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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Job 23:13-17

JOB—NOTE ON Job 23:13 Although he has carefully considered his way (vv. Job 23:10), Job knows his future depends on what the Lord appoints to happen (vv. Job 23:13; compare Proverbs 16:1, Proverbs 16:9; Proverbs 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23). Therefore, he is terrified at the thought of God’s presence (Job 23:15). Still, even in the darkness of not being able to understand God’s purposes fully, he continues his lament: yet I am not silenced.

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See also Job 23:13-17 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Job 23:13. _BUT HE_ IS _IN ONE_ MIND] The original is והוא באחד _vehu beechad_, and is literally, _But he is in one_: properly rendered by the _Vulgate, Ipse enim solus est. But he is alone_. A...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BUT HE IS IN ONE MIND - He is unchangeable. He has formed his plans, and no one can divert him from them. Of the truth of this sentiment there can be no dispute. The only difficulty in the case is to...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER S 23-24 JOB'S REPLY _ 1. O that I knew where I may find Him (Job 23:1)_ 2. Trusting yet doubting (Job 23:10) 3. Hath God failed? (Job 24:1) 4. Job's further testimony as to the wicked ...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    But God follows His own will and does what He pleases. Therefore Job is afraid. In Job 23:13 a read with Duhm, But he has decreed. Job 23:14 points out that Job's case does not stand alone. Job 23:1...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    HIS SOUL. Himself. Hebrew. _nephesh_. App-13. Figure of speech _Anthropopatheia_....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Job's Reply to the Third Speech of Eliphaz. Job continues to miss any Moral Government of the World by God As before, in the two preceding cycles of debate, Job's mind is too much absorbed in contemp...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Job's innocency though known to God is disregarded by Him. He is unchangeable in His resolution, and He has resolved to destroy him....

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    BUT HE IS IN ONE MIND, AND WHO CAN TURN HIM?— _For when he is in the way, who shall turn him? whatever he desireth, that he doth._ Job had said, in the preceding verses, that he had observed the steps...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    B. JOB'S PERSISTENT DESIRE OR VALUE OF ARGUING WITH GOD? (Job 23:1, Job 24:25) 1. Job has honored God and obeyed his word, but God will not give him a hearing; He intentionally avoids him. (Job 23:...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _BUT HE IS IN ONE MIND, AND WHO CAN TURN HIM? AND WHAT HIS SOUL DESIRETH, EVEN THAT HE DOETH._ In one mind - notwithstanding my innocence, He is unaltered in His purpose of proving me guilty. WHO C...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JOB'S SEVENTH SPEECH (JOB 23, 24) Job makes but slight reference to the remarks of Eliphaz, but continues to brood over the mysteries of God's dealings with himself (Job 23), and with mankind (Job 24...

  • 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 23 JOB SPEAKS AGAIN JOB WA...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Job loved God. But Job was still worried. He did not know God’s plans. And Job was afraid of the future. Job did not need to be afraid. God’s plans for Job were wonderful (see Job chapter 42). And G...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    HE IS ONE, OR IN ONE. — Job either declares His unique sovereignty or His unchangeable purpose. The context seems to support the latter, in which case the sense given by the Authorised Version is corr...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ ה֣וּא בְ֭ אֶחָד וּ מִ֣י יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    XX. WHERE IS ELOAH? Job 23:1; Job 24:1 Job SPEAKS THE obscure couplet with which Job begins appears to involve some reference to his whole condition alike of body and mind. "Again today, my plain...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “HE KNOWETH THE WAY THAT I TAKE” Job 23:1 This chapter is threaded by a sublime faith. Job admitted that his complaint seemed rebellious, but God's hand had been heavy on him. From the misunderstand...

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

    In answer to Eliphaz, ob took no notice of the terrible charges made against him. That is postponed to a later speech. Rather, he discussed Eliphai conception of his view of God as being absent from t...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    But he [is] in one [mind], and who can (h) turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth. (h) Job confesses that at the present he did not feel God's favour and yet was assured that Go...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Alone. Self-existent. Hebrew, "in one thing," or resolution. He is immutable: all I could say would avail nothing. (Calmet)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (13) В¶ But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. (14) For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. (15)...

  • 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

    BUT HE [IS] IN ONE [MIND],.... Either with respect to his commandments, every precept remains in full force, he never alters the thing that is gone out of his lips, or delivers out other commandments...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth. Ver. 13. _But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?_] He is ever like himself, not mutable, inc...

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

    _He is of one mind_ The word _mind_ is not in the Hebrew, which is only באהד, _beehad, he is in one_, namely, in one way, or purpose, or counsel. Notwithstanding all these evidences of my sincere piet...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    But He is in one mind, He is unchangeable, constant in all His work, AND WHO CAN TURN HIM, causing Him to swerve from His fixed purpose? AND WHAT HIS SOUL DESIRETH, EVEN THAT HE DOETH, the reference b...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    JOB DESPAIRS OF FINDING VINDICATION IN THIS LIFE...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    HE LONGS TO LAY HIS CASE BEFORE GOD (vv.1-9) What Eliphaz has said to Job was hardly worth an answer, so that Job practically ignores this and lays before his friends the actual distresses that occu...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    God is unique, He stands in. category or class by Himself. He also does what He wishes, including what He has in mind for Job. Here Job realizes that God may have many plans for him, including more su...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    13-17 As Job does not once question but that his trials are from the hand of God, and that there is no such thing as chance, how does he account for them? The principle on which he views them is, tha...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    HE IS IN ONE MIND, i.e. notwithstanding all these evidences of my sincere piety, and all my prayers to him, he still continues in the same mind and course of afflicting me. Or, BUT HE IS, i.e. if he b...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 23:13 unique H259 change H7725 (H8686) soul H5315 desires H183 (H8765) does H6213 (H8799) who can -...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Job is in great physical pain through the sore boils that cover him from head to foot; he is still smarting under all the bereavements and losses he has sustained; and he is somewhat irritated by the...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    We shall read, this evening, in the Book of Job. May the good Spirit instruct us during our reading! Here we shall see Job in a very melancholy plight, grievously distressed in mind, and yet, for all...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Always remember, dear friends, that one of the great lessons of the Book of Job is this, that we may never judge a man's character by his condition. The best of men may have the most of suffering and...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Job again answers. He longs for God. CHARACTERS: God, Job, three friends. CONCLUSION: Those who keep the way of the Lord may comfort themselves with the thought that they are being tried,...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Job 23:3. _Oh that I knew where I might find him._ Job sighs for the favours conferred on certain patriarchs, whom God had met. The living oracle was with Noah after the flood; it was with Abraham in...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _JOB’S THIRD REPLY TO ELIPHAZ_ Ceases directly to address his friends. His present speech rather a soliloquy. Takes no notice of the charges laid against him by Eliphaz. Laments the want of access to...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION VERSES 1-24:25 Job replies to Eliphaz in a speech of no great length, which, though it occupies two chapters, runs to only forty-two verses. He begins by justifying the vehemence of his co...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And so Job answers him and he says, Every day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning (Job 23:1-2). Really, what's happened to me is even worse than I'm complaining. I'm not eve...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Daniel 4:35; Ecclesiastes 1:15; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Ephesians 1:9;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    JOB CHALLENGED BY SATAN Job 1:1 _-Job 23:1_ INTRODUCTORY WORDS We begin today a series of studies on one of the most interesting characters of the Bible. He is Job, the man of patience. We remember...

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