WHEREFORE, JOB, I PRAY THEE - In the next chapter he addresses the three friends of Job. This is addressed particularly to him. MY SPEECHES - Hebrew, “my words” - מלה _millâh_. This is the usual word in the Aramaen languages to express a saying or discourse, though in Hebrew it is only a poetic fo... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TONGUE HATH SPOKEN IN MY MOUTH - Margin, “palate.” The meaning is, that since he had ventured to speak, and had actually commenced, he would utter only that which was worthy to be heard. This is properly the commencement of his argument, for all that he had before said was merely an introduction.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY WORDS SHALL BE OF THE UPRIGHTNESS OF MY HEART - I will speak in sincerity. I will utter nothing that shall be hollow and hypocritical. What I speak shall be the real suggestion of my heart - what I feel and know to be true. Perhaps Elihu was the more anxious to make this point entirely clear, bec... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT OF GOD HATH MADE ME; - see the notes at Job 32:8. There is an evident allusion in this verse to the mode in which man was created, when God breathed into him the breath of life and he became a living being; Genesis 2:7. But it is not quite clear why Elihu adverts here to the fact that God... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU CANST ANSWER ME - The meaning of this verse is this: “The controversy between you and me, if you choose to reply, shall be conducted in the most equitable manner, and on the most equal terms. I will not attempt, as your three friends have done, to overwhelm you with reproaches; nor will I at... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I AM ACCORDING TO THY WISH IN GODS STEAD - Margin, as in Hebrew “mouth.” The mouth is that by which we express our desires, and the word here is equivalent to wish. Some have, however, rendered this differently. Umbreit translates it, ich bin, wie du, von Gott - I am, as thou art, from God.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD MY TERROR SHALL NOT MAKE THEE AFRAID - Job had earnestly desired to carry his cause directly before God, but he had expressed the apprehension that he would overawe him by his majesty, so that he would not be able to manage his plea with the calmness and self-possession which were desirable.... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY THOU HAST SPOKEN IN MINE HEARING - Margin, as in Hebrew “ears.” This shows that Elihu had been present during the debate, and had attentively listened to what had been said. He now takes up the main point on which he supposed that Job had erred - the attempt to justify himself. He professes t... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM CLEAN - I am pure and holy. WITHOUT TRANSGRESSION - Job had not used these very expressions, nor had he intended to maintain that he was absolutely free from sin; see Job 9:20. He had maintained that he was not chargeable with the transgressions of which his three friends maintained that he wa... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE FINDETH OCCASIONS AGAINST ME - That is, God. This is not exactly the language of Job, though much that he had said had seemed to imply this. The idea is, that God sought opportunity to oppose him; that he was desirous to find in him some ground or reason for punishing him; that he wished... [ Continue Reading ]
HE PUTTETH MY FEET IN THE STOCKS - This also is language which Job had used; see Job 13:27. “He marketh all my paths;” in Job 13:27, “Thou lookest narrowly unto all my paths;” see the notes at that verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, IN THIS THOU ART NOT JUST - In this view of God, and in these reflections on his character and government. Such language in regard to the Deity cannot be vindicated; such views cannot be right. It cannot be that he wishes to be the foe of man; that he watches with a jealous eye every movemen... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY DOST THOU STRIVE AGAINST HIM? - By refusing to submit to him, and by calling in question his wisdom and goodness. FOR HE GIVETH NOT ACCOUNT OF ANY OF HIS MATTERS - Margin, as in Hebrew “answereth not.” The idea is, that it is as useless as it is improper to contend with God. He does his own plea... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD SPEAKETH ONCE - The object of what is here said is, to show the reason why God brings affliction upon people, or to explain the principles of his government which Elihu supposed had been sadly misunder stood by Job and his friends. The reason why he brings affliction, Elihu says, is because... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A DREAM - This was one of the methods by which the will of God was made known in the early periods of the world; see the notes at Job 4:12. And for a fuller account of this method of communicating the divine will, see the introduction to Isaiah, Section 7 (2). IN A VISION OF THE NIGHT - Notes, J... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE OPENETH THE EARS OF MEN - Margin, as in Hebrew “revealeth,” or “uncovereth.” The idea is, that he then reveals to the ear of man important admonitions or counsels. He communicates valuable truth. We are not to understand this as saying that the sleeper actually hears God speak, but as the ea... