job 8:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. not cut down--Before it has ripened for the scythe, it withers more suddenly than any herb, having no self-sustaining power, once that the moisture is gone, which other herbs do not need in the same degree. So ruin seizes on the godless in the zenith of prosperity, more suddenly than on others who appear less firmly seated in their possessions [Umbreit] (Psa 112:10).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Whilst it is yet in his greenness - We do not know enough of the natural history of this plant to be able to discern the strength of this allusion; but we learn from it that, although this plant be very succulent, and grow to a great size, yet it is short-lived, and speedily withers; and this we may suppose to be in the dry season, or on the retreat of the waters of the Nile. However, Soon Ripe, soon Rotten, is a maxim in horticulture.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Job 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…

Read the full comment on Job 8:8-19 →

Job 8:12 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.

עֹדֶ֣נּוּ'o.De.nustill itH5750
בְ֭אִבּוֹve.'i.bo[is] in greenness itsH3
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יִקָּטֵ֑ףyi.ka.Tefit is plucked offH6998
וְלִפְנֵ֖יve.lif.Neiand <to> beforeH6440
כָל\־khol-anyH3605
חָצִ֣ירcha.TzirherbageH2682
יִיבָֽשׁ\׃yi.Vashit is dried upH3001

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

Cross references for Job 8:12

  • Jeremiah 17:6

    For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

  • Psalms 129:6-7

    Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up: Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.

  • James 1:10-11

    But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

  • Matthew 13:20

    But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

  • 1 Peter 1:24

    For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ps 129:6,7; Jer 17:6; Mt 13:20; Jas 1:10,11; 1Pe 1:24

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

Context

  • Job 8:11

    Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

  • Job 8:12

    Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

  • Job 8:13

    So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

Read all of Job 8

Job 8:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Aun él en su verdor no será cortado, y antes de toda hierba se secará.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Encore dans sa verdeur, sans qu’on l’ait arraché, avant toute herbe il sèche.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Noch ist es am Grünen, wird nicht ausgerauft, so verdorrt es vor allem Grase.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum adhuc sit in flore, nec carpatur manu, ante omnes herbas arescit.