HOW LONG WILL YE VEX MY SOUL? - Perhaps designing to reply to the
taunting speech of Bildad; Job 18:2. “He” had asked “how long it
would be ere Job would make an end of empty talk?” “Job” asks,
in reply, “how long” they would torture and afflict his soul? Or
whether there was on hope that this would... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE TEN TIMES - Many times; the word “ten” being used as we
often say, “ten a dozen” or “twenty,” to denote many; see
Genesis 31:7, “And your father hath changed my wages “ten
times.” Leviticus 26:26, “and when I have broken your staff of
bread, “ten women” shall bake your bread, in one oven;” com... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BE IT INDEED THAT I HAVE ERRED - Admitting that I have erred, it
is my own concern. You have a right to reproach and revile me in this
manner.
MINE ERROR ABIDETH WITH MYSELF - I must abide the consequences of the
error.” The design of this seems to be to reprove what he regarded
as an improper... [ Continue Reading ]
IF, INDEED, YE WILL MAGNIFY YOURSELVES AGAINST ME - This is connected
with the next verse. The sense is, “all these calamities came from
God. He has brought them upon me in a sudden and mysterious manner. In
these circumstances you ought to have pity upon me; Job 19:21. Instead
of magnifying yoursel... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW NOW THAT GOD - Understand the case; and in order that they might,
he goes into an extended description of the calamities which God had
brought upon him. He wished them to be “fully” apprised of all
that he had suffered at the hand of God.
HATH OVERTHROWN ME - The word used here (עות _‛__âvath... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I CRY OUT OF WRONG - Margin, or “violence.” The Hebrew
word (חמס _châmâs_) means properly violence. The violence
referred to is that which was brought upon him by God. It is, indeed,
harsh language; but it is not quite sure that he means to complain of
God for doing him injustice. God had... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH FENCED UP MY WAY - This figure is taken from a traveler, whose
way is obstructed by trees, rocks, or fences, so that he cannot get
along, and Job says it was so with him. He was traveling along in a
peaceful manner on the journey of life, and all at once obstructions
were put in his path, so... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH STRIPPED ME OF MY GLORY - Everything which I had that
contributed to my respectability and honor, he has taken away. My
property, my health, my family, the esteem of my friend - all is gone.
AND TAKEN THE CROWN FROM MY HEAD - The crown is an emblem of honor and
dignity - and Job says that G... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH DESTROYED ME ON EVERY SIDE - He has left me nothing. The word
which is used here is that which is commonly applied to which is used
here is that which is commonly applied to destroying cities, towns,
and houses. “Rosenmuller.”
AND I AM GONE - That is, I am near death. I cannot recover mysel... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH ALSO KINDLED HIS WRATH - He is angry. Wrath in the Scriptures
is usually represented as burning or inflamed - because like fire it
destroys everything before it.
AND HE COUNTETH ME UNTO HIM AS ONE OF HIS ENEMIES - He treats me as he
would an enemy. The same complaint he elsewhere makes; see... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS TROOPS - The calamities which he had sent, and which are here
represented as “armies” or “soldiers” to accomplish his work.
It is not probable that he refers here to the bands of the Chaldeans
and the Sabeans, that had robbed him of his property, but to the
calamities that had come upon him, “as... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH PUT MY BRETHREN - This is a new source of afflication that he
had not adverted to before, that God had caused all his children to be
estranged from him - a calamity which he regarded as the crown of all
his woes. The word rendered “my brethren” (אחי _'âchāy_)
means means properly “my broth... [ Continue Reading ]
MY KINSFOLK HAVE FAILED - My neighbors (קרובי _qârôbāy_),
those who were near to me. It may refer to “nearness” of affinity,
friendship, or residence. The essential idea is that of “nearness”
- whether by blood, affection, or vicinity. In Psalms 38:11, it
denotes near friends.
AND MY FAMILIAR FR... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT DWELL IN MINE HOUSE - The trials came to his very dwelling,
and produced a sad estrangement there. The word used here גרי
_gārēy_ from גוּר _gûr_ means properly those who
“sojourn” in a house for a little time. It may refer to guests,
strangers, servants, clients, or tenants. The essent... [ Continue Reading ]
I CALLED MY SERVANT - He lost all respect for me, and paid me no
attention.
I ENTREATED HIM - I ceased to expect “obedience,” and tried to see
what “persuasion” would do. I ceased to be master in my own house.... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BREATH IS STRANGE TO MY WIFE - Schultens renders this, “my breath
is loathsome to my wife,” and so also Noyes. Wemyss translates it,
“my own wife turns aside from my breath.” Dr Good, “my breath is
scattered away by my wife.” The literal meaning is, “my breath is
“strange” (זרה _zârâh_) to my w... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, YOUNG CHILDREN - Margin, or “the wicked.” This difference
between the text and the margin arises from the ambiguity of the
original word - עוילים _‛__ăvı̂ylı̂ym_. The word
עויל _‛__ăvı̂yl_ (whence our word “evil”) means
sometimes the wicked, or the ungodly, as in Job 16:11. It may also
mean a... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL MY INWARD FRIENDS - Margin, “the men of my secret.” The
meaning is those, who were admitted to the intimacy of friendship or
who were permitted to be acquainted with his secret thoughts,
purposes, and plans. The word uses here (סוד _sôd_) denotes
properly “a couch, cushions, pillow,” on which o... [ Continue Reading ]
MY BONE CLEAVETH TO MY SKIN AND TO MY FLESH - The meaning of this
probably is, “my skin and flesh are dried up so that the bone seems
adhere to the skin, and so tht the form of the bone becomes
visible.” It is designed to denote a state of great emaciation, and
describes an effect which we often see... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE PITY ON ME - A tender, pathetic cry for sympathy. “God has
afflicted me, and stripped me of all my comforts, and I am left a
poor, distressed, forsaken man. I make my appeal to you, my friends,
and entreat you to have pity; to sympathize with me, and to sustain me
by the words of consolation.”... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY DO YE PERSECUTE ME AS GOD? - As God has done. That is, without
giving me any reason for it; accusing me of crimes without proof, and
condeming me without mitigation. That there is here an improper
reflection on God, will be apparent to all. It accords with what Job
frequently expresses where he... [ Continue Reading ]
OH THAT MY WORDS WERE NOW WRITTEN! - Margin, as in Hebrew, “Who will
give;” a common mode of expressing desire among the Hebrews. This
expression of desire introduces one of the most important passages in
the book of Job. It is the language of a man who felt that injustice
was done by his friends, a... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY WERE GRAVEN - Cut in, or sculptured - as is done on stones.
That they might become thus a permanent record.
WITH AN IRON PEN - A stylus, or an engraving tool - for so the word
(עט _‛__êṭ_) means. The instrument formerly used for writing
or engraying was a small, sharp-pointed piece of i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH - There are few passages in the
Bible which have excited more attention than this, or in respect to
which the opinions of expositors have been more divided. The
importance of the passage Job 19:25 has contributed much to the
anxiety to understand its meaning - sinc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOUGH - Margin, Or, after I shall awake, though this body be
destroyed, yet out of my flesh shall I see God. This verse has given
not less perplexity than the preceding. Noyes renders it,
And though with this skin this body be wasted away,
Yet in my flesh shall I see God.
Dr. Good renders it... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM I SHALL SEE FOR MYSELF - It will not come to be by mere report. I
shall not merely hear of the decision of God in my favor, but I shall
myself behold him. He will at length come forth, and I shall be
permitted to see him, and shall have the delightful assurance that he
settles this controversy... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE SHOULD SAY - Noyes renders this, “Since ye say, ‘How may we
persecute him, and find grounds of accusation against him?’” Dr.
Good,
Then shall ye say, “How did we persecute him?”
When the root of the matter is disclosed in me.
The Vulgate, “Why now do ye say, let us persecute him, and find
g... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE AFRAID OF THE SWORD - Of the sword of justice, of the wrath of
God. In taking such views, and using such language, you ought to dread
the vengeance of God, for he will punish the guilty.
FOR WRATH BRINGETH THE PUNISHMENTS OF THE SWORD - The word
“bringeth” is supplied by the translators, and... [ Continue Reading ]