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE MAY WITHDRAW MAN FROM HIS PURPOSE - Margin, “work.” The sense is plain. God designs to warn him of the consequences of executing a plan of iniquity. He alarms him by showing him that his course will lead to punishment, and by representing to him in the night visions, the dreadful woes of the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE KEEPETH BACK HIS SOUL FROM THE PIT - The word soul in the Hebrew is often equivalent to self, and the idea is, that he keeps the man from the pit in this manner. The object of these warnings is to keep him from rushing on to his own destruction. The word rendered “pit” - שׁחת _shachath_, properly... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS CHASTENED ALSO WITH PAIN - As another means of checking and restraining him from the commission of sin. When the warnings of the night fail, and when he is bent on a life of sin, then God lays him on a bed of pain, and he is brought to reflection there. There he has an opportunity to think of... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT HIS LIFE ABHORRETH BREAD - It is a common effect of sickness to take away the appetite. Elihu here regards it as a part of the wholesome discipline of the sufferer. He has no relish for the comforts of life. AND HIS SOUL DAINTY MEAT - Margin, “meat of desire.” The Hebrew is, “food of desire... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS FLESH IS CONSUMED AWAY, THAT IT CANNOT BE SEEN - He wastes away. His flesh, once vigorous, beautiful, and fair, now disappears. This is not a mere description of the nature of his sickness, but it is a description of the disciplinary arrangements of God. It is an important part of his affliction... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, HIS SOUL DRAWETH NEAR UNTO THE GRAVE - That is, he himself does, for the word soul is often used to denote self. AND HIS LIFE TO THE DESTROYERS - - לממתים _lammitiym_. literally, “to those causing death.” The interpretation commonly given of this is, “the angels of death” who were supposed to... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THERE BE A MESSENGER WITH HIM - This part of the speech of Elihu has given rise to scarcely less diversity of opinion, and to scarcely less discussion, than the celebrated passage in Job 19:25. Almost every interpreter has had a special view of its meaning, and of course it is very difficult, if... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN HE IS GRACIOUS UNTO HIM - That is, on the supposition that he hears and regards what the messenger of God communicates. If he rightly understands the reasons of the divine administration, and acquiesces in it, and if he calls upon God in a proper manner Job 33:26, he will show him mercy, and sp... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS FLESH SHALL BE FRESHER THAN A CHILD’S - Margin, “childhood.” The meaning is obvious. He would be restored again to health. The calamity which had been brought upon him for purposes of discipline, would be removed. This was the theory of Elihu in regard to afflictions, and he undoubtedly meant th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL PRAY UNTO GOD ... - That is, when he fully understands the design of affliction; and when his mind is brought to a proper state of penitence for his past conduct, then he will find God merciful and ready to show him kindness. AND HE SHALL SEE HIS FACE WITH JOY - The face of God. That is, h... [ Continue Reading ]
HE LOOKETH UPON MEN - Margin, “or, he shall look upon men, and say, I have sinned.” Umbreit renders this, Nun singt er jubelnd zu den Menschen - “now he sings joyfully among men.” So Noyes, “He shall sing among men, and say.” Prof. Lee “He shall fully consider or pronounce right to men, so that one... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL DELIVER HIS SOUL - Margin, “He hath delivered my soul.” There are various readings here in the text, which give rise to this diversity of interpretation. The present reading in the text is נפשׁי _nepheshay_ - “my soul”; and according to this, it is to be regarded as the language of the suffe... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, ALL THESE THINGS WORKETH GOD - That is, he takes all these methods to warn people, and to reclaim them from their evil ways. OFTENTIMES - Hebrew as in the margin, twice, thrice. This may be taken either as it is by our translators, to denote an indefinite number, meaning that God takes frequent... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BRING BACK HIS SOUL FROM THE PIT - To keep him from descending to the grave, and to the dark world beneath. He takes these methods of warning people, in order that they may not bring destruction on themselves. See Job 33:18. TO BE ENLIGHTENED WITH THE LIGHT OF THE LIVING - That he may still enjo... [ Continue Reading ]
MARK WELL, O JOB, HEARKEN UNTO ME ... - Elihu designs to intimate that he had much more to say which demanded close attention. He begged, therefore, that Job would hear him patiently through.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU HAST ANYTHING TO SAY, ANSWER ME - In the previous verse, Elihu had asked that Job would hear all that he had to say. Yet here, in view of what he had said, he asks of him that if there were any thing from which he dissented, he would now express his dissent. We may suppose that he paused at... [ Continue Reading ]
IF NOT, HEARKEN UNTO ME ... - If nothing has been said from which you dissent, then listen to me, and I will explain further the perplexing subject which has excited so much discussion. These remarks of Elihu imply great confidence in the truth of what he had to say, but they are not arrogant and di... [ Continue Reading ]