Bildad continues the metaphor depicting the insecurity of the godless person. He leans against his house, but it does not stand: the image of the fragile spider’s web is continued here in terms of the evil man’s house. His house may refer to his dwelling, but more probably it refers to his prosperity or wealth. If the godless man relies on any of these, he will find them no more substantial than the web. Lean can refer to placing physical weight on something or to finding support and security. Good News Translation and others take house to refer to the “web” of verse 14, while other translators follow Revised Standard Version his house. The line may be rendered, for example, “He relies on his wealth to protect him, but it cannot.”

He lays hold of it, but it does not endure: lays hold of translates the same word used in 2.3, where God reminds Satan that Job “still holds fast his integrity.” Here it refers to grasping or clutching his dwelling or wealth to maintain his security, that is, “He holds on to what he owns, but it does not last.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, Wiliam. A Handbook on Job. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1992. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .