The Meaning of Job 8:9 Explained

Job 8:9

KJV: (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

YLT: (For of yesterday we are, and we know not, For a shadow are our days on earth.)

Darby: For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, for our days upon earth are a shadow.

ASV: (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);

KJV Reverse Interlinear

(For we [are but of] yesterday,  and know  nothing, because our days  upon earth  [are] a shadow:  ) 

What does Job 8:9 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 8:9 mean?

for yesterday we [were born] and nothing know because a shadow our days [are] on earth
כִּֽי־ תְמ֣וֹל אֲ֭נַחְנוּ וְלֹ֣א נֵדָ֑ע כִּ֤י צֵ֖ל יָמֵ֣ינוּ עֲלֵי־ אָֽרֶץ

תְמ֣וֹל  yesterday 
Parse: Adverb
Root: תְּמֹול  
Sense: before, before that time, beforetime, heretofore, of late, of old, these days, time(s) past, yesterday, day before yesterday, recently, formerly.
אֲ֭נַחְנוּ  we  [were  born] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common plural
Root: אֲנַחְנוּ  
Sense: we (first pers.
וְלֹ֣א  and  nothing 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נֵדָ֑ע  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּ֤י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
צֵ֖ל  a  shadow 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֵל  
Sense: shadow, shade.
יָמֵ֣ינוּ  our  days  [are] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אָֽרֶץ  earth 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.