_MY BREATH IS CORRUPT, MY DAYS ARE EXTINCT, THE GRAVES ARE READY FOR ME._ Breath ... corrupt - result of elephantiasis. But (Umbreit) 'my strength (spirit) is spent' х_ CHUBAALAAH_ (H2254)] - destroyed. EXTINCT. Life is compared to an expiring light. 'The light of my day is extinguished.' GRAVE... [ Continue Reading ]
_ARE THERE NOT MOCKERS WITH ME? AND DOTH NOT MINE EYE CONTINUE IN THEIR PROVOCATION?_ Umbreit, more emphatically, 'had I only not to endure mockery (literally, if only there were not mockings with me), in the midst of their, contentions, I (mine eye) would remain quiet.' 'Eye continue,' or tarry all... [ Continue Reading ]
_LAY DOWN NOW, PUT ME IN A SURETY WITH THEE; WHO IS HE THAT WILL STRIKE HANDS WITH ME?_ Lay down - namely, a pledge or security - i:e., be my surety; do thou attest my innocence, since my friends only mock me (Job 17:2). Both litigating parties had to lay down a sum as security before the trial.... [ Continue Reading ]
_FOR THOU HAST HID THEIR HEART FROM UNDERSTANDING: THEREFORE SHALT THOU NOT EXALT THEM._ Hid - withheld. THEIR HEART - the intellect of his friends. SHALT ... EXALT - rather, imperative, exalt them not. Allow them not to conquer (Umbreit). (Isaiah 6:9)... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE THAT SPEAKETH FLATTERY TO HIS FRIENDS, EVEN THE EYES OF HIS CHILDREN SHALL FAIL._ _ HE THAT SPEAKETH FLATTERY TO HIS FRIENDS, EVEN THE EYES OF HIS CHILDREN SHALL FAIL._ Not only are the friends void of intelligence, but also they plot Job's ruin. The Hebrew for flattery is smoothness: then it ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_HE HATH MADE ME ALSO A BYWORD OF THE PEOPLE; AND AFORETIME I WAS AS A TABRET._ He - God. The poet reverentially suppresses the name of God when speaking of calamities inflicted. BYWORD - (Deuteronomy 28:37; Psalms 69:11). My awful punishment makes my name execrated everywhere, as if I must have... [ Continue Reading ]
_MINE EYE ALSO IS DIM BY REASON OF SORROW, AND ALL MY MEMBERS ARE AS A SHADOW._ (Psalms 6:7; Psalms 31:9; Deuteronomy 34:7). MEMBERS - literally, figures; all the individual members being special forms of the body: opposed to "shadow," which looks like a figure, but has no solidity.... [ Continue Reading ]
_UPRIGHT MEN SHALL BE ASTONIED AT THIS, AND THE INNOCENT SHALL STIR UP HIMSELF AGAINST THE HYPOCRITE._ _ UPRIGHT MEN SHALL BE ASTONIED AT THIS, AND THE INNOCENT SHALL STIR UP HIMSELF AGAINST THE HYPOCRITE._ Astonied - at my unmerited sufferings. AGAINST THE HYPOCRITE. The upright shall feel their... [ Continue Reading ]
_THE RIGHTEOUS ALSO SHALL HOLD ON HIS WAY, AND HE THAT HATH CLEAN HANDS SHALL BE STRONGER AND STRONGER._ The strength of religious principle is heightened by misfortune. The pious shall take fresh courage to persevere from the example of suffering Job. The image is from a warrior acquiring new cour... [ Continue Reading ]
_BUT AS FOR YOU ALL, DO YE RETURN, AND COME NOW: FOR I CANNOT FIND ONE WISE MAN AMONG YOU._ Return - if you have anything to advance really wise, though I doubt it, recommended your speech. For as yet I cannot find one wise man among you all. As often so-ever as ye return to your speeches with me,... [ Continue Reading ]
_MY DAYS ARE PAST, MY PURPOSES ARE BROKEN OFF, EVEN THE THOUGHTS OF MY HEART._ Only do not vainly speak of the restoration of health to me; for "my days are past." BROKEN OFF - as the threads of the web cut off from the loom (Isaiah 38:12). THOUGHTS - literally, possessions - i:e., all the feel... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEY CHANGE THE NIGHT INTO DAY: THE LIGHT IS SHORT BECAUSE OF DARKNESS._ They - namely, my friends-would change the night into day; would assert that bright day is there where nothing is to be seen but dark nigh - i:e., would try to persuade me of the change of my misery into joy, which is impossi... [ Continue Reading ]
_IF I WAIT, THE GRAVE IS MINE HOUSE: I HAVE MADE MY BED IN THE DARKNESS._ Rather, if I wait for the grave (scheol or the unseen world) as my house, and make my bed in the darkness (Job 17:14), and say to corruption-rather, to the pit or grave х_ SHACHAT_ (H7845)] etc. (Job 17:15) - Where, then, is... [ Continue Reading ]
_I HAVE SAID TO CORRUPTION, THOU ART MY FATHER: TO THE WORM, THOU ART MY MOTHER, AND MY SISTER._ Thou art my father ... - Expressing most intimate connection (Job 30:29; Proverbs 7:4, "Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister"). His diseased state made him closely akin to the grave and worm.... [ Continue Reading ]
_AND WHERE IS NOW MY HOPE? AS FOR MY HOPE, WHO SHALL SEE IT?_ And where. Where, then is my hope? The apodosis to Job 17:13. Who shall see at-fulfilled? namely, the "hope" (Job 11:18) which they held out to him of restoration.... [ Continue Reading ]
_THEY SHALL GO DOWN TO THE BARS OF THE PIT, WHEN OUR REST TOGETHER IS IN THE DUST._ They - namely, my hopes, shall be buried with me. BARS - (Isaiah 38:10, "I shall go to the gates of the grave;" Jonah 2:6, "The earth with her bars was about me for ever"). Rather, the wastes, or solitudes [badiym... [ Continue Reading ]