THEREFORE - לכן _lākên_, “certainly, truly.” In view of what has been just said. Or perhaps the word means merely certainly, truly. DO MY THOUGHTS CAUSE ME TO ANSWER - This is variously rendered. The Vulgate renders it, _Idcirco cogitationes meae variae succedunt sibi, et mens in diversa rapitur_... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE HEARD THE CHECK OF MY REPROACH - I have heard your violent and severe language reproaching us. Probably he refers to what Job had said in the close of his speech Job 19:29, that they had occasion to dread the wrath of God, and that they might anticipate heavy judgments as the result of their... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWEST THOU NOT THIS OF OLD - That is, dost thou not know that this has always happened from the beginning of the world, or that this is the invariable course of events. His purpose is to show that it was the settled arrangement of Providence that the wicked would be overtaken with signal calamity.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE TRIUMPHING - The word “triumphing” here (רננה _r__e__nânâh_),” shouting, rejoicing” - such a shouting as people make after a victory, or such as occurred at the close of harvesting. Here it means that the occasion which the wicked had for rejoicing would be brief. It would be but for a mo... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH HIS EXCELLENCY MOUNT UP TO THE HEAVENS - Though he attain to the highest pitch of honor and prosperity. The Septuagint renders this, “Though his gifts should go up to heaven, and his sacrifice should touch the clouds;” a sentence conveying a true and a beautiful idea, but which is not a trans... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL FLY AWAY AS A DREAM - As a dream wholly disappears or vanishes. This comparison of man with a dream is not uncommon, and is most impressive. See Psalms 73:20; see the notes at Isaiah 29:7. AS A VISION OF THE NIGHT - As when one in a dream seems to see objects which vanish when he awakes. T... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EYE ALSO WHICH SAW HIM - This is almost exactly the language which Job uses respecting himself. See Job 7:8, note; Job 7:10, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS CHILDREN SHALL SEEK TO PLEASE THE POOR - Margin, or, “the poor shall oppress his children.” The idea in the Hebrew seems to be, that his sons shall be reduced to the humiliating condition of asking the aid of the most needy and abject. Instead of being in a situation to assist others, and to ind... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS BONES ARE FULL OF THE SIN OF HIS YOUTH - The words “of the sin” in our common translation are supplied by the translators. Gesenius and Noyes suppose that the Hebrew means, “His bones are full of youth;” that is, full of vigor and strength, and the idea according to this would be, that he would... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH WICKEDNESS BE SWEET IN HIS MOUTH - Though he has pleasure in committing it, as he has in pleasant food. The sense of this and the following verses is, that though a man may have pleasure in indulgence in sin, and may find happiness of a certain kind in it, yet that the consequences will be bi... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH HE SPARE IT - That is, though he retains it long in his mouth, that he may enjoy it the more. AND FORSAKE IT NOT - Retains it as long as he can. BUT KEEP IT STILL WITHIN HIS MOUTH - Margin, as in Hebrew “in the midst of his palate.” He seeks to enjoy it as long as possible.... [ Continue Reading ]
YET HIS MEAT - His food. IN HIS BOWELS IS TURNED - That is, it is as if he had taken food which was exceedingly pleasant, and had retained it in his mouth as long as possible, that he might enjoy it, but when he swallowed it, it became bitter and offensive; compare Revelation 10:9. Sin may be pleas... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH SWALLOWED DOWN RICHES - He has “glutted” down riches - or gormandized them - or devoured them greedily. The Hebrew word בלע _bela‛_, means “to absorb, to devour with the idea of greediness.” It is descriptive of the voracity of a wild beast, and means here that he had devoured them eagerly,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL SUCK THE POISON OF ASPS - That which he swallowed as pleasant nutriment, shall become the most deadly poison; or the consequence shall be as if he had sucked the poison of asps. It would seem that the ancients regarded the poison of the serpent as deadly, however, it was taken into the syst... