SHOULD A WISE MAN - Referring to Job, and to his claims to be esteemed wise; see Job 12:3; Job 13:2, Job 13:6. The argument of Eliphaz here is, that the sentiments which Job had advanced were a sufficient refutation of his pretensions to wisdom. A wise man would not be guilty of “mere talk,” or of u... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOULD HE REASON WITH UNPROFITABLE TALK? - It does not become a man professing to be wise to make use of words that are nothing to the purpose. The sense is, that what Job said amounted to just nothing.... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, THOU CASTEST OFF FEAR - Margin, Makest void. Fear here means the fear or reverence of God; and the idea is, that Job had not maintained a proper veneration or respect for his Maker in his argument. He had defended principles and made assertions which implied great disrespect for the Deity. If t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THY MOUTH UTTERETH THINE INIQUITY - Margin, “teacheth.” That is, “your whole argument shows that you are a guilty man. A man who can defend such positions about God cannot be a pious man, or have any proper veneration for the Most High.” A man may pursue an argument, and defend positions, that s... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE OWN MOUTH CONDEMNETH THEE - That is, the sentiments which you have uttered show that you cannot be a pious man.... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU THE FIRST MAN THAT WAS BORN? - Hast thou lived ever since the creation, and treasured up all the wisdom of past times, that thou dost now speak so arrogantly and confidently? This question was asked, because, in the estimation of Eliphaz and his friends, wisdom was supposed to be connected... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU HEARD THE SECRET OF GOD? - literally, “in the secret of God hast thou heard” - הסוד _hasôd_. The word rendered “secret” (סוד _sôd_) means properly a “couch” or “cushion,” on which one reclines - whether for sleep or at a table, or as a divan. Hence, it means a divan, or circle of persons... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT KNOWEST THOU THAT WE KNOW NOT? - What pretensions or claims to wisdom have you which we have not? We have had, at least, equal advantages, and may be presumed to know as much as you.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH US ARE BOTH THE GRAY HEADED - That is, some of us who are here are much older than thy father; or we express the sentiments of such aged men. Job had admitted Job 12:12, that with the aged was wisdom, and in length of days understanding; and Eliphaz here urges that on that principle he and his... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE THE CONSOLATIONS OF GOD SMALL WITH THEE? - The “consolations of God” here refer probably to those considerations which had been suggested by Eliphaz and his friends, and which he takes to be the “consolations” which God had furnished for the afflicted. He asks whether they were regarded by Job a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY DOTH THINE HEART CARRY THEE AWAY? - Why do you allow your feelings to control you in spite of the decisions of the understanding? Eliphaz means to represent him as wholly under the influence of passion, instead of looking calmly and cooly at things as they were, and listening to the results of p... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU TURNEST THY SPIRIT - That your mind is turned against God instead of acquiescing in his dealings. The views of Job he traces to pride and to overweening self-confidence, and perhaps not improperly.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS MAN THAT HE SHOULD BE CLEAN? - The object of Eliphaz in this is to overturn the positions of Job that he was righteous, and had been punished beyond his deserts. He had before maintained Job 4:7, that no one ever perished being innocent, and that the righteous were not cut off. This was with... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, HE PUTTETH NO TRUST IN HIS SAINTS - In Job 4:18, it is, “in his servants,” but no doubt the same thing is intended. The reference is to the angels, called there servants, and here saints קדשׁים _qôdeshı̂ym_, holy ones; see the notes at Job 4:18. YEA, THE HEAVENS ARE NOT CLEAN IN HIS SIGHT -... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW MUCH MORE ABOMINABLE AND FILTHY IS MAN - How much more than the angels, and than the heavens. In Job 4:19, the image is somewhat different. There it is, how can man be the object of the divine confidence since he lives in a house of clay, and is so frail? Here the image is more striking and forc... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SHOW THEE ... - The remainder of this chapter is a violent declamation, designed to overwhelm Job with the proofs of personal guilt. Eliphaz professes to urge nothing which had not been handed down from his ancestors, and was the result of careful observation. What he says is made up of apoth... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WISE MEN HAVE TOLD FROM THEIR FATHERS - Which they have received from their ancestors and communicated to others. Knowledge among the ancients was communicated chiefly by tradition from father to son. They had few or no written records, and hence, they embodied the results of their observation... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO WHOM ALONE THE EARTH WAS GIVEN - The land; the land or country where they dwelt. He refers to the period before they became intermingled with other nations, and before they imbibed any sentiments or opinions from strangers. The meaning is, “I will give you the result of the observations of the... [ Continue Reading ]
