Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 18:7
The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
7. Another figure for the same thought. His firm, wide steps of prosperity and security, when he walked in a wide place (Psa 4:1), become narrowed and hampered. Widening of the steps is a usual Oriental figure for the bold and free movements of one in prosperity, as straitening of them is for the constrained and timid action of one in adversity, cf. Pro 4:12 and Psa 18:36. The figure hardly describes the consequences of the sinner’s light going out, it is rather independent and parallel to that figure. Cf. ch. Job 13:27.
his own counsel ] The evil principles that guide his conduct, ch. Job 10:3, Psa 1:1. These inevitably lead him into calamity, cf. ch. Job 4:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The steps of his strength – Strong steps. Steps of strength is a Hebraism, to denote firm or vigorous steps.
Shall be straitened – Shall be compressed, embarrassed, hindered. Instead of walking freely and at large, he shall be compressed and limited in his goings. Large steps, free movement, etc. are proverbial expressions among the Arabs, to denote freedom, prosperity, etc. RosenmulIer. Schultens quotes the following illustrations from the Arabic poets. From Ibn Doreid, He who does not confine himself within human limits, his vast strides shall be straitened. And from Taurizius, After the battle of Bedrense, the steps were straitened. The meaning here is, that he would be greatly impeded in his movements, instead of going forth at large and in full vigor as he had formerly done.
And his own counsel – His own plans shall be the means of his fall.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. The steps of his strength] Even in his greatest prosperity he shall be in straits and difficulties.
His own counsel] He shall be the dupe and the victim of his own airy, ambitious, and impious schemes.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The steps of his strength, i.e. his strong steps, by a vulgar Hebraism. By steps he means his counsels, as the next branch explains it, his attempts and actions; and by steps of strength, such of them as seem to be most firm and settled, contrived with greatest strength of understanding, and carried on with great resolution and might.
Shall be straitened, i. e shall be hindered and entangled. He shall be cast into great difficulties, and troubles, and perplexities, so that he shall not be able to proceed and to accomplish his enterprises, but shall find himself insnared by his own devices, as the next words declare it. This phrase is used also Pro 4:11,12, and it is opposed to the enlarging of a mans way or steps, which signifies success and prosperity, as Psa 4:1; 31:8.
His own counsel shall cast him down; he shall be undone by his own contrivances; either because God will give him up to dangerous and destructive mistakes of his way, or because God will oppose him, and turn his own devices against him, which he can easily do by throwing in unexpected accidents.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. steps of his strengthHebrew,for “His strong steps.” A firm step marks health. To bestraitened in steps is to be no longer able to move about at will (Pr4:12).
his own counselPlansshall be the means of his fall (Job5:13).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The steps of his strength shall be straitened,…. As a man in health can take large and strong steps, and travel in the greatness of his strength; so in prosperity he can and does take large steps in obtaining fame and reputation among men, in amassing substance to himself, and towards settling his family in the world; he is like one in a large place, and walks at liberty, goes in and out at pleasure, and none can control him; he walks in pride, and with an high and lifted up head, and with contempt of others, and his will is his law, and he does as he pleases; but in adversity, as his strength is weakened in the way, he cannot take the strides he did, his way is hedged up with thorns, he is pressed on every side, and surrounded with troubles, so that, let him turn himself which way he will, he can find no way to escape:
and his own counsel shall cast him down; as Ahithophel’s and Haman’s did, which issued in their ruin, 2Sa 17:23; what wicked men sometimes plot and devise, with a view to their own good, and the injury of others, proves the destruction of themselves; when they have contrived to raise themselves upon the ruins of others, it has been the means of casting them down from the state and condition they were in, instead of raising to an higher, even down to desolation, and into the most miserable circumstances.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) The steps of his strength.i.e., his giant strides. He shall be the victim of his own devices, and when they seem to hold out the hope of prosperity shall lead him to destruction. (Comp. Ps. 141:11.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. The steps of his strength His strong steps. Schultens gives a trite Arabic phrase illustrative of sudden diminution of power: “Whoso keepeth not within the bounds of strength, his widest steps shall be straitened.” Compare Pro 4:12. Large steps, free movement, etc., says Rosenmuller, are proverbial expressions among the Arabs to denote freedom, prosperity, etc.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 18:7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
Ver. 7. The steps of his strength shall be straitened ] That is, saith Vatablus, he shall not do what he would and was wont. He shall lose his courage in the midst of his enterprises, and not be able to effect his attempts.
And his own counsel shall cast him down
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
steps of his strength = his firm step. Genitive of character. App-17.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
steps: Job 20:22, Job 36:16, Psa 18:36, Pro 4:12
his own: Job 5:12, Job 5:13, 2Sa 15:31, 2Sa 17:14, Psa 33:10, Pro 1:30-32, Hos 10:6, 1Co 3:19
Reciprocal: Jdg 4:17 – fled 2Ki 6:11 – Therefore Pro 29:6 – the transgression