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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Job 4:2

Verse Job 4:2. If we assay to commune with thee] As if he had said, Should I and my friends endeavour to reason with thee ever so mildly, because we shall have many things to say by way of reprehension, thou wilt be grieved and faint; and this we may reasonably infer from the manner in which thou bearest thy present afflictions. Yet as thou hast uttered words which are injurious to thy Maker, who can forbear speaking? It is our duty to rise up on the part of God, though thereby we shall grieve him who is our friend. This was a plausible beginning, and certainly was far from being insincere.

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See also Job 4:2 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    IF WE ASSAY TO COMMUNE WITH THEE - Margin, A word. Hebrew - הנסה דבר _dâbâr_ _hanı̂câh_. “May we attempt a word with thee?” This is a gentle and polite apology at the beginning of his speech - an i...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER S 4-5 THE FIRST ADDRESS OF ELIPHAZ _ 1. He rebukes Job (Job 4:1)_ 2. The righteous are not cast off (Job 4:6) 3. An awe-inspiring vision (Job 4:12) 4. Experience and exhortation ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    Eliphaz is provoked to reply, in spite of his unwillingness, by the tone of Job's speech, which seems to him altogether irreverent. He wonders that Job, who had comforted so many others in trouble, sh...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    ASSAY. attempt, or try. TO COMMUNE. a word. WHO... ? Figure of speech _Erotesis._ App-6. SPEAKING. Hebrew. _millah_. words composing the matter of what is said....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    First, Eliphaz wonders that Job, who had comforted so many in trouble, and who was a righteous man, should fall into such despair under his afflictions, forgetting the great principle that the righteo...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _If we assay to commune_ lit. _if one should assay a word with thee. be grieved_ This word is rendered _thou faintest, Job 4:5_. It means _to be weary_; this may be equivalent either to _be impatient_...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    IF WE ASSAY TO COMMUNE WITH THEE, &C.— This verse contains an apology for what Eliphaz was about to say, and is well rendered by Houbigant thus: _If I should attempt a discourse against thee, thou wil...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    TEXT 4:1-11 4 THEN ANSWERED ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE, AND SAID, 2 If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking? 3 Behold, thou hast instructed man...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _IF WE ASSAY TO COMMUNE WITH THEE, WILT THOU BE GRIEVED? BUT WHO CAN WITHHOLD HIMSELF FROM SPEAKING?_ If we assay to commune. Umbreit makes two questions, 'May we attempt a word with thee? Wilt thou...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FIRST SPEECH OF ELIPHAZ (JOB 4:5) Eliphaz is the principal and probably the oldest of the three friends: cp. Job 32:6. He is also the most considerate. But the complainings of Job in Job 3 had evi...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    Note the courtesy of Eliphaz. He loses his temper in later speeches. 2-5. Eliphaz is greatly struck with the reverse in Job's fortunes. He who had been the great comforter of those in distress is now...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    JOB, A SERVANT OF GOD Job _KEITH SIMONS_ Words in boxes (except for words in brackets) are from the Bible. This commentary has been through Advanced Checking. CHAPTER 4 ELIPHAZ’S FIRST SPEECH V...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Job’s words upset Eliphaz. And Job’s troubles also upset Eliphaz. Eliphaz simply believed that a good person should have a good life. And Eliphaz thought that an evil person should have a terrible li...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IV. (2) IF WE ASSAY. — Rather, perhaps, _Has one ever assayed?_ or, _Has a word ever been tried?_ It appears from Job 29:9, that Job was held in great honour and reverence by all, and Eliphaz regarded...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הֲ נִסָּ֬ה דָבָ֣ר אֵלֶ֣יךָ תִּלְאֶ֑ה וַ עְצֹ֥

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    VII. THE THINGS ELIPHAZ HAD SEEN Job 4:1; Job 5:1 ELIPHAZ SPEAKS THE ideas of sin and suffering against which the poem of Job was written come now dramatically into view. The belief of the three fr...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “SHALL MORTAL MAN BE MORE JUST THAN GOD?” Job 4:1 The first cycle of speeches is opened by Eliphaz. It must be remembered that he and the two others believed that special suffering resulted from and...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Now begins the great controversy between Job and his friends, which occupies the major portion of the Book. This controversy moves in three cycles. The first, commencing here, runs through chapter fou...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    [If] we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but (a) who can withhold himself from speaking? (a) Seeing your impatience....

