Boy Old Testament Known
Bildad
old friendship
בִּלְדַּד bil.dad
Bildad (Hebrew: בִּלְדַּד, bil.dad) means “old friendship”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 5 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Eliphaz in Job 2.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
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Bildad
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 5 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Divided Kingdom
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Job 2:11 |
| Last appears | Job 42:9 |
| Cross-references | 75 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Zophar co-occurrence Appears with Zophar in Job 2.
- Eliphaz co-occurrence Appears with Eliphaz in Job 2.
- Teman co-occurrence Appears with Teman in Job 2.
- Job co-occurrence Appears with Job in Job 2.
- Jemimah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jemimah.
- Keren-happuch co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Keren-happuch.
- Keziah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Keziah.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Job.2.11
§ Bildad = "confusing (by mingling) love"
the second friend of Job
Bildad the Shuhite was one of Job's three friends who came to comfort him during his affliction.
The biblical story
Bildad the Shuhite was one of the three friends who came to comfort Job during his time of intense suffering (Job.2.11). Along with Eliphaz the Temanite and Zophar the Naamathite, Bildad engaged in a series of dialogues with Job, attempting to explain the cause of his afflictions and offering advice. Bildad's speeches emphasize the justice and righteousness of God, suggesting that Job's suffering must be a result of his sin (Job.8.1-22; 18.1-21; 25.1-6). He argues that God does not pervert justice and that if Job were to seek God and plead for mercy, he would be restored if he were truly pure and upright (Job.8.5-7). However, like the other friends, Bildad fails to grasp the true reason behind Job's suffering and mistakenly accuses him of wrongdoing. In the end, God rebukes Bildad and the other friends for not speaking what is right about Him, unlike Job (Job.42.7-9). Despite his misguided attempts to explain Job's situation, Bildad's presence and dialogue with Job highlight the complexities of human suffering and the importance of faith in the face of adversity.
Key verses
Bildad appears in 5 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
Job 2:11 -
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
Job 8:1 -
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
Job 18:1 -
Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
Job 25:1 -
So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.
Job 42:9
Show all 5 references
Job (5)
- Job 2:11
- Job 8:1
- Job 18:1
- Job 25:1
- Job 42:9