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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Job 33:23

a messenger Or, angel. Such an angel is called an interpreter, that is, as the last clause of the verse explains, one who interprets to man God's providential treatment of him, and shews him what is right for him to do his uprightness, that is, wherein uprightness will consist, and what his duty is.

one among a thousand lit. one of a thousand. The words do not ascribe any superlative position to this angel; he is one of the thousand (cf. Revelation 5:11) ministering spirits sent forth to do service on behalf of the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14).

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See also Job 33:23 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Job 33:23. _IF THERE BE A MESSENGER WITH HIM, AN INTERPRETER, C._] V. - The MESSENGERS of righteousness this is a FIFTH _method_, אם יש עליו מלאך מליץ im yesh alaiv malach melits, "If there be...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    IF THERE BE A MESSENGER WITH HIM - This part of the speech of Elihu has given rise to scarcely less diversity of opinion, and to scarcely less discussion, than the celebrated passage in Job 19:25. Alm...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 33:8-33 _ 1. Elihu rebukes Job (Job 33:8)_ 2. How God deals with man (Job 33:14) 3. How God in grace recovers (Job 33:23) 4. Mark well, Job, hearken unto me ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    There is a second way, when a man is brought near to death, and the destroying angels wait to take his life. Then an angel of mercy instructs man in the meaning of his suffering, intercedes for him, a...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    IF THERE BE. This is another way by which God speaks. INTERPRETER. To reveal God and His truth. Compare John 1:18. HIS: i.e. God _'_. righteousness....

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 484 THE BENEFIT OF VISITING THE SICK Job 33:23. _If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness; then he is gracious unto him, and...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    4. A messenger (angel) may interpret to man what is right, that he be led to pray and to confess his guilt. (Job 33:23-28) TEXT 33:23-28 23 IF THERE BE WITH HIM AN ANGEL, An interpreter, one among...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _IF THERE BE A MESSENGER WITH HIM, AN INTERPRETER, ONE AMONG A THOUSAND, TO SHEW UNTO MAN HIS UPRIGHTNESS:_ Elihu refers to himself as the divinely sent (Job 32:8; Job 33:6) "messenger" or angel х_ MA...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    33:23 man (d-17) _ Adam_ . see Psalms 8:4 . duty; (h-19) Or 'uprightness,' i.e. in judging himself....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SPEECHES OF ELIHU (CONTINUED) 1-13. Elihu blames Job for regarding himself as sinless, and complaining that' God is his enemy and will not answer him....

  • 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 33 ELIHU SPEAKS TO JOB V1...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ‘God speaks in many different ways. But we do not always hear him’ (verse 14). Elihu used two stories to explain this idea. The first story is in verses 15-18. This sounds like Eliphaz’s strange dream...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    This servant may be an angel. Angels are God’s special servants from heaven. But Elihu may be describing a person who brings God’s message. This servant is very special. He is one among thousands. An...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    TO SHOW UNTO MAN HIS UPRIGHTNESS. — Some render, “to show unto man what is right for him,” but it seems rather to mean, _to declare concerning that man his uprightness,_ to plead his cause before God...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    אִם ־יֵ֤שׁ עָלָ֨יו ׀ מַלְאָ֗ךְ מֵלִ֗יץ אֶחָ֥ד...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    XXV. POST-EXILIC WISDOM Job 32:1; Job 33:1; Job 34:1 A PERSONAGE hitherto unnamed in the course of the drama now assumes the place of critic and judge between Job and his friends. Elihu, son of Bara...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE INTERPRETER Job 33:1 It is not wonderful that Elihu has been mistaken for the Mediator Himself, so helpfully does he interpose between Job and his Maker. He dwells especially on his own likeness...

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

    Elihu began his direct appeal to Job by asking his attention, assuring him of sincerity in motive, and finally declaring that he spoke to him as a comrade, not as a judge, or one who would fill him wi...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    If there be a (m) messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, (n) to shew unto man his uprightness: (m) A man sent from God to declare his will. (n) A singular man, and as one chosen o...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Angel, by secret inspirations, (St. Thomas Aquinas; Tirinus, &c.) or a man sent by God, to announce the truths of salvation. (Mariana) --- Man's, or "to man." (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "a messenger with hi...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (18) He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. (19) В¶ He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: (20) So that...