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL NOT SEE THE RIVERS - That is, he shall not be permitted to enjoy plenty and prosperity. Rivers or rills of honey and butter are emblems of prosperity; compare Exodus 3:17; Job 29:6. A land flowing with milk, honey, and butter, is, in the Scripture, the highest image of prosperity and happin... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH HE LABOURED FOR SHALL HE RESTORE - This means that he shall give back the profit of his labor. He shall not be permitted to enjoy it or to consume it. AND SHALL NOT SWALLOW IT DOWN - Shall not enjoy it; shall not eat it. He shall be obliged to give it to others. ACCORDING TO HIS SUBSTANC... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE HE HATH OPPRESSED - Margin, “crushed.” Such is the Hebrew. AND FORSAKEN THE POOR - He has plundered them, and then forsaken them - as robbers do. The meaning is, that he had done this by his oppressive manner of dealing, and then left them to suffer and pine in want. HE HATH VIOLENTLY TAKEN... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY HE SHALL NOT FEEL QUIETNESS - Margin, as in the Hebrew “know.” The sense is, he shall not know peace or tranquility. He shall be agitated and troubled. Wemyss, however, renders this, “Because his appetite could not be satisfied.” Noyes, “Because his avarice was insatiable.” So Rosenmuller exp... [ Continue Reading ]
“There shall none of his meat be left Margin, “or, be none left for his meat.” Noyes renders it, “Because nothing escaped his greatness.” Prof. Lee, “no surviver shall remain for his provision.” But the meaning, probably, is, nothing shall remain of his food, or it shall all be wasted, or dissipated... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE FULNESS OF HIS SUFFICIENCY - When he seems to have an abundance. HE SHALL BE IN STRAITS - Either by the dread of calamity, or because calamity shall come suddenly upon him, and his property shall be swept away. When everything seemed to be abundant he should be reduced to want. EVERY HAND O... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE IS ABOUT TO FILL HIS BELLY - Or rather, “there shall be enough to fill his belly.” But what “kind” of food it should be, is indicated in the following part of the verse. “God” would fill him with the food of his displeasure. It is spoken sarcastically, as of a gormandizer, or a man who lived... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL FLEE FROM THE IRON WEAPON - The sword, or the spear. That is, he shall be exposed to attacks, and shall flee in cowardice and alarm. Bands of robbers shall come suddenly upon him, and he shall have no safety except in flight. Pref. Lee explains this as meaning, “While he flees from the iron... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS DRAWN - Or rather, “he draws” - that is, he draws out the arrow that has been shot at him; or it may mean, as Prof. Lee supposes, that he draws, that is, “someone” draws the arrow from its quiver, or the sword from its sheath, in order to smite him. The object is to describe his death, and to... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL DARKNESS SHALL BE HID IN HIS SECRET PLACES - The word “darkness” here, as is common, means evidently calamity. The phrase “is hid,” means is treasured up for him. The phrase “in his secret places,” may mean “for his treasures,” or instead of the great treasures which he had laid up for himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HEAVEN SHALL REVEAL HIS INIQUITY - The meaning here is, that the whole creation would conspire against such a man. Heaven and earth would be arrayed against him. The course of events would be so ordered as to seem designed to bring his character out, and to show what he was. He would attempt to... [ Continue Reading ]
THE INCREASE OF HIS HOUSE SHALL DEPART - Septuagint, “Destruction shall bring his house to an end.” The word rendered “depart” (יגל _yı̂gel_ from גלה _gâlâh_), means, properly, “shall go into captivity.” The sense is, that whatever he had laid up in his house would entirely disappear. HIS GOODS S... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS THE PORTION OF A WICKED MAN - This conclusion is similar to that which Bildad drew at the close of his speech, Job 18:21. Zophar intended, undoubtedly, that Job should apply it to himself, and that he should draw the inference, that one who had been treated in this manner, must be a wicked m... [ Continue Reading ]