TRAVAILETH WITH PAIN - That is, his sorrows are like the pains of parturition. Eliphaz means to say that he is a constant sufferer. ALL HIS DAYS - It seems difficult to see how they could have ever formed this universal maxim. It is certainly not literally true now; nor was it ever. But in order to... [ Continue Reading ]
A DREADFUL SOUND IS IN HIS EARS - Margin, “A sound of fears.” He hears sudden, frightful sounds, and is alarmed. Or when he thinks himself safe, he is suddenly surprised. The enemy steals upon him, and in his fancied security he dies. This sentiment might be illustrated at almost any length by the m... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BELIEVETH NOT THAT HE SHALL RETURN OUT OF DARKNESS - Darkness is used in the Bible, as elsewhere, to denote calamity; and the meaning here is, that the wicked man has not confidence (יאמין לא _lo'_ _ya'amı̂yn_), that he shall return safely from impending danger. He is in constant dread of assassi... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WANDERETH ABROAD FOR BREAD - The Septuagint renders this, “he is destined to be food for vultures” - κατατέτακται δὲ εἰς σῖτα γυψίν _katatetaktai_ _de_ _eis_ _sitos_ _gupsin_. The meaning of the Hebrew is, simply, that he will be reduced to poverty, and will not know where to obtain a supply... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A KING READY TO THE BATTLE - Fully prepared for a battle; whom it would be vain to attempt to resist. So mighty would be the combined forces of trouble and anguish against him, that it would be vain to attempt to oppose them.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE STRETCHETH OUT HIS HAND AGAINST GOD - The hand is stretched out for battle. It wields the spear or the sword against an enemy. The idea here is, that the wicked man makes God an adversary. He does not contend with his fellow-man, with fate, with the elements, with evil angels, but with God. H... [ Continue Reading ]
HE RUNNETH UPON HIM - That is, upon God. The image here is taken from the mode in which people rushed into battle. It was with a violent concussion, and usually with a shout, that they might intimidate their foes, and overcome them at first, with the violence of the shock. The mode of warfare is now... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE HE COVERETH HIS FACE WITH HIS FATNESS - That is, he not only stretches out his hand against God Job 15:25 and rushes upon him as an armed foe Job 15:26, but he gives himself up to a life of luxury, gluttony, and licentiousness; and therefore, these calamities must come upon him. This is desi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DWELLETH - Or rather, “therefore he shall dwell.” As a consequence of his opposing God, and devoting himself to a life of sensuality and ease, he shall dwell in a desolate place. Instead of living in affluence and in a splendid city, he shall be compelled to take up his abode in places that h... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL NOT BE RICH - That is, he shall not continue rich; or he shall not again become rich. He shall be permanently poor. NEITHER SHALL HIS SUBSTANCE CONTINUE - His property. NEITHER SHALL HE PROLONG THE PERFECTION THEREOF - Noyes renders this, “And his possessions shall not be extended upon the... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL NOT DEPART OUT OF DARKNESS - He shall not escape from calamity; see Job 15:22. He shall not be able to rise again, but shall be continually poor. THE FLAME SHALL DRY UP HIS BRANCHES - As the fire consumes the green branches of a tree, so shall punishment do to him. This comparison is very... [ Continue Reading ]
LET NOT HIM THAT IS DECEIVED TRUST IN VANITY - The sense is, “Let him not trust in vanity. He will be deceived. Vanity will be his recompense.” The idea is, that a man should not confide in that which will furnish no support. He should not rely on his wealth and rank; his houses and lands; his serva... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED BEFORE HIS TIME - Margin, “cut off.” The image here is that of a tree, which had been suggested in Job 15:30. Here it is followed up by various illustrations drawn from the flower, the fruit, etc., all of which are designed to denote the same thing - that a wicked man will n... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL SHAKE OFF HIS UNRIPE GRAPE AS THE VINE - The idea here is, that the wicked man shall be like a vine that casts off its grapes while they are yet sour and green, and brings none to perfection; compare the notes at Isaiah 18:5. Scott renders this, “As when the vine her half-grown berries sho... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE CONGREGATION OF HYPOCRITES - The word rendered “congregation” here (עדה _‛__êdâh_) means properly an appointed meeting; a meeting convened by appointment or at stated times (from ידה _yâdâh_), and hence, an assembly of any kind. It is commonly applied to an assembly for public worship; b... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CONCEIVE MISCHIEF - The meaning of this verse is, that they form and execute plans of evil. It is the characteristic of such men that they form such plans and live to execute them, and they must abide the consequences. All this was evidently meant for Job; and few things could be more trying to... [ Continue Reading ]