Job 8:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Others render him respect, and his praises are multiplied. So, this reed may seem filled with moisture at night, yet as the sun rises, it wilts. The hypocrite may be honored as righteous by society during life's darkness, but when the judgment of the Divine occurs, his true nature will be exposed. He may appear flourishing in the eyes of men right now, but ultimately he will wither under the heat of Divine judgment. It continues, And his inflorescence is let out in his sprouting (Job 8:16).

Initially, any plant emerges from the ground through germination, exposed to the elements, sustained by the sun and rain, and eventually produces the results of its seed. The reed, however, immediately reveals its inflorescence upon emerging. Among the other grasses, the saints are generally well recognized, while hypocrites are likened to ‘reeds.’ The righteous endure the winter of this life, facing bitter persecution and toil before they commit to a genuine practice of holiness. When they do act righteously, they do not seek immediate rewards from this world but look forward to the eternal rewards that await them. In contrast, hypocrites swiftly germinate in good deeds, seeking worldly glory right away. Like the reed that reveals its inflorescence upon sprouting, they prioritize public praise for their newfound goodness. The inflorescence appearing during germination represents a premature reward. Many abandon outright wickedness and adopt a façade of holiness; as soon as they begin living well, they forsake their previous sins without repentance and crave accolades.

Often, those who have renounced the world should not seek public admiration until they have long lived in humility, as a premature revelation of their goodness can lead to its decay. Just like planted trees that die if touched before their roots are firmly established, our spiritual roots should sink deeply into humility. When adversity or praise comes from others, although it may bend us momentarily, it should not uproot us. A virtue, revealed too early, can deteriorate, while one that remains hidden gains strength. When adversities come, a solid virtue withstands assaults much like a well-dried wall remains unyielding to a battering ram.

This idea is echoed in Moses' prohibition against using the firstborn for menial work: Thou shalt not do any work on thy first-born will, nor shear the first-born of thy small cattle (Deuteronomy 15:19). The reference to ‘working on the firstborn’ relates to making the beginnings of good works known to others, while to ‘shear the firstborn sheep’ symbolizes exposing our initial achievements before the world. Thus, we must refrain from publicizing our early successes; if something innocent begins to grow, we should protect its hidden strength.

The firstborn of oxen and sheep should be offered solely to God. Whether our endeavors are grand or humble, they should be sacrifices to the Divine. Such a sacrifice is pleasing when it remains concealed from others and untouched by the desire for praise. New beginnings often retain elements of our carnal nature and should consequently remain unannounced. While praise can mislead the soul, seemingly good deeds have the potential to harbor hidden evils. Therefore, Moses wisely advised that when entering the land He would give, if one plants trees to bear fruit, they should prune them. The early fruit shall be unclean to you; you shall not eat it (Lev. 19:23). 'Trees bearing fruit' signifies virtuous works, and so we ‘prune the trees’ by withholding consent for our initial efforts, deeming early fruit unclean. When initial good works gain accolades, they can distract and consume our attention, leading to premature enjoyment. Receiving applause for virtue in its infancy is akin to consuming fruit from a tree before it’s ripe.

Truth speaks through the Psalmist: In vain ye rise up before the light: rise up after ye have sat down (Psalms 126:2). To 'rise up before the light' means to indulge in the darkness of life before experiencing the Eternal Reward. We must first be seated in humility so that we may rise rightly afterward. Those who do not work to humble themselves now will not be elevated later. ‘Rising to the light’ indicates the hypocrite seeking immediate recognition. Their heart yearns for human admiration as they engage in good works, much like reeds revealing their inflorescence. The hypocrite, when performing good deeds, seeks witnesses, calculating who will see and report their actions. If no one observes, they consider their efforts wasted, believing the gaze of the inner Judge has turned away from them, showing no interest in receiving divine rewards for their deeds. While the hypocrite strives to be seen at the moment of adulation, they are ultimately like a reed that blooms prematurely, lacking genuine roots in righteousness.

Just as the papyrus, which flourishes during the inundation of the Nile, swiftly withers once the waters recede, so too do the wicked, who reach the pinnacle of worldly prosperity, meet their end abruptly. Therefore, Job will not be forsaken by the Lord. Baldad posits that Job bears guilt before God on two counts: for himself and for his children. This assertion undermines Job’s final source of solace—the acknowledgment that he had been a good father and that his children deserved a fate aligned with their worth.