SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:11
¿Crece el junco sin lodo? ¿Crece el prado sin agua?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Job 8:11
Verse 11. Can the rush grow ] The word amg gome, which we translate rush, is, without doubt, the Egyptian flag papyrus, on which the ancients wrote, and from which our paper derives its name. The Septuagint, who made their Greek translation in Egypt, (if this book made a part of it,) and knew well the import of each word in both languages, render amg gome by papurov papyrus, thus: mh qallei papurov aneu udatov; Can the PAPYRUS flourish without water? Their translation leaves no doubt concerning the meaning of the original. They were probably writing on the very substance in question, while making their translation. The technical language of no science is so thoroughly barbarous as that of botany: the description of this plant by Linnaeus, shall be a proof. The plant he calls "Cyperus Papyrus; CLASS Triandria; ORDER Monogynia; Culm three-sided, naked; umbel longer than the involucres; involucels three-leaved, setaceous, longer; spikelets in threes. - Egypt, &c. Involucre eight-leaved; general umbel copious, the rays sheathing at the base; partial on very short peduncles; spikelets alternate, sessile; culm leafy at the base; leaves hollow, ensiform." Hear our plain countryman John Gerarde, who describes the same plant: "Papyrus Nilotica, Paper Reed, hath many large flaggie leaves, somewhat triangular and smooth, not much unlike those of cats-taile, rising immediately from a tuft of roots, compact of many strings; amongst the which it shooteth up two or three naked stalkes, square, and rising some six or seven cubits high above the water; at the top whereof there stands a tuft or bundle off chaffie threds, set in comely order, resembling a tuft of floures, but barren and void of seed;" GERARDE'S Herbal, p. 40. Which of the two descriptions is easiest to be understood by common sense, either with or without a knowledge of the Latin language? This plant grows in the muddy banks of the Nile, as it requires an abundance of water for its nourishment.
Can the flag grow without water? ] Parkhurst supposes that the word wja achu, which we render flag, is the same with that species of reed which Mr. Hasselquist found growing near the river Nile. He describes it (p. 97) as "having scarcely any branches, but numerous leaves, which are narrow, smooth, channelled on the upper surface; and the plant about eleven feet high. The Egyptians make ropes of the leaves. They lay the plant in water, like hemp, and then make good and strong cables of them." As ja ach signifies to join, connect, associate, hence yja achi, a brother, wja achu may come from the same root, and have its name from its usefulness in making ropes, cables, &c., which are composed of associated threads, and serve to tie, bind together, &c.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 8-19 - Bildad discourses well of hypocrites and evil-doers, and the fatal en of all their hopes and joys. He proves this truth of the destruction of the hopes and joys of hypocrites, by an appeal to former times. Bilda refers to the testimony of the ancients. Those teach best that utte words out of their heart, that speak from an experience of spiritual and divine things. A rush growing in fenny ground, looking very green but withering in dry weather, represents the hypocrite's profession which is maintained only in times of prosperity. The spider's web, spu with great skill, but easily swept away, represents a man's pretension to religion when without the grace of God in his heart. A forma professor flatters himself in his own eyes, doubts not of his salvation, is secure, and cheats the world with his vain confidences The flourishing of the tree, planted in the garden, striking root to the rock, yet after a time cut down and thrown aside, represents wicke men, when most firmly established, suddenly thrown down and forgotten This doctrine of the vanity of a hypocrite's confidence, or the prosperity of a wicked man, is sound; but it was not applicable to the case of Job, if confined to the present world.
Original Hebrew
היגאה 1342 גמא 1573 בלא 3808 בצה 1207 ישׂגה 7685 אחו 260 בלי 1097 מים׃ 4325
