if you are pure and upright
This phrase emphasizes the importance of personal integrity and righteousness. In the context of the Book of Job, Bildad is speaking to Job, suggesting that his suffering might be due to a lack of purity or uprightness. The concept of purity and uprightness is central to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, where a life aligned with God's commandments is often associated with blessings and favor. This aligns with passages like Psalm 24:3-4, which speak of the pure in heart being able to stand in God's holy place. The cultural context of the time placed a high value on moral integrity, often equating it with divine favor.

even now He will rouse Himself on your behalf
This suggests that God is attentive and responsive to the actions and character of individuals. The idea of God rousing Himself implies a divine intervention or action in response to human behavior. This reflects the belief in a personal God who is actively involved in the lives of His people, a theme prevalent throughout the Old Testament. The phrase can be connected to other scriptures where God is depicted as a defender and helper of the righteous, such as Psalm 46:1, which describes God as a refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

and restore your righteous estate
Restoration is a key theme in the Bible, often associated with God's justice and mercy. The concept of a "righteous estate" implies a return to a state of blessing and favor that is in line with God's will. This can be seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate restoration through Jesus Christ, who restores humanity to a right relationship with God. The historical context of Job's story, set in a patriarchal society, would view material and social restoration as evidence of divine approval. This phrase also connects to the broader biblical narrative of restoration, as seen in passages like Joel 2:25, where God promises to restore the years the locusts have eaten.

1. Job
A man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, experiencing severe trials and suffering.

2. Bildad the Shuhite
One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. In this chapter, Bildad speaks, suggesting that Job's suffering is due to sin and that repentance will restore him.

3. God
The Almighty, who is sovereign over all creation. Bildad implies that God will act justly if Job is indeed pure and upright.

4. The Land of Uz
The setting of the Book of Job, traditionally considered to be in the region of Edom or northern Arabia.

5. The Heavenly Court
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of Job includes the heavenly court where God and Satan discuss Job's faithfulness.The Importance of Purity and Uprightness
Bildad emphasizes the need for purity and uprightness, reflecting a biblical principle that God honors those who live righteously. This calls believers to examine their lives and strive for holiness.

Understanding Suffering
While Bildad suggests suffering is a result of sin, the broader account of Job teaches that suffering can occur for reasons beyond human understanding. Believers are encouraged to trust God's sovereignty even when His ways are mysterious.

God's Justice and Restoration
Bildad's statement reflects a belief in God's justice and His ability to restore. Christians can find hope in God's promise to ultimately restore and vindicate His people, even if it doesn't happen immediately.

The Role of Friends in Times of Trial
Bildad's approach shows the importance of offering support and counsel to those in distress, but also the need for sensitivity and understanding of God's broader purposes.

Faith in God's Timing
The verse encourages believers to maintain faith in God's timing for restoration and intervention, trusting that He will act on behalf of the righteous in His perfect time.(6) If thou wert pure and upright.--Of course, then, there is but one inference: thou art not pure and upright. These are verily the wounds of a friend which are not faithful. Bildad brings to the maintenance of his point the experience of former generations. He wishes to be very orthodox in his assertions, and to base his statements upon authority, and he appeals to the experience of former ages long gone by, and calls them to attest the truth of what he says. He also, like Eliphaz, uses figures, and has recourse to metaphor, only his figures are highly obscure and admit of various explanations. We give that which seems to commend itself most to us. It appears, then, that Bildad contemplates two representative characters, the two which are so prominent throughout this book--namely, the righteous and the wicked. He depicts the latter first, and describes him under the likeness of the paper-reed, or rush that grows in the mire of Egyptian swamps, which, though surrounded with moisture, yet as a matter of fact is liable soon to wither: so is the wicked man, according to this moralist and philosopher. He is surrounded by mercies and blessings, but they avail him nought; he withereth in the midst of abundance.

Verse 6. - If thou wert pure and upright. Job had asserted this, not in so many words, but substantially (Job 6:29, 30). We have God's testimony that it was true (Job 1:8; Job 2:3); not, of course, in the sense that he was absolutely free from sin, but in that qualified sense in which "just," and "righteous," and "pure," and "holy" can be properly used of men. Bildad implies, without boldly asserting it, that he does not believe Job to deserve the epithets, either absolutely or in a qualified sense. If he were so, Surely now he (i.e. God) would awake for thee. This is a common anthropomorphism (see Psalm 7:6; Psalm 35:25; Psalm 44:23; Psalm 59:4, 5; Isaiah 51:9). And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous; or, make peaceful the habitation wherein thy righteousness dwelleth; i.e. make peaceful the habitation wherein thou, a righteous man ex hypothesi dwellest.

Parallel Commentaries ...


if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you
אָ֥תָּה (’āt·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are pure
זַ֥ךְ (zaḵ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2134: Pure, clean

and upright,
וְיָשָׁ֗ר (wə·yā·šār)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3477: Straight, right

even
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

now
עַ֭תָּה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

He will rouse Himself
יָעִ֣יר (yā·‘îr)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5782: To rouse oneself, awake

on your behalf
עָלֶ֑יךָ (‘ā·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and restore
וְ֝שִׁלַּ֗ם (wə·šil·lam)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate

your righteous
צִדְקֶֽךָ׃ (ṣiḏ·qe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6664: The right, equity, prosperity

estate.
נְוַ֣ת (nə·waṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5116: Abode of shepherd or flocks, habitation


Job 8:6 NIV
Job 8:6 NLT
Job 8:6 ESV
Job 8:6 NASB
Job 8:6 KJV

Job 8:6 BibleApps.com
Job 8:6 Biblia Paralela
Job 8:6 Chinese Bible
Job 8:6 French Bible
Job 8:6 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 8:6 If you were pure and upright surely (Jb)