The Meaning of Job 8:3 Explained

Job 8:3

KJV: Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?

YLT: Doth God pervert judgment? And doth the Mighty One pervert justice?

Darby: Doth God pervert judgment, and the Almighty pervert justice?

ASV: Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Doth God  pervert  judgment?  or doth the Almighty  pervert  justice? 

What does Job 8:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 8:1-22 - God Will Not Cast Away
Bildad now takes up the argument, appealing to the experience of former generations to show that special suffering, like Job's, indicated special sin, however deeply concealed. He feels that God could not pervert judgment, and that the sudden destruction of Job's children proved that they had transgressed.
Job 8:11-13 are probably quoted from an old poem, embodying the sententious observation of some older generation, which compared the ungodly to the rapid growth and more rapid destruction of the papyrus plant. Job 8:14-15 compare the state of the ungodly to the slight fabric of the spider's web, fine-spun, flimsy, and insecure. Job 8:16-19 employ yet another comparison-that of the weeds, which grow to rank luxuriance, spreading over heaps of stones and even walls, which they are figuratively said to see in the distance and creep toward; the very earth is ashamed of them, as presently they lie withered on the path. But notice the assurances that God will uphold all those who return to Him. Be of good cheer; thou shalt yet praise Him! [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 8

1  Bildad shows God's justice in dealing with men according to their works
8  He alleges antiquity to prove the certain destruction of the hypocrite
20  He applies God's just dealing to Job

What do the individual words in Job 8:3 mean?

Does God subvert judgment Or the Almighty does pervert justice
הַ֭אֵל יְעַוֵּ֣ת ؟ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וְאִם־ שַׁ֝דַּ֗י יְעַוֵּֽת־ ؟ צֶֽדֶק

הַ֭אֵל  Does  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֵל 
Sense: god, god-like one, mighty one.
יְעַוֵּ֣ת  subvert 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָוַת  
Sense: to be bent, be crooked, bend, make crooked, pervert.
؟ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט  judgment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
שַׁ֝דַּ֗י  the  Almighty 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁדַּי  
Sense: almighty, most powerful.
יְעַוֵּֽת־  does  pervert 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָוַת  
Sense: to be bent, be crooked, bend, make crooked, pervert.
؟ צֶֽדֶק  justice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.