MAN THAT IS BORN OF A WOMAN - See the notes at Job 13:28. The object of Job in these verses, is to show the frailty and feebleness of man. He, therefore, dwells on many circumstances adapted to this, and this is one of the most stirring and beautiful. He alludes to the delicacy and feebleness, of th... [ Continue Reading ]
HE COMETH FORTH LIKE A FLOWER, AND IS CUT DOWN - Nothing can be more obvious and more beautiful than this, and the image has been employed by writers in all ages, but nowhere with more beauty, or with more frequency than in the Bible; see Isaiah 40:6; Psalms 37:2; Psalms 90:6; Psalms 103:15. Next to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DOST THOU OPEN THINE EYES UPON SUCH AN ONE? - Is one so weak, so frail, so short-lived, worthy the constant vigilance of the infinite God? In Zechariah 12:4, the expression “to open the eyes” upon one, means to look angrily upon him. Here it means to observe or watch closely. AND BRINGEST ME INT... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN BRING A CLEAN - thing “out of an unclean?” This is evidently a proverb or an adage; but its connection here is not very apparent. Probably, however, it is designed as a plea of mitigation for his conscious frailties and infirmities. He could not but admit that he had faults. But he asks, how... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING HIS DAYS - are “determined” Since man is so frail, and so short-lived, let him alone, that he may pass his little time with some degree of comfort and then die; see the notes at Job 7:19. The word “determined” here means “fixed, settled.” God has fixed the number of his days, so that they can... [ Continue Reading ]
TURN FROM HIM - - שׁעה _shâ‛âh_. Look away from; or turn away the eyes; Isaiah 22:4. Job had represented the Lord as looking intently upon him, and narrowly watching all his ways. He now asks him that he would look away and suffer him to be alone, and to spend the little time he had in comfort and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE IS HOPE OF A TREE - This passage to Job 14:12, is one of exquisite beauty. Its object is to state reasons why man should be permitted to enjoy this life. A tree, if cut down, might spring up again and flourish; but not man. He died to rise no more; he is cut down and lives not again. The p... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH THE ROOT THEREOF WAX OLD - Though life becomes almost extinct. The idea is, though the root of the tree be very old, yet it does not become wholly lifeless. It is not like an old man, when life goes out altogether. In the very aged root there will be vitality still; but not so in man. THOUGH... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THROUGH THE SCENT OF WATER - The word here rendered “scent” (ריח _rêyach_) means properly the odor or fragrance which anything exhales or emits; Song of Solomon 2:13; Song of Solomon 7:13; Genesis 27:27. The idea is very delicate and poetic. It is designed to denote a gentle and pleasant contac... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MAN DIETH AND WASTETH AWAY - Margin, “Is weakened, or cut off.” The Hebrew word (חלשׁ _châlash_) means to overthrow, prostrate, discomfit; and hence, to be weak, frail, or waste away. The Septuagint renders it Ἀνὴρ δὲ τελευτήσας ᾤχετο _Anēr_ _de_ _teleutēsas_ _ōcheto_ - “man dying goe... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE WATERS FAIL FROM THE SEA - As the waters evaporate wholly, and leave the bottom wholly dry, so it is with man, who passes entirely away, and leaves nothing. But to what fact Job refers here, is not known. The sea or ocean has never been dried up, so as to furnish a ground for this comparison.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO MAN LIETH DOWN, AND RISETH NOT - He lies down in the grave and does not rise again on the earth. TILL THE HEAVENS BE NO MORE - That is, never; for such is the fair interpretation of the passage, and this accords with its design. Job means to say, undoubtedly, that man would never appear again in... [ Continue Reading ]
OH THAT THOU WOULDEST HIDE ME IN THE GRAVE; - compare the notes at Job 3:11 ff. Hebrew “in Sheol” - ב־שׁאול _bı̂_-_sh__e__'ôl_. Vulgate, “in inferno.” Septuagint ἐν ἅδῃ _en_ _Hadē_ - “in Hades.” On the meaning of the word “Sheol,” see the notes at Isaiah 5:14. It does not mean here, I think, t... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A MAN DIE, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? - This is a sudden transition in the thought. He had unconsciously worked himself up almost to the belief that man might live again even on the earth. He had asked to be hid somewhere - even in the grave - until the wrath of God should be overpast, and then that Go... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT CALL, AND I WILL ANSWER THEE - This is language taken from courts of justice. It refers, probably, not to a future time, but to the present. “Call thou now, and I will respond.” It expresses a desire to come at once to trial; to have the matter adjusted before he should leave the world. H... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR NOW THOU NUMBEREST MY STEPS - Thou dost make strict inquiry into all my conduct, that thou mayest mark my errors, and hold me bound to punishment. The sense is, that God treated him now with severity; and he besought him to have pity on him, and bring him to trial, and give him an opportunity to... [ Continue Reading ]
MY TRANSGRESSION IS SEALED UP - The verb rendered sealed up (חתם _châtham_) means to seal, to close, to shut up; see the notes at Isaiah 8:16; compare the notes at Job 9:7. It was common with the ancients to use a seal where we use a lock. Money was counted and put into a bag, and a seal was attach... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SURELY THE MOUNTAIN FALLING - Margin, “Fadeth.” The sense of this is, that the hope of man in regard to living again, must certainly fail - as a mountain falls and does not rise again; as the rock is removed, and is not replaced; or as the waters wear away the stones, and they disappear. The hop... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATERS WEAR THE STONES - By their constant attrition they wear away even the hard rocks, and they disappear, and return no more. The sense is, that constant changes are going on in nature, and man resembles those objects which are removed to appear no more, and not the productions of the vegetab... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU PREVAILEST FOREVER AGAINST HIM - Thou dost always show that thou art stronger than he is. He never shows that he is able to contend with God. AND HE PASSETH - He cannot stand before thee, but is vanquished, and passes off the stage of being. THOU CHANGEST HIS COUNTENANCE - Possibly the allusi... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS SONS COME TO HONOUR, AND HE KNOWETH IT NOT - He is unacquainted with what is passing on the earth. Even should that occur which is most gratifying to a parent’s heart; should his children rise to stations of honor and influence, he would not be permitted to enjoy the happiness which every father... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HIS FLESH UPON HIM SHALL HAVE PAIN - Dr. Good renders this, “his flesh shall drop away from him.” This is evidently a representation of the state of the man after he was dead. He would be taken away from hope and from his friends. His body would be committed to the grave, and his spirit would go... [ Continue Reading ]