This verse teaches that prideful confidence apart from God will ultimately collapse under its own weight.
“His vigorous stride is shortened, And his own scheme brings him down.” (v.7)
This verse comes from the speech of Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job’s friends who lived around the time of the patriarchs, likely near 2000 B.C. in the land of Uz. Bildad, who speaks here, is responding to Job’s woes by describing the grim destiny of a wicked person whose confident steps eventually fail. By saying, “His vigorous stride is shortened,” Bildad paints the image of someone once striding forth with pride and strength, only to stumble under the consequences of his own wrongdoing. Although Bildad’s assumptions often oversimplify the connection between suffering and personal sin, he conveys that human schemes, when devoid of righteousness, lead to their own undoing. This sentiment parallels the recurring observation in the Book of Job that humans cannot manipulate God in a transactional way—rather, our actions inevitably bear their own fruit.Further, “And his own scheme brings him down” implies that a person’s downfall can stem from his own hidden plans or harmful intentions. In Bildad’s perspective, this is a moral principle woven into existence: deeds done in darkness eventually come to light. While Bildad’s speech is directed at Job in a misguided attempt to make Job confess a sin that does not exist, the proverb still carries timeless value in warning that no pursuit of evil remains concealed forever. In the broader context of Job, this verse offers a cautionary reminder that trying to unravel God’s ways or control life’s outcomes is futile, since true understanding resides in trusting God’s sovereign hand.The biblical narrative later reveals that Job, unlike Bildad, speaks rightly of God by affirming the Lord’s ultimate freedom and compassion, even if His purposes are beyond human understanding. The Book of Job illustrates that moral retribution is not always swift or direct; nevertheless, the principle of reaping what one sows remains part of God’s truth (Galatians 6:7). Both the wise and the foolish experience hardship, but those who cling to God find their steps upheld by His grace.
Job 18:7 meaning
“His vigorous stride is shortened, And his own scheme brings him down.” (v.7)
This verse comes from the speech of Bildad the Shuhite, one of Job’s friends who lived around the time of the patriarchs, likely near 2000 B.C. in the land of Uz. Bildad, who speaks here, is responding to Job’s woes by describing the grim destiny of a wicked person whose confident steps eventually fail. By saying, “His vigorous stride is shortened,” Bildad paints the image of someone once striding forth with pride and strength, only to stumble under the consequences of his own wrongdoing. Although Bildad’s assumptions often oversimplify the connection between suffering and personal sin, he conveys that human schemes, when devoid of righteousness, lead to their own undoing. This sentiment parallels the recurring observation in the Book of Job that humans cannot manipulate God in a transactional way—rather, our actions inevitably bear their own fruit.Further, “And his own scheme brings him down” implies that a person’s downfall can stem from his own hidden plans or harmful intentions. In Bildad’s perspective, this is a moral principle woven into existence: deeds done in darkness eventually come to light. While Bildad’s speech is directed at Job in a misguided attempt to make Job confess a sin that does not exist, the proverb still carries timeless value in warning that no pursuit of evil remains concealed forever. In the broader context of Job, this verse offers a cautionary reminder that trying to unravel God’s ways or control life’s outcomes is futile, since true understanding resides in trusting God’s sovereign hand.The biblical narrative later reveals that Job, unlike Bildad, speaks rightly of God by affirming the Lord’s ultimate freedom and compassion, even if His purposes are beyond human understanding. The Book of Job illustrates that moral retribution is not always swift or direct; nevertheless, the principle of reaping what one sows remains part of God’s truth (Galatians 6:7). Both the wise and the foolish experience hardship, but those who cling to God find their steps upheld by His grace.