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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Job 4:8 As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/job/4-8.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/18_Job_04_08.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Job 4:8 - Eliphaz: The Innocent Prosper" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same." /><script type="application/javascript" 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src="/ad8.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/job/4-7.htm" title="Job 4:7">◄</a> Job 4:8 <a href="/job/4-9.htm" title="Job 4:9">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/job/4.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/job/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/job/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/job/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/job/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/job/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/job/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Even as I have seen, Those who plow iniquity And sow trouble reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/job/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“According to what I have seen, those who plow wrongdoing And those who sow trouble harvest it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/job/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity And those who sow trouble harvest it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/job/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity And those who sow trouble harvest it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/job/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />According to what I have seen, those who plow wickedness And those who sow trouble harvest it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/job/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“As I have seen, those who plow wickedness And those who sow trouble <i>and</i> harm harvest it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/job/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />In my experience, those who plow injustice and those who sow trouble reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/job/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />In my experience, those who plow injustice and those who sow trouble reap the same. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/job/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/job/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />In my experience, only those who plant seeds of evil harvest trouble, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/job/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/job/4.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Whenever I saw those who plowed wickedness and planted misery, they gathered its harvest.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/job/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />I have seen people plow fields of evil and plant wickedness like seed; now they harvest wickedness and evil. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/job/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />It's been my experience that those who plow the soil of iniquity and those who sow the seed of trouble will reap their harvest! <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/job/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/job/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/job/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity, and sow trouble, reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/job/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/job/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/job/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />As I have seen—plowers of iniquity, "" And sowers of misery, reap it!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/job/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> As I have seen -- ploughers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/job/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />According to what I saw, they ploughing iniquity and sowing labor shall reap it.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/job/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />On the contrary I have seen those who work iniquity, and sow sorrows, and reap them, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/job/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />In fact, I have instead seen those who work iniquity and who sow resentments, reap them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/job/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />As I see it, those who plow mischief and sow trouble will reap them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/job/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/job/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble, reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/job/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />As when I have seen, they who cultivate with sin and sow pain will reap it<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/job/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow mischief, reap the same.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/job/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Accordingly as I have seen men ploughing barren places, and they that sow them will reap sorrows for themselves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/job/4-8.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XAwuD5NuZq0?start=578" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/job/4.htm">Eliphaz: The Innocent Prosper</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">7</span>Consider now, I plead: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Or where have the upright been destroyed? <span class="reftext">8</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ka·’ă·šer (Prep-k:: Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">As</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: rā·’î·ṯî (V-Qal-Perf-1cs) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">I have observed,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2790.htm" title="2790: ḥō·rə·šê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To cut in, engrave, plow, devise.">those who plow</a> <a href="/hebrew/205.htm" title="205: ’ā·wen (N-ms) -- From an unused root perhaps meaning properly, to pant; strictly nothingness; also trouble. Vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol.">iniquity</a> <a href="/hebrew/2232.htm" title="2232: wə·zō·rə·‘ê (Conj-w:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To sow, scatter seed. A primitive root; to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify.">and those who sow</a> <a href="/hebrew/5999.htm" title="5999: ‘ā·māl (N-ms) -- Trouble, labor, toil. From amal; toil, i.e. Wearing effort; hence, worry, wheth. Of body or mind.">trouble</a> <a href="/hebrew/7114.htm" title="7114: yiq·ṣə·ru·hū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp:: 3ms) -- To dock off, curtail, to harvest. A primitive root; to dock off, i.e. Curtail; especially to harvest.">reap the same.