  • John Brown Commentaries Selected Books of the Bible

    Elihu's Speeches I. INTRODUCTION A. In our last study of the book of Job (Chapter s 11-14), - Job had just replied to Zophar's speech. 1. Chapter 14 concludes the "first round" of speeches by Job's...

  • 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

    IF THERE BE A MESSENGER WITH HIM,.... Or angel, either with God, as some think; or rather with the sick man; by which messenger is meant not an angel by nature, a created angel, though sometimes such...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Ver. 23. _If there be a messenger with him_] An angel, say some; but one man may be an angel...

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

    _If there be a messenger with him_ If there be a prophet or teacher with the afflicted man; _an interpreter_ One whose office and work it is to declare to him the mind and will of God, and his design...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    If there be a messenger, an angel, WITH HIM, AN INTERPRETER, a mediator in his behalf, ONE AMONG A THOUSAND, belonging to the innumerable host of angels, the ministers of men by God's command, TO SHOW...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    OF THE TRUE RELATION OF SINFUL MAN TOWARD GOD...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    HE SPEAKS AS A MEDIATOR (vv.1-7) Elihu did not take any haughty and unfeeling attitude as did Job's three friends, but speaks with simple humility, entreating Job to hear and consider what he says ...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    Eliphaz had argued that no angels could assist Job (Job 5:1), and Job had complained that he did not have. mediator (Job 9:33), Elihu disagrees. He seems to be arguing that God has plenty of angels (...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    19-28 Job complained of his diseases, and judged by them that God was angry with him; his friends did so too: but Elihu shows that God often afflicts the body for good to the soul. This thought will...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    A MESSENGER; either, 1. An angel sent to him from heaven upon this errand; for the angels are ministering spirits, PSALMS 103:20 HEBREWS 1:14, and are, and especially in that time and state of the chu...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 33:23 there H3426 messenger H4397 mediator H3887 (H8688) one H259 thousand H505 show H5046 (H8687) man...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    This is part of the speech of young Elihu, who had listened with much patience, but also with great indignation, to the harsh speeches of Job's three friends and to Job's self-righteous answers. Job...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    This is a speech of young Elihu, who had sat quietly listening to the taunting words of the three «candid friends» of Job, and to the somewhat exasperated replies of the patriarch. At last, the young...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Elihu's discourse continued. Affliction is shown to be discipline. CHARACTERS: God, Elihu, Job. CONCLUSION: God often afflicts the body in love and with gracious designs of good to the sou...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 33:4. _The Spirit of God hath made me._ See on Genesis 2:7, and Psalms 33:6. The creation of man was known to all the descendants of Noah, much the same as to Moses. Sanchoniatho the Phœnician his...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _If there be any messenger with him, an interpreter._ HOW TO VISIT THE SICK It is not man’s torment or ruin that God desires, but his reformation and amendment. To this end He speaks to men in dreams...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _He is chastened also with pain upon his bed._ SANCTIFIED AFFLICTION Two Chapter s in the hook of human life are hard to understand--the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteou...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 33:1 Elihu opens and closes this section with a call for Job to listen to his words and answer if he is able (vv. Job 33:1,...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 33:23 Elihu poses a hypothetical situation in which an ANGEL or MEDIATOR might deliver a person (vv. Job 33:23). He suggests

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _ELIHU’S FIRST SPEECH_ Elihu addresses himself to Job on the subject of God’s afflictive dispensations. Afflictions often disciplinary chastisements. I. HE BESPEAKS JOB’S CAREFUL ATTENTION TO ALL TH...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION JOB 33:1 In this chapter Elihu, turning away from the "comforters," proceeds to address Job himself, offering to reason out the matter in dispute with him, in God's stead. After a brief e...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Wherefore, Job, [he said,] I pray thee, now hear my speech, hearken to all my words. Behold, I've opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth. My words shall be of uprightness of my heart: and m...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 11:30; 2 Chronicles 36:15; 2 Chronicles 36:16; 2 Corinthians 5:20;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    HIGH ALTITUDES IN ELIHU'S ANSWER TO JOB Job 32:1, Job 33:1; Job 34:1; Job 35:1; Job 3

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    GOD'S METHOD OF GRACE Job 33:18 INTRODUCTORY WORDS In our Scripture today Elihu is addressing Job, and his three supposed friends. Elihu had listened to the speeches of Bildad, Zophar, and Eliphaz....

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    A messenger — A prophet or teacher. To expound the providence, and point out the design of God therein. One, &c. — A person rightly qualified for this great and hard work, such as there are but very f...

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