Bible Strands
Job 18:10
A noose is hidden in the ground, and a trap lies in his path.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Bildad addresses Job during his third discourse, describing the sudden and inescapable downfall awaiting the wicked man. He speaks to emphasize that judgment arrives without warning.
The words — The Hebrew טָמוּן (taMun) translates literally as "hidden," paired with חַבְלוֹ (chavlo) for "his rope" or noose. These terms describe a concealed snare placed directly in the target's path.
The thread — This imagery of hidden snares and traps recurs in Psalms 11:6, Ezekiel 12:13, and Romans 11:9 as symbols of sudden capture or divine judgment. The motif consistently portrays inescapable peril for the condemned across both testaments.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that danger can be concealed until the moment of capture. It requires the reader to acknowledge the certainty of judgment rather than rely on visible warnings or personal vigilance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.
Cross-references
- Psalms 11:6 On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.
- Ezekiel 12:13 But I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, and there he will die.
- Romans 11:9 And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them.