</a> </span><span class="reftext">9</span>By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of His anger they are consumed.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/6-7.htm">Galatians 6:7-8</a></span><br />Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/22-8.htm">Proverbs 22:8</a></span><br />He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Hosea 10:13</a></span><br />You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your mighty men,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/7-14.htm">Psalm 7:14-16</a></span><br />Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood. / He has dug a hole and hollowed it out; he has fallen into a pit of his own making. / His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/1-31.htm">Proverbs 1:31</a></span><br />So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/11-18.htm">Proverbs 11:18</a></span><br />The wicked man earns an empty wage, but he who sows righteousness reaps a true reward.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/22-8.htm">Proverbs 22:8</a></span><br />He who sows injustice will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/7-16.htm">Matthew 7:16-20</a></span><br />By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? / Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. / A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/3-18.htm">James 3:18</a></span><br />Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/9-6.htm">2 Corinthians 9:6</a></span><br />Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/9-15.htm">Psalm 9:15-16</a></span><br />The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. / The LORD is known by the justice He brings; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion Selah<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/3-10.htm">Isaiah 3:10-11</a></span><br />Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. / Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/12-13.htm">Jeremiah 12:13</a></span><br />They have sown wheat but harvested thorns. They have exhausted themselves to no avail. Bear the shame of your harvest because of the fierce anger of the LORD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/8-7.htm">Hosea 8:7</a></span><br />For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. There is no standing grain; what sprouts fails to yield flour. Even if it should produce, the foreigners would swallow it up.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/2-6.htm">Romans 2:6</a></span><br />God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.</p><p class="hdg">they that plow.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/7-14.htm">Psalm 7:14-16</a></b></br> Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/22-8.htm">Proverbs 22:8</a></b></br> He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/4-18.htm">Jeremiah 4:18</a></b></br> Thy way and thy doings have procured these <i>things</i> unto thee; this <i>is</i> thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/job/3-17.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/2_samuel/23-13.htm">Harvest</a> <a href="/nehemiah/4-5.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/esther/8-3.htm">Mischief</a> <a href="/job/3-20.htm">Misery</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-7.htm">Observed</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/17-9.htm">Planted</a> <a href="/1_samuel/8-12.htm">Plough</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/21-4.htm">Ploughed</a> <a href="/psalms/129-3.htm">Ploughers</a> <a href="/1_samuel/14-14.htm">Plow</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-29.htm">Reap</a> <a href="/2_kings/19-29.htm">Sow</a> <a href="/job/3-14.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/job/4-5.htm">Trouble</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-27.htm">Wickedness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/job/5-6.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/job/5-5.htm">Harvest</a> <a href="/job/5-16.htm">Iniquity</a> <a href="/job/15-35.htm">Mischief</a> <a href="/job/5-6.htm">Misery</a> <a href="/job/10-14.htm">Observed</a> <a href="/psalms/1-3.htm">Planted</a> <a href="/job/39-10.htm">Plough</a> <a href="/job/31-38.htm">Ploughed</a> <a href="/psalms/129-3.htm">Ploughers</a> <a href="/proverbs/20-4.htm">Plow</a> <a href="/job/24-6.htm">Reap</a> <a href="/job/31-8.htm">Sow</a> <a href="/job/6-4.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/job/4-14.htm">Trouble</a> <a href="/job/6-30.htm">Wickedness</a><div class="vheading2">Job 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/4-1.htm">Eliphaz reproves Job that the innocent do not suffer</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/4-7.htm">He teaches God's judgments to be not for the righteous, but for the wicked.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/job/4-12.htm">His fearful vision to humble the excellency of creatures before God.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/job/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/job/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>As I have observed</b><br>This phrase indicates personal experience or wisdom gained through observation. In the context of the Book of Job, Eliphaz is speaking, one of Job's friends who believes in the retributive justice principle, where good is rewarded and evil is punished. This reflects the wisdom literature tradition, where personal experience and observation are often used to convey moral truths.<p><b>those who plow iniquity</b><br>The metaphor of plowing suggests preparation and effort in wrongdoing. Iniquity refers to sin or moral wrongdoing. This agricultural metaphor is common in biblical literature, symbolizing how actions lead to consequences. The imagery of plowing can be connected to <a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Hosea 10:13</a>, where Israel is accused of plowing wickedness and reaping injustice, emphasizing the idea of intentional sin leading to inevitable consequences.<p><b>and those who sow trouble</b><br>Sowing implies planting seeds with the expectation of growth. Here, it suggests that those who initiate or spread trouble will eventually face the results of their actions. This aligns with the principle of sowing and reaping found in <a href="/galatians/6-7.htm">Galatians 6:7-8</a>, which states that a person reaps what they sow, reinforcing the idea of moral causality.<p><b>reap the same</b><br>Reaping is the act of gathering the results of what has been sown. This phrase underscores the concept of divine justice, where the outcomes are directly related to one's actions. The idea of reaping what one sows is a recurring theme in Scripture, seen in <a href="/proverbs/22-8.htm">Proverbs 22:8</a> and <a href="/2_corinthians/9-6.htm">2 Corinthians 9:6</a>, emphasizing that actions have consequences, both in this life and in the eternal perspective. This principle is also seen as a type of Christ's teaching on the consequences of sin and the need for repentance and redemption.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/eliphaz_the_temanite.htm">Eliphaz the Temanite</a></b><br>One of Job's three friends who comes to comfort him. Eliphaz is the speaker in this verse, offering his perspective on suffering and divine justice.