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Commentary Critical and Explanatory

Job 37:20

Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

What I, a mortal, say against God's dealings is not worthy of being told HIM. In opposition to Job's wish to "speak" before God (Job 13:3; Job 13:18).

If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. The parallelism more favours Umbreit-`Durst a man speak (before Him, complaining), that he is (without cause) being destroyed?'

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See also Job 37:20 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Job 37:20. _SHALL IT BE TOLD HIM THAT I SPEAK?_] Shall I dare to whisper even before God? And suppose any one were to _accuse_ me before him for what I have spoken of him, though that has been w...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    SHALL IT BE TOLD HIM THAT I SPEAK? - Still the language of profound awe and reverence, as if he would not have it even intimated to God that he had presumed to say anything in regard to him, or with a...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER S 36:22--37:24 _ 1. God's power and presence in nature (Job 36:22)_ 2. The thunderstorm (Job 37:1) 3. The snow and the rain (Job 37:6) 4. Elihu's concluding remarks ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    How can he, whose mind is dark, address God? Shall I invite Him to converse and court destruction? (Job 37:19 f.). In Job 37:21 follow _mg._ And now men cannot look on the light when it is bright in t...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The verse means, Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or shall a man wish that he should be swallowed up? Elihu recoils from the thought of going into God's presence to strive with Him; such da...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Elihu's own imagination kindles at the thought of the wonders which he is unfolding, and he beseeches Job to observe them with a reverent awe, and learn from them the unsearchableness of Him who is th...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Job 36:26-33. The greatness and unsearchableness of God, seen in His marvellous operations in the skies; and exhortation to Job to allow these wonders duly to impress him, and to bow beneath the great...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    2. Man should realize his insignificant position and fear God. (Job 37:14-24) TEXT 37:14-24 14 HEARKEN UNTO THIS, O JOB: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Dost thou know how...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    37:20 shall (e-17) 'If one must speak, he shall.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SPEECHES OF ELIHU (CONCLUDED) 2. The thunder is frequently called the voice of God: cp. Psalms 29. SOUND] RM 'muttering.'...

  • 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 37 ELIHU INTRODUCES GOD TO...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    We have no right to speak to God, except the right that God has given to us. We do not deserve God’s help. Everybody has done evil things. God will only forgive us because of the things that he himsel...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BE SWALLOWED UP. — The sense will vary, according as we understand this of God or of the sun. In the first case, it is a simple expression of awe at God’s majesty: “Shall it be told Him that I would s...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הַֽ יְסֻפַּר ־לֹ֖ו כִּ֣י אֲדַבֵּ֑ר אִֽם ־אָ֥מ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    XXVI. THE DIVINE PREROGATIVE Job 35:1; Job 36:1; Job 37:1 AFTER a long digression Elihu returns to consider the statement ascribed to Job, "It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE LIGHT IN THE CLOUDS Job 37:1 As Elihu spoke a thunder-storm was gathering, and much of the imagery of this chapter is suggested by that fact. The little group listened to the sound of God's voice...

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

    The description of the storm commenced in the previous chapter and is here completed. There is first the drawing up of the water into the clouds, their spreading over the sky, the strange mutterings o...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Shall it be (q) told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. (q) Has God need that any should tell him when man murmurs against him?...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    He shall be swallowed up. All that man can say, when he speaks of God, is so little and inconsiderable in comparison with the subject, that man is lost, an das it were swallowed up in so immense an oc...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (14) В¶ Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. (15) Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? (16) Dost thou know the b...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 32 THROUGH 37. But these spiritual affections of Job did not prevent his turning this consciousness of integrity into a robe of self-righteousness which hid G...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    SHALL IT BE TOLD HIM THAT I SPEAK?.... And what I speak? there is no need of it, since he is omniscient, and knows every word that is spoken by men; or is anything I have said concerning him, his ways...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. Ver. 20. _Shall it be told him that I speak?_] _An in acta referetur ei, si loquar?_ Shall it be recorded before hi...

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

    _Shall it be told him that I speak?_ Does he need to be informed of any thing? Is any thing that I have said of him worth his hearing? Will any one report it to him? Will any man dare to approach him?...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Shall it be told Him that I speak? Elihu here realizes, as it were, in a flash that even his speech is almost presumption in God's sight. IF A MAN SPEAK, SURELY HE SHALL BE SWALLOWED UP. The, thought...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FINAL ADMONITION ADDRESSED TO JOB...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    MAN'S IMPOTENCE IN THE STORM (vv.1-5) As the storm breaks upon them, Elihu himself trembles (v.1). The thunder of God's voice calls for man's close attention and His lightning spreads over the whole...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    To insist on speaking with God as Job had claimed (Job 10:2; Job 13:3), would only result in being swallowed up. Such. supposed self-defense that Job wanted would only result in his self-destruction....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    14-20 Due thoughts of the works of God will help to reconcile us to all his providences. As God has a powerful, freezing north wind, so he has a thawing, composing south wind: the Spirit is compared...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THAT I SPEAK, Heb. _that I will speak_. Shall I send, or who dare carry, a challenge from me to God, or a message that I am ready and desirous to debate with him concerning his proceedings? This indee...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 37:20 told H5608 (H8792) speak H1696 (H8762) man H376 speak H559 (H8804) up H1104 (H87

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Elihu's discourse continued. God's majesty. CHARACTERS: God, Elihu, Job. CONCLUSION: We must all own that our finite understandings cannot comprehend the infinite perfections of God, but w...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 37:5. _God thundereth marvellously with his voice._ See on Psalms 29. This chapter is divided from the former, in the midst of a sublime description of a storm. Job 37:22. The golden splendour _co...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Teach us what we shall say unto Him._ MAN AND GOD I. Suggestions concerning man. 1. The sublimest act, speaking to God. “Teach us what we shall say unto Him; for we cannot order our speech by reas...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 37:14 Elihu focuses on God’s majesty. He calls on Job to listen (HEAR THIS, O JOB) and consider this description in his complaint before God....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _ELIHU’S FOURTH SPEECH CONTINUED_ Elihu continues his discourse, apparently in the midst of loud thunder-claps, suddenly issuing from the storm-cloud out of which the Almighty was about to speak, and...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JOB 37:1 It has been already remarked that there is no natural division between Job 36:1 and Job 37:1.—the description of the thunderstorm and its effects runs on. From its effect on cattl...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    At this also my heart trembled, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightni...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Job 11:7; Job 11:8; Job 6:3; Matthew 12:36; Matthew 12:37;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Shall — I send a challenge to God, or a message that I am ready to debate with him concerning his proceedings? Speak — If a man should be so bold to enter the lists with God. Swallowed up — With the s...

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