Original Word: בִּלְדַּד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Bildad
Pronunciation: bil-dad'
Phonetic Spelling: (bil-dad')
Definition: Bildad
Meaning: Bildad

Bildad

Of uncertain derivation; Bildad, one of Job's friends -- Bildad.

Word Origin
of uncertain derivation
Definition
perhaps "Bel has loved," one of Job's friends
NASB Translation
Bildad (5).

בִּלְדַּד proper name, masculine (ᵐ5 Βαλδαδ; Nö^{ZMG 1888, 479} Bel has loved, compare אֶלְדָּד; Dl^{Pa 298; ZK ii. 177} compare cuneiform Bir-Dadda, compare Hpt^{Hebraica 1885, 224}) 2nd friend of Job (הַשֻּׁחִי) הַשּׁוּחִי ׳בּ Job 2:11; Job 8:1; Job 18:1; Job 25:1; Job 42:9.

Word Origin: The name Bildad is of uncertain origin, but it is traditionally understood to be a compound of two elements: "בִּל" (bil), possibly meaning "confusion" or "destruction," and "דַּד" (dad), which may mean "friend" or "beloved." Thus, the name could be interpreted as "confusing friend" or "beloved of destruction."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: There are no direct corresponding Strong's Greek entries for the name Bildad, as it is a proper noun specific to the Hebrew text of the Old Testament and does not appear in the Greek New Testament.

Usage: The name Bildad appears in the context of the Book of Job, where he is one of the three friends who visit Job to offer their counsel and explanations for his suffering. Bildad is mentioned specifically in Job 2:11, 8:1, 18:1, and 25:1.

Context: Bildad the Shuhite is one of the three friends of Job who come to comfort him during his time of suffering. He is identified as a Shuhite, possibly indicating his descent from Shuah, a son of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:2). Bildad is known for his speeches in the Book of Job, where he argues that Job's suffering is a result of his sin and urges him to repent to restore his fortunes. Bildad's speeches are characterized by a traditional and somewhat rigid understanding of divine justice, emphasizing the retributive nature of God's dealings with humanity. He is the second of Job's friends to speak, following Eliphaz and preceding Zophar. Bildad's arguments are found in Job 8, 18, and 25, where he insists on the justice of God and the need for human repentance. Despite his intentions to comfort, Bildad's words often come across as harsh and unsympathetic, reflecting a limited understanding of the complexities of Job's situation.

בִּלְדַּ֥ד בלדד וּבִלְדַּ֣ד ובלדד bil·daḏ bilDad bildaḏ ū·ḇil·daḏ ūḇildaḏ uvilDadInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts