Job 8:10

10 Shall they not teach you, tell you, And utter words out of their heart?

Job 8:10 Meaning and Commentary

Job 8:10

Shall not they teach thee, [and] tell thee
That is, the men of the former age, and their fathers before them, Job is directed to inquire of, and to prepare for a search into their records and traditions; from whom he might reasonably expect to be taught and told things that would be very instructive and useful to him in his present circumstances:

and utter words out of their heart?
such as were the effect of mature judgment and long observation, and which they had laid up in their hearts, and brought out from their treasure there; and, with the greatest faithfulness and sincerity, had either committed them to writing, or delivered them in a traditionary way to their posterity, to be communicated to theirs; and which might be depended upon as true and genuine, being men of probity, uprightness, and singleness of heart; who declared sincerely what they knew, and spoke not with a double heart, having no intention to deceive, as it cannot be thought they would impose upon their own children; and therefore Job might safely receive what they uttered, and depend upon it as truth and fact; and what they said, as Jarchi observes, is as follows; or what follows Bildad collected from them, and so might Job, and think he heard them "saying", as Piscator supplies the text, what is expressed in the following verses, if not in their words, yet as their sense.

Job 8:10 In-Context

8 "Please inquire of past generations, Find out about the learning of their fathers.
9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days on eretz are a shadow.)
10 Shall they not teach you, tell you, And utter words out of their heart?
11 "Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?
12 While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, It withers before any other reed.
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.