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Job 8:11-13

“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?

While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    “Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?

    While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

    So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,

  • KJV King James Version

    Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?

    Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

    So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    Can the rush shoot up without mire? Can the reed-grass grow without water?

    Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.

    So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hope of the godless man shall perish;

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Cross-references (28)

  • Psalms 9:17 (v13) The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God.
  • Job 11:20 (v13) But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”
  • Job 13:16 (v13) This also will be my salvation, that a godless man will not come before him.
  • Job 15:34 (v13) For the company of the godless will be barren, and fire will consume the tents of bribery.
  • Proverbs 10:28 (v13) The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish.
Show all 28 cross-references
  • Deuteronomy 8:11 (v13) Beware lest you forget Yahweh your God, in not keeping his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command you today;
  • Deuteronomy 8:19 (v13) It shall be, if you shall forget Yahweh your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today…
  • Job 20:5 (v13) that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
  • Psalms 50:22 (v13) “Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver.
  • Proverbs 12:7 (v13) The wicked are overthrown, and are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand.
  • Luke 12:1-2 (v13) Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his…
  • Deuteronomy 6:12 (v13) then beware lest you forget Yahweh, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
  • Deuteronomy 8:14 (v13) then your heart might be lifted up, and you forget Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage;
  • Job 18:14 (v13) He will be rooted out of the security of his tent. He will be brought to the king of terrors.
  • Job 27:8-10 (v13) For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life? Will God hear his cry when trouble comes on him?…
  • Job 36:13 (v13) “But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don’t cry for help when he binds them.
  • Psalms 10:4 (v13) The wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.
  • Isaiah 33:14 (v13) The sinners in Zion are afraid. Trembling has seized the godless ones. Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live…
  • Isaiah 51:13 (v13) Have you forgotten Yahweh your Maker, who stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth? Do you live in fear continually…
  • Jeremiah 17:6 (v12) For he will be like a bush in the desert, and will not see when good comes, but will inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, an…
  • Lamentations 3:18 (v13) I said, “My strength has perished, along with my expectation from Yahweh.”
  • Exodus 2:3 (v11) When she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him, and coated it with tar and with pitch. She put the child in it, and…
  • Psalms 129:6-7 (v12) Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up, with which the reaper doesn’t fill his hand, nor he who binds…
  • Isaiah 19:5-7 (v11) The waters will fail from the sea, and the river will be wasted and become dry. The rivers will become foul. The streams of Egypt will be…
  • Matthew 13:20 (v12) What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;
  • Matthew 24:51 (v13) and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
  • James 1:10-11 (v12) and the rich, in that he is made humble, because like the flower in the grass, he will pass away. For the sun arises with the scorching…
  • 1 Peter 1:24 (v12) For, “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls;

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v11 As a rush cannot grow without moistness, so cannot…

As a rush cannot grow without moistness, so cannot the hypocrite, because he hath not faith, which is moistened with God’s Spirit.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv11–13 Job 8:11 Can the rush grow up without mire?…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv11–13 Without mire, i.e. if it be not in moist…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv11–13 Whilst it is yet in its greenness,.... Before it…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv11–13 Can, &c. - The hypocrite cannot build his hope,…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv11–13 Verse 11. Can the rush grow] The word גמא…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv11, 13 Job 8:11-12. Can the rush grow without mire, &c.…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv11–13 Can the rush - This passage has all the…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv11–12 Sedge-bush, or flag. Hebrew achu; so called, because from…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv11–13 rush--rather, "paper-reed": The papyrus of Egypt, which was used…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv11–13 b. The luxuriant water-reeds that tower above the marshes…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv11–13 11. The ancient wisdom itself. This wisdom is plainly…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v11 (11) The flag is the plant of Gen_41:2, which…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv11–13 Can the rush grow up without mire? The word…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv11, 13 Can the rush grow up without mire?
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv11, 13 General Information:
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv11–12 8:11 Papyrus reeds grow as high as ten to…
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