bildad: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal / Literary / Biblical
Quick answer
What does “bildad” mean?
A proper noun referring to one of Job's three friends in the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun referring to one of Job's three friends in the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible.
The name 'Bildad' is used exclusively to refer to this biblical character and is not used in any extended metaphorical or common figurative sense in modern English. Occasionally, in theological or literary analysis, the name may be invoked to represent a specific type of argument or philosophical stance found in the Book of Job.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage, pronunciation, or spelling.
Connotations
Equally rare and context-specific in both varieties. May be slightly more recognised in communities with strong biblical literacy.
Frequency
Used with identical, extremely low frequency in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “bildad” in a Sentence
Proper Noun (Subject of 'said', 'argued', 'replied')Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in theological, religious studies, and literary criticism contexts discussing the Book of Job.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside specific biblical scholarship.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bildad”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bildad”
- Mispronouncing it as /baɪlˈdæd/ or /ˈbɪldəd/
- Using it as a common noun.
- Confusing him with Eliphaz or Zophar, Job's other friends.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is extremely rare. It is used almost exclusively as a reference to the biblical figure.
The standard pronunciation is /ˈbɪldæd/, with the stress on the first syllable.
Yes, as it is a proper noun found in a major English-language reference work (the Bible), it is typically an allowable word in Scrabble and similar word games.
Bildad argued from a traditional perspective that God is just, and therefore Job's profound suffering must be conclusive proof of some hidden, serious sin that Job needed to repent of.
A proper noun referring to one of Job's three friends in the Book of Job in the Hebrew Bible.
Bildad is usually formal / literary / biblical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BILDAD: Bildad's Arguments Lead to Disagreement And Discomfort.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (Proper noun with no established metaphorical mappings).
Practice
Quiz
What is Bildad best known for?