1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,

2 Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.

3 Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?

4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?

5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.

6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

Commentary

Verse 1

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Answered - Not to that which Job spake last, but to that which seemed most reprovable in all his discourses; his censure of God's proceedings with him, and his desire of disputing the matter with him. Perhaps Bildad and the rest now perceived that Job and they did not differ so much as they thought. They owned that the wicked might prosper for a while. And Job owned, they would be destroyed at the last.
McArther Bible Commentary
Bildad made his third speech (the last speech for the three friends), and restated the same theory-that God was majestic and exalted (Job 25:2-3) and man was sinful, especially Job (Job 25:4-6).
Bible Cross References
Job 2:11 Job 24:25 Job 25:2

Verse 2

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Dominion - Sovereign power over all persons and things. Fear - Terror, that which justly makes him dreadful to all men, and especially to all that undertake to dispute with him. He - This clause, as well as the following verse, seems to be added to prove God's dominion and dreadfulness: he keepeth and ruleth all persons and things in heaven, in peace and harmony. The angels, though they be very numerous, all own his sovereignty, and acquiesce in his pleasure. The stars, tho' vast in their bulk, and various in their motions: exactly keep the order which God hath appointed them: and therefore it is great folly for thee to quarrel with the methods of God's dealings with thee.
Bible Cross References
Job 9:4 Job 16:19 Job 25:1 Job 31:2 Job 36:5 Job 36:22 Job 37:23 Job 42:2

Verse 3

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Armies - Of the angels, and stars, and other creatures, all which are his hosts. Light - The light of the sun is communicated to all parts of the world. This is a faint resemblance, of the cognisance and care which God takes of the whole creation. All are under the light of his knowledge: all partake of the light of his goodness: his pleasure is to shew mercy: all the creatures live upon his bounty.
Bible Cross References
Job 16:13 Job 25:4

Verse 4

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Man - The word signifies man that is miserable, which supposes him to be sinful; and shall such a creature quarrel with that dominion of God, to which the sinless, and happy, and glorious angels submit? God - Before God's tribunal, to which thou dost so boldly appeal.
Bible Cross References
Job 4:17 Job 9:2 Job 14:4 Job 15:14 Psalm 143:2

Verse 5

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Moon - The moon, tho' bright and glorious, if compared with the Divine Majesty, is without any lustre or glory. By naming the moon, and thence proceeding to the stars, the sun is also included.
Bible Cross References
Job 15:15 Job 31:26 Psalm 18:26

Verse 6

John Wesley's Bible Commentary
Worm - Mean, and vile, and impotent; proceeding from corruption, and returning to it. The son - For miserable man in the last branch he here puts the son of any man, to shew that this is true even of the greatest and best of men. Let us then wonder at the condescension of God, in taking such worms into covenant and communion with himself!
Bible Cross References
Job 7:17 Job 17:14 Job 26:1 Psalm 22:6 Isaiah 41:14