HOW LONG WILL YE VEX MY SOUL? - Perhaps designing to reply to the taunting speech of Bildad; Job 18:2. “He” had asked “how long it would be ere Job would make an end of empty talk?” “Job” asks, in reply, “how long” they would torture and afflict his soul? Or whether there was on hope that this would... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE TEN TIMES - Many times; the word “ten” being used as we often say, “ten a dozen” or “twenty,” to denote many; see Genesis 31:7, “And your father hath changed my wages “ten times.” Leviticus 26:26, “and when I have broken your staff of bread, “ten women” shall bake your bread, in one oven;” com... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BE IT INDEED THAT I HAVE ERRED - Admitting that I have erred, it is my own concern. You have a right to reproach and revile me in this manner. MINE ERROR ABIDETH WITH MYSELF - I must abide the consequences of the error.” The design of this seems to be to reprove what he regarded as an improper... [ Continue Reading ]
IF, INDEED, YE WILL MAGNIFY YOURSELVES AGAINST ME - This is connected with the next verse. The sense is, “all these calamities came from God. He has brought them upon me in a sudden and mysterious manner. In these circumstances you ought to have pity upon me; Job 19:21. Instead of magnifying yoursel... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW NOW THAT GOD - Understand the case; and in order that they might, he goes into an extended description of the calamities which God had brought upon him. He wished them to be “fully” apprised of all that he had suffered at the hand of God. HATH OVERTHROWN ME - The word used here (עות _‛__âvath... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I CRY OUT OF WRONG - Margin, or “violence.” The Hebrew word (חמס _châmâs_) means properly violence. The violence referred to is that which was brought upon him by God. It is, indeed, harsh language; but it is not quite sure that he means to complain of God for doing him injustice. God had... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH FENCED UP MY WAY - This figure is taken from a traveler, whose way is obstructed by trees, rocks, or fences, so that he cannot get along, and Job says it was so with him. He was traveling along in a peaceful manner on the journey of life, and all at once obstructions were put in his path, so... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH STRIPPED ME OF MY GLORY - Everything which I had that contributed to my respectability and honor, he has taken away. My property, my health, my family, the esteem of my friend - all is gone. AND TAKEN THE CROWN FROM MY HEAD - The crown is an emblem of honor and dignity - and Job says that G... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH DESTROYED ME ON EVERY SIDE - He has left me nothing. The word which is used here is that which is commonly applied to which is used here is that which is commonly applied to destroying cities, towns, and houses. “Rosenmuller.” AND I AM GONE - That is, I am near death. I cannot recover mysel... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH ALSO KINDLED HIS WRATH - He is angry. Wrath in the Scriptures is usually represented as burning or inflamed - because like fire it destroys everything before it. AND HE COUNTETH ME UNTO HIM AS ONE OF HIS ENEMIES - He treats me as he would an enemy. The same complaint he elsewhere makes; see... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS TROOPS - The calamities which he had sent, and which are here represented as “armies” or “soldiers” to accomplish his work. It is not probable that he refers here to the bands of the Chaldeans and the Sabeans, that had robbed him of his property, but to the calamities that had come upon him, “as... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH PUT MY BRETHREN - This is a new source of afflication that he had not adverted to before, that God had caused all his children to be estranged from him - a calamity which he regarded as the crown of all his woes. The word rendered “my brethren” (אחי _'âchāy_) means means properly “my broth... [ Continue Reading ]
MY KINSFOLK HAVE FAILED - My neighbors (קרובי _qârôbāy_), those who were near to me. It may refer to “nearness” of affinity, friendship, or residence. The essential idea is that of “nearness” - whether by blood, affection, or vicinity. In Psalms 38:11, it denotes near friends. AND MY FAMILIAR FR... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT DWELL IN MINE HOUSE - The trials came to his very dwelling, and produced a sad estrangement there. The word used here גרי _gārēy_ from גוּר _gûr_ means properly those who “sojourn” in a house for a little time. It may refer to guests, strangers, servants, clients, or tenants. The essent... [ Continue Reading ]
