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Matthew Henry Commentary on the Bible

Job 4:1-6

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 understand what passed. Eliphaz speaks of Job, and his afflicted condition, with tenderness; but charges him with weakness and faint-heartedness. Men make few allowances for those who have taught others. Even pious friends will count that only a touch which we feel as a wound. Learn from hence to draw off the mind of a sufferer from brooding over the affliction, to look at the God of mercies in the affliction. And how can this be done so well as by looking to Christ Jesus, in whose unequalled sorrows every child of God soonest learns to forget his own?

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See also Job 4:1-6 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER IV _Eliphaz answers; and accuses Job of impatience, and of_ _despondence in the time of adversity_, 1-6; _asserts that no innocent man ever perished, and that the wicked_ _are afflicted fo...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THEN ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE ANSWERED - See the notes at Job 2:11....

  • 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

    ANSWERED AND SAID. replied and said. The _idiom_ (App-6) requires that the first verb (where nothing has been as yet said) must be rendered according to the context: "spake", "prayed", "began", "concl...

  • 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...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _ELIPHAZ REPROVES JOB, WHO, HAVING CONSOLED OTHERS IN ADVERSITY, NEVERTHELESS DESPONDS HIMSELF. HE AFFIRMS, THAT IT WAS A THING UNHEARD OF, FOR AN INNOCENT MAN TO PERISH; ON THE CONTRARY, THAT THE WIC...

  • 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

    _THEN ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE ANSWERED AND SAID,_ Eliphaz - the mildest of Job's three accusers. The greatest of Job's calamities, and his complaints against God, and the opinion that calamities are pro...

  • 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...

  • 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...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

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  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ֭ יַּעַן אֱלִיפַ֥ז הַֽ תֵּימָנִ֗י וַ יֹּאמַ

  • 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...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

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  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS This chapter opens with the controversy between Job and his friends, which runs through the whole book, until, at the close of it, GOD settles the dispute. Eliphaz begins, and his expostulat...

  • John Brown Commentaries Selected Books of the Bible

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  • 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

    THEN ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE ANSWERED AND SAID. When Job was done cursing his day, and had finished his doleful ditty on that subject, then Eliphaz took the opportunity of speaking, not being able to bea...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Ver. 1. _Then Eliphaz the Temanite_] Then, when Job had laid about him in this sort; and, giving his tongue too much liberty to lash out, had uttered word...

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

    _Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered_ Job's three friends reasoning on the principles of an equal providence, and supposing that affliction could happen only in the way of punishment, which necessarily...

  • 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...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Then Eliphaz, the Temanite, answered and said,...

  • 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...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    “Job's three companions-Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had come to him to sympathize with him and comfort him (Job 2:11). No doubt their motives were pure, their intentions honest. Their weeklong silence...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    JOB CHAPTER 4 Eliphaz speaketh, though it will grieve Job, JOB 4:1,2. Job had instructed and strengthened others in their sorrows, but now fainted himself, JOB 4:3. Eliphaz reproacheth him with his co...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 4:1 Eliphaz H464 Temanite H8489 answered H6030 (H8799) said H559 (H8799) Eliphaz - Job 2:11,...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    ELIPHAZ Eliphaz is a religious dogmatist whose dogmatism rests upon a mysterious and remarkable experience (Job 4:12). Did a spirit ever pass before Job's face? Did Job's hair of his flesh ever stand...

  • 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

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  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

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  • 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

    Job 15:1; Job 2:11; Job 22:1; Job 3:1; Job 3:2;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

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