This verse shows the inevitable weakness and calamity of those who turn away from God’s sustaining power.
Bildad the Shuhite is the speaker here, continuing his rebuke of Job. He vividly depicts the fate of the wicked man, describing how “His strength is famished, And calamity is ready at his side.” (Job 18:12). Bildad, who appears in the story soon after Eliphaz (likely during events some scholars date to around 2000-1800 BC), uses this stark picture to emphasize that those who turn from righteousness will find themselves physically drained and perpetually on the brink of disaster. The poetic language of “His strength is famished” underscores the idea that self-reliance apart from God diminishes over time, leaving a person weakened and vulnerable. When we forsake the Source of life, our “strength” is effectively starved, similar to what Jesus taught when He said apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).
Bildad’s statement that “calamity is ready at his side” (Job 18:12) implies that troubles are always close at hand when one is living apart from God’s sustaining power. The immediacy of looming disaster suggests that wickedness carries its own consequence—calamity becomes a constant companion. In the broader biblical narrative, we see this echoed by other writers who warn that sowing to evil eventually brings a harvest of despair (Galatians 6:7-8). This warning is also a reminder that unrighteous decisions often invite suffering, which is never very far away.
Although the verse does not reference any specific place, the words convey a universally applicable truth relevant to any culture or time: separation from the Lord’s ways can leave us exposed and feeble. Job’s story unfolds in the land of Uz, traditionally understood to be east of the Jordan River. Bildad’s admonition stands among the discourses of his friends, each seeking to justify God’s ways, though at times misapplying them. The overarching biblical message, however, consistently points to God’s desire for repentance and restoration—showing that in Christ, the remedy for our “famished strength” is to abide in Him and lean on His might (Ephesians 6:10).
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Job 18:12 meaning
Bildad the Shuhite is the speaker here, continuing his rebuke of Job. He vividly depicts the fate of the wicked man, describing how “His strength is famished, And calamity is ready at his side.” (Job 18:12). Bildad, who appears in the story soon after Eliphaz (likely during events some scholars date to around 2000-1800 BC), uses this stark picture to emphasize that those who turn from righteousness will find themselves physically drained and perpetually on the brink of disaster. The poetic language of “His strength is famished” underscores the idea that self-reliance apart from God diminishes over time, leaving a person weakened and vulnerable. When we forsake the Source of life, our “strength” is effectively starved, similar to what Jesus taught when He said apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).
Bildad’s statement that “calamity is ready at his side” (Job 18:12) implies that troubles are always close at hand when one is living apart from God’s sustaining power. The immediacy of looming disaster suggests that wickedness carries its own consequence—calamity becomes a constant companion. In the broader biblical narrative, we see this echoed by other writers who warn that sowing to evil eventually brings a harvest of despair (Galatians 6:7-8). This warning is also a reminder that unrighteous decisions often invite suffering, which is never very far away.
Although the verse does not reference any specific place, the words convey a universally applicable truth relevant to any culture or time: separation from the Lord’s ways can leave us exposed and feeble. Job’s story unfolds in the land of Uz, traditionally understood to be east of the Jordan River. Bildad’s admonition stands among the discourses of his friends, each seeking to justify God’s ways, though at times misapplying them. The overarching biblical message, however, consistently points to God’s desire for repentance and restoration—showing that in Christ, the remedy for our “famished strength” is to abide in Him and lean on His might (Ephesians 6:10).