I CALLED MY SERVANT - He lost all respect for me, and paid me no attention. I ENTREATED HIM - I ceased to expect “obedience,” and tried to see what “persuasion” would do. I ceased to be master in my own house.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BREATH IS STRANGE TO MY WIFE - Schultens renders this, “my breath is loathsome to my wife,” and so also Noyes. Wemyss translates it, “my own wife turns aside from my breath.” Dr Good, “my breath is scattered away by my wife.” The literal meaning is, “my breath is “strange” (זרה _zârâh_) to my w... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, YOUNG CHILDREN - Margin, or “the wicked.” This difference between the text and the margin arises from the ambiguity of the original word - עוילים _‛__ăvı̂ylı̂ym_. The word עויל _‛__ăvı̂yl_ (whence our word “evil”) means sometimes the wicked, or the ungodly, as in Job 16:11. It may also mean a... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL MY INWARD FRIENDS - Margin, “the men of my secret.” The meaning is those, who were admitted to the intimacy of friendship or who were permitted to be acquainted with his secret thoughts, purposes, and plans. The word uses here (סוד _sôd_) denotes properly “a couch, cushions, pillow,” on which o... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BONE CLEAVETH TO MY SKIN AND TO MY FLESH - The meaning of this probably is, “my skin and flesh are dried up so that the bone seems adhere to the skin, and so tht the form of the bone becomes visible.” It is designed to denote a state of great emaciation, and describes an effect which we often see... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE PITY ON ME - A tender, pathetic cry for sympathy. “God has afflicted me, and stripped me of all my comforts, and I am left a poor, distressed, forsaken man. I make my appeal to you, my friends, and entreat you to have pity; to sympathize with me, and to sustain me by the words of consolation.”... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY DO YE PERSECUTE ME AS GOD? - As God has done. That is, without giving me any reason for it; accusing me of crimes without proof, and condeming me without mitigation. That there is here an improper reflection on God, will be apparent to all. It accords with what Job frequently expresses where he... [ Continue Reading ]
OH THAT MY WORDS WERE NOW WRITTEN! - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Who will give;” a common mode of expressing desire among the Hebrews. This expression of desire introduces one of the most important passages in the book of Job. It is the language of a man who felt that injustice was done by his friends, a... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY WERE GRAVEN - Cut in, or sculptured - as is done on stones. That they might become thus a permanent record. WITH AN IRON PEN - A stylus, or an engraving tool - for so the word (עט _‛__êṭ_) means. The instrument formerly used for writing or engraying was a small, sharp-pointed piece of i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH - There are few passages in the Bible which have excited more attention than this, or in respect to which the opinions of expositors have been more divided. The importance of the passage Job 19:25 has contributed much to the anxiety to understand its meaning - sinc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOUGH - Margin, Or, after I shall awake, though this body be destroyed, yet out of my flesh shall I see God. This verse has given not less perplexity than the preceding. Noyes renders it, And though with this skin this body be wasted away, Yet in my flesh shall I see God. Dr. Good renders it... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM I SHALL SEE FOR MYSELF - It will not come to be by mere report. I shall not merely hear of the decision of God in my favor, but I shall myself behold him. He will at length come forth, and I shall be permitted to see him, and shall have the delightful assurance that he settles this controversy... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE SHOULD SAY - Noyes renders this, “Since ye say, ‘How may we persecute him, and find grounds of accusation against him?’” Dr. Good, Then shall ye say, “How did we persecute him?” When the root of the matter is disclosed in me. The Vulgate, “Why now do ye say, let us persecute him, and find g... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE AFRAID OF THE SWORD - Of the sword of justice, of the wrath of God. In taking such views, and using such language, you ought to dread the vengeance of God, for he will punish the guilty. FOR WRATH BRINGETH THE PUNISHMENTS OF THE SWORD - The word “bringeth” is supplied by the translators, and... [ Continue Reading ]