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/job.htm">Job</a></b><br>A wealthy and righteous man who experiences immense suffering. The book of Job explores his trials and the dialogues between him and his friends.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/teman.htm">Teman</a></b><br>A region in Edom, known for its wise men. Eliphaz, being a Temanite, is considered wise and knowledgeable.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_concept_of_sowing_and_reaping.htm">The Concept of Sowing and Reaping</a></b><br>A metaphor used throughout the Bible to illustrate the principle of cause and effect, particularly in moral and spiritual contexts.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_dialogue_in_job.htm">The Dialogue in Job</a></b><br>The book of Job is structured around dialogues between Job and his friends, exploring themes of suffering, justice, and divine sovereignty.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_principle_of_moral_causality.htm">The Principle of Moral Causality</a></b><br>The verse underscores a biblical principle that actions have consequences. Just as sowing seeds leads to a harvest, so do our actions lead to outcomes, whether good or bad.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_observation_in_wisdom.htm">The Role of Observation in Wisdom</a></b><br>Eliphaz speaks from observation, suggesting that wisdom often comes from reflecting on life experiences and the patterns we see in the world.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_limitations_of_human_understanding.htm">The Limitations of Human Understanding</a></b><br>While Eliphaz's observation holds truth, the book of Job ultimately challenges the idea that all suffering is a direct result of personal sin, pointing to the complexity of divine justice.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/encouragement_to_righteous_living.htm">Encouragement to Righteous Living</a></b><br>Believers are encouraged to "sow" righteousness and integrity, trusting that God sees and rewards faithfulness, even if the immediate results are not visible.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_compassionate_counsel.htm">The Importance of Compassionate Counsel</a></b><br>Eliphaz's approach, though well-intentioned, lacks empathy. This serves as a reminder to offer compassionate and understanding support to those who suffer.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_job_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Job 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_sowing_and_reaping.htm">What does the Bible say about sowing and reaping?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_meaning_of_'you_reap_what_you_sow'.htm">What does "You Reap What You Sow" mean?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_job_4_contradict_psalms.htm">Why does Job 4 seem to contradict other biblical teachings, such as the Book of Psalms, that the righteous can and do suffer?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_job_31_curses_compare_to_nt_mercy.htm">How do Job's self-imposed curses in Job 31 compare with New Testament passages emphasizing mercy and forgiveness?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/job/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(8) <span class= "bld">They that plow iniquity.</span>--Comp. <a href="/context/galatians/6-7.htm" title="Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.">Galatians 6:7-8</a>; and comp. also the strange expression of <a href="/isaiah/5-18.htm" title="Woe to them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:">Isaiah 5:18</a>.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/job/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 8.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Even as I have seen</span>; rather, <span class="accented">according as</span> I <span class="accented">have seen</span> - so far, that is, as my observation goes (see the Revised Version, which is supported by Professor Lee and Canon Cook). <span class="cmt_word">They that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same</span> (comp. <a href="/proverbs/22-8.htm">Proverbs 22:8</a>; <a href="/hosea/8-7.htm">Hosea 8:7</a>; <a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Hosea 10:13</a>; <a href="/galatians/6-7.htm">Galatians 6:7, 8</a>). The words translated "iniquity" and "wickedness" express in the original both moral and physical evil. Men sew the one and reap the other. Eliphaz extends this general rule into a universal law, or, at any rate, declares that he has never known an exception. He has not, therefore, been grieved and perplexed, like David, by "seeing the ungodly in such prosperity" (<a href="/psalms/73-3.htm">Psalm 73:3</a>). He would seem not to have been a man of very keen observation. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/job/4-8.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">As</span><br /><span class="heb">כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(ka·’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I have observed,</span><br /><span class="heb">רָ֭אִיתִי</span> <span class="translit">(rā·’î·ṯî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">those who plow</span><br /><span class="heb">חֹ֣רְשֵׁי</span> <span class="translit">(ḥō·rə·šê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2790.htm">Strong's 2790: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cut in, engrave, plow, devise</span><br /><br /><span class="word">iniquity,</span><br /><span class="heb">אָ֑וֶן</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·wen)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_205.htm">Strong's 205: </a> </span><span class="str2">Strictly nothingness, trouble, vanity, wickedness, an idol</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and those who sow</span><br /><span class="heb">וְזֹרְעֵ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(wə·zō·rə·‘ê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2232.htm">Strong's 2232: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sow, to disseminate, plant, fructify</span><br /><br /><span class="word">trouble,</span><br /><span class="heb">עָמָ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(‘ā·māl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5999.htm">Strong's 5999: </a> </span><span class="str2">Toil, wearing effort, worry, wheth, of body, mind</span><br /><br /><span class="word">reap the same.</span><br /><span class="heb">יִקְצְרֻֽהוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(yiq·ṣə·ru·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7114.htm">Strong's 7114: </a> </span><span class="str2">To dock off, curtail, to harvest</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/job/4-8.htm">Job 4:8 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/job/4-8.htm">OT Poetry: Job 4:8 According to what I have seen those (Jb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/job/4-7.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Job 4:7"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Job 4:7" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/job/4-9.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Job 4:9"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Job 4:9" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>