Job 16:3

_SHALL VAIN WORDS HAVE AN END? OR WHAT EMBOLDENETH THEE THAT THOU ANSWEREST?_ 'Words of wind' (Hebrew). He retorts upon Eliphaz his reproach (Job 15:2). EMBOLDENETH - What wearies (causes annoyance to) thee so that thou dost contradict? i:e., What have I said to provoke you? etc. (Schultetus.) Or, 'Wherefore do ye weary yourselves contradicting?' (Umbreit.) The same Hebrew х_ MAARATS_ (H4834)] occurs Job 6:25, where see the note....

1-5 Eliphaz had represented Job's discourses as unprofitable, and nothing to the purpose; Job here gives his the same character. Those who pass censures, must expect to have them retorted; it is easy, it is endless, but what good does it do? Angry answers stir up men's passions, but never convince their judgments, nor set truth in a clear light. What Job says of his friends is true of all creatures, in comparison with God; one time or other we shall be made to see and own that miserable comforters are they all. When under convictions of sin, terrors of conscience, or the arrests of death, only the blessed Spirit can comfort effectually; all others, without him, do it miserably, and to no purpose. Whatever our brethren's sorrows are, we ought by sympathy to make them our own; they may soon be so....

Verse Job 16:3. _VAIN WORDS_] Literally, _words of air_. _WHAT EMBOLDENETH THEE_] Thou art totally ignorant of the business; what then can induce thee to take part in this discussion?...

SHALL VAIN WORDS? - Margin, As in Hebrew words of wind; that is, words which were devoid of thought-light, trifling. This is a retort on Eliphaz. He had charged Job Job 15:2 with uttering only such words. Such forms of expression are common in the East. “His promise, it is only wind.” “Breath, breath: all breath.” Roberts. OR WHAT EMBOLDENETH THEE? - “What provokes or irritates thee, that thou dost answer in this manner? What have I said, that has given occasion to such a speech - a speech so severe and unkind?” The Syriac reads this, “do not afflict me any more with speeches; for if you speak any more, I will not answer you.”...

EXPOSITION Job answers the second speech of Eliphaz in a discourse which occupies two (short) chapters, and is thus not much more lengthy than the speech of his antagonist. His tone is very despairing. He finds no help at all in the speeches of the "comforters" (verses 2-6), and turns from them to consider once more the dealings of God with him (verses 7-14). Next, he describes his own proceedings under his afflictions, and appeals to earth and. heaven, and God in heaven, to take up his cause and help him (verses 15-22). In Job 17:1. he continues much in the same-strain, but with an intermixture of the topics, which is somewhat confusing. In Job 17:1, Job 17:2 he bewails himself; in...

SHALL VAIN WORDS HAVE AN END?.... Or "words of wind" k, vain empty words, great swelling words of vanity, mere bubbles that look big, and have nothing in them; here Job retorts what Eliphaz had insinuated concerning him and his words, Job 15:2; and he intimates such worthless discourses should have an end, and a speedy one, and not be carried on to any length, they not bearing it; and wishes they were at an end, that he might hear no more of them; and suggests that it was weak and foolish in them to continue them; that if they could speak to no better purpose, it would be best to be silent: OR WHAT EMBOLDENETH THEE THAT THOU ANSWEREST? when men are engaged in a good cause, have truth on their side, and are furnished with arguments sufficient to defend it, this animates and emboldens them to stand up in the defence of it, and to answer their adversaries, and to reply when there is

CHAPTER S 16-17 JOB'S REPLY TO ELIPHAZ _ 1. Miserable comforters are ye all (Job 16:1)_ 2. Oh God! Thou hast done it! (Job 16:6) 3. Yet I look to Thee (Job 16:15) 4. Trouble upon trouble; self-pity (Job 17:1) 5. Where is now my hope? (Job 17:13) Job 16:1. How masterfully he meets their wrong accusations and how he brings forth his suffering afresh, yet always with that horrible nightmare, God is not for me, but against me! Such things Eliphaz spoke he had h

Job has had enough of his tormenting comforters (Job 16:2 f.). He could, if the positions were reversed, well enough offer them such mere verbal consolation (the stress in Job 16:5 is on mouth and lips). Translate Job 16:5 as a continuation of Job 16:4. I could strengthen you with my mouth, and my lip's compassion I would not spare (the last clause after LXX)....

SHALL... ? Figure of speech _Erotesis._ App-6. VAIN WORDS. empty words. Heb, words of wind. WHAT... ? Figure of speech _Erotesis._ App-6....

Job 16:1-5. Job expresses his weariness of the monotony of his friends'speeches, and rejects their consolation, which is only that of the lip...