MOREOVER, JOB CONTINUED HIS PARABLE - See the notes at Job 27:1. It is probable that Job had paused to see if anyone would attempt a reply. As his friends were silent, he resumed his remarks and went into a more full statement of his sufferings. The fact that Job more than once paused in his address... [ Continue Reading ]
OH THAT I WERE - Hebrew “Who will give?” a common mode of expressing a wish; compare Job 6:8; Job 11:5; Job 13:5; Job 23:3. AS IN MONTHS PAST - O that I could recall my former prosperity, and be as was when I enjoyed the protection and favor of God. Probably one object of this wish was that his frie... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HIS CANDLE SHINED UPON MY HEAD - Margin, or, “lamp;” compare notes Job 18:6. It was remarked in the note on that place, that it was common to have lamps or lights always burning in a house or tent. When Job speaks of the lamps shining “on his head,” the allusion is probably to the custom of sus... [ Continue Reading ]
AS I WAS IN THE DAYS OF MY YOUTH - The word here rendered “youth” (חרף _chôreph_), properly means “autumn - from” (חרף _châraph_), to “pluck, pull,” as being the time when fruits ace gathered. Then it means that which is mature; and the meaning here is probably “mature” or “manly” - “As I was in t... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE ALMIGHTY WAS YET WITH ME - Job regarded God as withdrawn from him. He now looked back with deep interest to the time when he dwelt with him.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I WASHED MY STEPS WITH BUTTER - On the word rendered “butter,” see the notes at Isaiah 7:15. It properly means curdled milk. Umbreit renders it, Sahne; cream. Noyes, milk, and so Wemyss. The Septuagint, “When my ways flowed with butter” - βουτύρῳ _bouturō_. So Coverdale, “When my ways ran ov... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I WENT OUT TO THE GATE - The “gate” of a city was a place of public concourse, and where courts were usually held. Job speaks here as a magistrate, and of the time when he went forth to sit as a judge, to try causes. WHEN I PREPARED MY SEAT IN THE STREET - That is, to sit as a judge. The seat... [ Continue Reading ]
THE YOUNG MEN SAW ME, AND HID THEMSELVES - That is, they retired as if awed at my presence. They gave place to me, or reverently withdrew as I passed along. AND THE AGED AROSE, AND STOOD UP - They not merely rose, but they continued to stand still until I had passed by. “This is a most elegant desc... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRINCES REFRAINED TALKING - As a mark of respect, or in awe of his presence. AND LAID THEIR HAND ON THEIR MOUTH - To lay the finger or the hand on the mouth is every where an action expressive of silence or respect; Notes, Job 21:5. “In one of the subterranean vaults of Egypt, where the mummies... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NOBLES - Margin, “The voice of the nobles was hid.” Literally, this may be rendered, “as to the voice the nobles hid themselves;” or the phrase here employed (נגידים קול נחבאו _n__e__châbâ'û_ _qôl_ _nāgı̂ydiym_) may be rendered, “the voice of the nobles was hid” - it being common in the Heb... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE EAR HEARD ME. - A personification for “they who heard me speak, blessed me.” That is, they commended or praised me. AND WHEN THE EYE SAW ME - All who saw me. IT GAVE WITNESS TO ME - That is, the fixed attention to what he said and the admiration which was shown by the eyes of the multitud... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE I DELIVERED THE POOR THAT CRIED - This is spoken of himself as a magistrate or judge - for the whole description relates to that. The meaning is, that when the poor man, who had no means of employing counsel, brought his cause before him, he heard him and delivered him from the grasp of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLESSING OF HIM THAT WAS READY TO PERISH ... - Of the man who was falsely accused, and who was in danger of being condemned, or of him who was exposed to death by poverty and want. AND I CAUSED THE WIDOW’S HEART TO SING FOR JOY - By becoming her patron and friend; by vindicating her cause, and... [ Continue Reading ]
I PUT ON RIGHTEOUSNESS - Or “justice” - as a magistrate, and in all his transactions with his fellow-men. It is common to compare moral conduct or traits of character with various articles of apparel; compare Isaiah 11:5, note; Isaiah 61:10, note. AND IT CLOTHED ME - It was my covering; I was adorn... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS EYES TO THE BLIND - An exceedingly beautiful expression, whose meaning is obvious. He became their counsellor and guide. AND FEET WAS I TO THE LAME - I assisted them, and became their benefactor. I did for them, in providing a support, what they would have done for themselves if they had been... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS A FATHER TO THE POOR - I took them under my protection, and treated them as if they were my own children. AND THE CAUSE WHICH I KNEW NOT I SEARCHED OUT - This is according to the interpretation of Jerome. But the more probable meaning is, “the cause of him who was unknown to me, that is, of t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I BRAKE THE JAWS OF THE WICKED - Margin, “jaw-teeth, or, grinders.” The Hebrew word מתלעה _m__e__thall__e__‛âh_, the same, with the letters transposed, as מתלעות, is from לתע, to “bite” - and means “the biters,” the grinders, the teeth. It is not used to denote the jaw. The image here is taken... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I SAID - So prosperous was I, and so permanent seemed my sources of happiness. I saw no reason why all this should not continue, and why the same respect and honor should not attend me to the grave. I SHALL DIE IN MY NEST - I shall remain where I am, and in my present comforts, while I live. I... [ Continue Reading ]
MY ROOT WAS SPREAD OUT BY THE WATERS - Margin, as the Hebrew, “opened.” The meaning is, that it was spread abroad or extended far, so that the moisture of the earth had free access to it; or it was like a tree planted near a stream, whose root ran down to the water. This is an image designed to deno... [ Continue Reading ]
MY GLORY WAS FRESH IN ME - Margin, “new.” “As we say, the man shall not overlive himself.” Umbreit. The idea is, that he was not exhausted; he continued in vigor and strength. The image is probably taken from that suggested in the previous verse - from a tree, whose beauty and vigor were continued b... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO ME MEN GAVE EAR - Job here returns to the time when he sat in the assembly of counsellors, and to the respectful attention which was paid to all that he said. They listened when he spoke; they waited for him to speak before they gave their opinion; and they were then silent. They neither interr... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER MY WORDS THEY SPAKE NOT AGAIN - The highest proof which could be given of deference. So full of respect were they that they did not dare to dispute him; so sagacious and wise was his counsel that they were satisfied with it, and did not presume to suggest any other. AND MY SPEECH DROPPED UPON... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WAITED FOR ME AS FOR THE RAIN - That is, as the dry and thirsty earth waits for the rain. This is a continuation of the beautiful image commenced in the previous verse, and conveys the idea that his counsel was as necessary in the assemblies of people as the rain was to give growth to the s... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I LAUGHED ON THEM THEY BELIEVED IT NOT - There is considerable variety in the interpretation of this member of the verse. Dr. Good renders it, “I smiled upon them, and they were gay.” Herder, If I laughed at them, they were not offended.” Coverdale,” When I laughed, they knew well it was not earn... [ Continue Reading ]
I CHOSE OUT THEIR WAY - That is, I became their guide and counsellor. Rosenmuller and Noyes explain this as meaning, “When I came among them;” that is, when I chose to go in their way, or in their midst. But the former interpretation better agrees with the Hebrew, and with the connection. Job is spe... [ Continue Reading ]