XVII. (1) MY BREATH IS CORRUPT. — As it is said to be in Elephantiasis. Some understand it, “My spirit is consumed.” (See margin.) THE GRAVES. — _i.e., the grave is mine_ — _my portion._ The plural is frequently used for the singular in Hebrew, as, _e.g.,_ in the case of the word _blood,_ which is... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE EYE CONTINUE IN THEIR PROVOCATION? — “It sees, and can see nothing else; has nothing else to look upon “: a bitter reproach against his friends.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAY DOWN NOW... — _i.e., Give now a pledge; be surety for me with Thyself._ He has declared that he has a witness in the heavens, but he desires some _present_ token of the vindication to come of which he is confident, and so he asks God to give him such a pledge. This is virtually the same prayer t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR HEART. — i.e., the heart of his friends.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SPEAKETH FLATTERY TO HIS FRIENDS. — The three words thus rendered are, from their very brevity, most obscure. Literally, they run: _for a portion he will tell friends._ But what is the meaning of this? Some render, “He denounceth his friends for a prey,” _i.e., such_ is the conduct of Job’s... [ Continue Reading ]
HE (_i.e.,_ God) HATH MADE ME ALSO A BYWORD of THE PEOPLE; AND AFORETIME I WAS AS A TABRET. — Or, _I_ _am become as a tabret, or drum openly, i.e.,_ a signal of warning. “My case will be fraught with warning for others.” But some render it, “I am become an open abhorrence, or one in whose face they... [ Continue Reading ]
UPRIGHT MEN SHALL BE ASTONIED. — “As a result of the warning my case would give, upright men would be astonished at it, innocent men would be encouraged, and the righteous would persevere and wax bold.”... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AS FOR YOU ALL, DO YE RETURN. — This is probably said with irony. “Come again and renew the argument between us; but I shall not be able to find a wise man among you. I am willing to listen to your argument, but I am confident as to the result of it.” FOR I CANNOT FIND. — Rather, _and I shall n... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CHANGE THE NIGHT INTO DAY. — Comp. Job 11:17. So little did his friends enter into his case that they wanted him to believe that his night of trial was the reverse of darkness, and that there was light at hand. This was to him only the more painful mockery, because of its contrast to his felt c... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL GO DOWN TO THE BARS OF THE PIT. — The last verse of this chapter, which is itself one of the most difficult, is the most difficult of all. The difficulty consists in this: _the bars of the grave_ are masculine, and the verb, _they shall go down,_ is feminine plural; it seems improbable th... [ Continue Reading ]