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Bildad

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

One of Job’s three friends who argued that suffering results from sin

Detailed Definition
Bildad the Shuhite insisted Job must have sinned to deserve his afflictions, appealing to tradition and divine justice. Though well-intentioned, his rigid theology lacked compassion. In poetry, Bildad represents the danger of dogmatic orthodoxy, the human tendency to blame victims, and the limits of reason without empathy in the face of mystery.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Lost," Bildad’s speeches (Job 8, 18, 25) illustrate flawed theodicy; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "A Drama of Exile," Bildad symbolizes rigid orthodoxy; In George Herbert’s "The Church-porch," Bildad’s arguments warn against simplistic judgment; In John Keble’s "Lyra Apostolica," Bildad represents the danger of dogmatic comfort; In Christina Rossetti’s "Later Life," Bildad’s certainty contrasts with Job’s mystery; In T.S. Eliot’s "Four Quartets," Bildad’s formulas fail before the divine.
Additional Notes
Bildad: One of Job’s friends (Job 8, 18, 25); represents traditional wisdom that attributes suffering to sin. Though well-intentioned, his arguments are rebuked by God (Job 42:7). In poetry, Bildad embodies the limits of human wisdom, the danger of dogmatic theodicy, and the pain of misapplied comfort. Useful in dialogues on suffering, the inadequacy of formulas, or the humility required in presence of mystery.
Also Known As
Bildad the Shuhite Bildad of Tema
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