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Conceived? and to which the speech of Job had given occasion. (Menochius) --- Septuagint, "Who shall bear the force of thy words? For if thou," &c. (Haydock)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (2) If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? (3) Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. (4) Thy words...

  • John Brown Commentaries Selected Books of the Bible

    Eliphaz Relying on Experience I. INTRODUCTION A. Last week, in Chapter 3, Job was at the height of his deep, dark, depression! 1. In fact, he stated over and over again that he wished that he had n...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 4 THROUGH 31. As to the friends of Job, they do not call for any extended remarks. They urge the doctrine that God's earthly government is a full measure and...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    [IF] WE ASSAY TO COMMUNE WITH THEE, WILT THOU BE GRIEVED?.... Eliphaz speaks in the name of himself and his two friends, who had doubtless consulted together, and compared their sentiments of Job; whi...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Job 4:2 [If] we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking? Ver. 2. _If we assay to commune with thee_] Or may we assay to commune with thee? Art tho...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _If we assay to commune with thee_, &c. This is nearly the sense, but not exactly the construction of the Hebrew, הנסה דבר אליךְ, _hanissah dabar eeleka_, is rather, _Annon aggrediemur sermonem advers...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    If we essay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? Eliphaz wanted to be sure from the outset that Job would not misunderstand his friends if they ventured some suggestions, that he would not be i...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Job having thus given way to his impatience, his friends thought it their duty to correct him. But instead of showing him in what respect his position was wrong, they proceed according to the assumpti...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    ELIPHAZ: COMMENDATION TWISTED INTO REBUKE (vv.1-6) The three friends of Job could only think of God's justice in reference to Job's sufferings, and had no idea of God's love. Eliphaz no doubt though...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    TO COMMUNE: _ Heb._ a word WHO CAN WITHOLD HIMSELF FROM SPEAKING? _HEB._WHO CAN REFRAIN FROM WORDS?...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "IF ONE VENTURES. WORD WITH YOU, WILL YOU BECOME IMPATIENT?": In light of Job's outburst in chapter 3, Eliphaz wonders if Job will lash out at him for anything that he says. In addition, is Job physic...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-6 Satan undertook to prove Job a hypocrite by afflicting him; and his friends concluded him to be one because he was so afflicted, and showed impatience. This we must keep in mind if we would under...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    WILT THOU BE GRIEVED? or, (without a note of interrogation,)_ thou wilt be grieved_. Our words will undoubtedly vex thee, and not comfort thee, as we intended and desired to do. We must not use words...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Eliphaz's theory in regard to Job's suffering. CHARACTERS: God, Eliphaz, Job. CONCLUSION: Those who pass rash and uncharitable censures upon their brethren, do Satan's work. We should be c...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 4:1. _Eliphaz answered,_ being the eldest, or the more eloquent. Job 4:3. _Thou hast instructed many._ The holy patriarchs were all preachers of righteousness on the sabbath days, &c, He admits t...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said._ THE FIRST COLLOQUY At this point we pass into the poem proper. It opens with three colloquies between Job and his friends. In form these colloquies clos...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB 4:1 The Friends and Job: Can Job Be Right before God? The main section of the book contains the dialogue between Job and the three friends. It opens with Job’s initial lament (Job 3:1) and then al...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _COMMENCEMENT OF THE CONTROVERSY BETWEEN JOB AND HIS THREE FRIENDS_ First Course of the Speeches. First Dialogue,—Eliphaz and Job FIRST SPEECH OF ELIPHAZ _Eliphaz censures Job for his impatience, an...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION Job having ended his complaint, Eliphaz the Temanite, the first-named of his three friends (Job 2:11), and perhaps the eldest of them, takes the word, and endeavours to answer him. After a...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So Job has made his complaint, and so Eliphaz, his friend who came to comfort him, he said, If we attempt to talk to you, will you be grieved? [But really after what you've said] who can keep silent?...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    2 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 7:8; Acts 4:20; Jeremiah 20:9;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE PHILOSOPHY OF ELIPHAZ Job 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We are now approaching a part of the Book of Job that is most interesting. Job's three friends have at last broken their silence, and Eliphaz th...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    If we, &c. — He speaks with great modesty. He will not undertake the cause alone, but joins his friends with him. He will not promise much, but only assay, or try if he could propose any thing pertine...

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