The Speech of Zophar In ch. 3. Job did not assert his innocence, but only lamented his fate. And it was possible for Eliphaz tacitly to assume his guilt without alluding to it, and admonish him in regard to his complaints. Even in chaps. 6, 7. Job only threw out here and there a spasmodic affirmati... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should not the multitude of words_ Or, _shall not_…? Zophar probably did not demand the _parole_immediately on Job's ceasing to speak. A pause was allowed to intervene, and the words with which he commences form his apology for speaking he replies to Job only lest Job should fancy that by his much... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should thy lies_ Or, _Shall thy boastings_, or, as Reuss, "ton verbiage." The reference is probably to Job's assertions of his own innocence, or perhaps the general scope of his speech. The word "men" is as we should say "people" shall thy boastings put people to silence? _and when thou mockest_ O... [ Continue Reading ]
_For thou hast said_ Better, AND SAYEST, explaining what his mockery consists in. _My doctrine is pure_ Job had not used precisely such words. Zophar gives what he understands as the gist of his contention. _and I am clean in thine eyes_ Perhaps rather, I WAS CLEAN, when plunged into my afflictions... [ Continue Reading ]
Job had expressed his readiness to meet God and plead his cause before Him, ch. Job 9:25; Zophar, with reference to this, exclaims, Would that God would speak! The result would be different from what Job anticipated, his guilt would be laid before him.... [ Continue Reading ]
_shew thee the secrets of wisdom Wisdom_here is God's omniscience. Its _secrets_are not the things known to it, such, for example, as Job's sins, but its own profound depths and insight. _that they are double to that which is_ Or, THAT IT (wisdom) IS DOUBLE IN (true) UNDERSTANDING. By double or twof... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse means, Canst thou fathom or conceive God? The special side of God's being, which Zophar declares to be unfathomable, is His wisdom or omniscience. This is the point in question, for it is this which discovers Job's heart and his sins; and Zophar desires to put this omniscience before Job t... [ Continue Reading ]
Panegyric on the Divine Wisdom or Omniscience. This wisdom cannot be fathomed by man (Job 11:7). It fills all things (Job 11:8). And this explains the sudden calamities that befall men, for God perceives their hidden wickedness (Job 11:10). But man is of no understanding (Job 11:12).... [ Continue Reading ]
His wisdom is immeasurable, unfathomable. The words are an exclamation: heights of heaven! what canst thou do? thou art impotent before it, to scale it or reach it. _deeper than hell_ i. e. than Sheol, the place of the dead canst thou fathom it, penetrate with thy knowledge to it?... [ Continue Reading ]
This omniscience in its operation among sinful men. _If he cut off_ IF HE PASS BY. Zophar uses Job's own word and illustration, ch. Job 9:11 (passeth on). _and shut up_ i. e. arrest, and put in ward. _or gather together_ i. e. call an assembly for judgment, which took place in full concourse of t... [ Continue Reading ]
Job had used these words to describe God as an irresistible, unaccountable force; Zophar indicates what account is to be given of God's actions He knoweth vain (wicked, Psalms 26:4) men. His action is the reflexion of His omniscient insight. _will he not then consider it_ Rather, WITHOUT CONSIDERIN... [ Continue Reading ]
Having finished his brilliant picture of God's omniscient wisdom, Zophar adds further brilliancy to it by contrasting it with the brutishness of man. The verse perhaps should read, But an empty man will become wise When a wild ass colt is born a man, the one thing will happen when the other happe... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou prepare thine heart Thou_is emphatic, and meant by the speaker to place Job in a different class from the "hollow man" described in Job 11:12. Job hardly accepted the good intention, cf. ch. Job 12:3. "To prepare the heart" may mean, to bring it into a condition of right thought and feeling... [ Continue Reading ]
Zophar turns to Job in exhortation and promise.... [ Continue Reading ]
The reformation which Zophar impresses on Job has several steps: first, the preparation of his heart; then, prayer unto God; then, the putting away of his personal sins; and finally, those of his home. These are enumerated, one after another, but nothing lies in the order of enumeration.... [ Continue Reading ]
_for then shalt thou_ Or, SURELY THEN shalt thou, ch. Job 8:6. _lift up thy face without spot_ The word _lift up_is selected to meet Job's complaint that he must not lift up his head, ch. Job 10:15; and the words "without spot" meet his words "filled with shame." Then he shall lift up his face in c... [ Continue Reading ]
_because thou shalt forget_ Or, FOR THOU SHALT FORGET trouble. _that pass away_ THAT ARE PASSED AWAY.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and thine age_ Or, as we should say, and _life_, Psalms 17:14; Psalms 39:5. _thou shalt shine forth_ Rather, IF THERE BE DARKNESS, IT SHALL BE as the morning. Even should temporary darkness occur it will not be utter, but light like the morning. This seems said in opposition to Job's mournful word... [ Continue Reading ]
_because there is hope_ In opposition to Job's desponding pictures of his life, ch. Job 7:6 _seq_., Job 9:25 _seq_., Job 10:20 _seq_. _thou shalt dig about thee_ Rather, THOU SHALT LOOK, or SEARCH, about thee, cf. ch. Job 39:29; Deuteronomy 1:22. Job, as one naturally does before retiring to rest,... [ Continue Reading ]
_make suit unto thee_ The phrase means literally: shall stroke thy face, i. e. supplicate or flatter thee. Proverbs 19:6; Psalms 45:12. The picture which Zophar draws of Job's restored prosperity is beautiful. (1) Trouble shall be forgotten, or remembered as waters that are passed away; and the mem... [ Continue Reading ]
Zophar concludes by setting in opposition to this picture another, the fate of the wicked. _their hope shall be as the giving_ Rather, SHALL BE THE GIVING UP of the ghost; death is what they have to look for. Perhaps Zophar adds these words by way of warning to Job. Eliphaz allowed no streak of dar... [ Continue Reading ]