Job 18:16
“His roots shall be dried up beneath. Above shall his branch be cut off.”
What does Job 18:16 mean?
Bildad is describing what happens to the wicked, using the image of a tree that withers from the inside out. The roots drying up beneath means the foundation of their life is collapsing, even if it isn't visible to everyone yet. The branch being cut off above represents how their outer success and influence eventually disappear too. This picture would have been vivid to Job's friends and to ancient readers generally: a tree without roots cannot stand, no matter how impressive it looks. The point is that wrongdoing doesn't just have surface consequences, it eats away at the core of a person's life. It's a sobering image, especially if you're in a season where you're wondering whether choices matter or if consequences are real.