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Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Job 23:8

Verse Job 23:8. Behold, I go forward] These two verses paint in vivid colours the distress and anxiety of a soul in search of the favour of God. No means are left untried, no place unexplored, in order to find the object of his research. This is a true description of the conduct of a genuine penitent.

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See also Job 23:8 in other biblical comments:

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    BEHOLD, I GO FORWARD - The meaning of these verses is, I go in all directions, but I cannot find God. I am excluded from the trial which I seek, and I cannot bring my cause to his throne. Job expresse...

  • 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

    Job still rebels, though he does his best to repress his complaints (Job 23:2). Translate as _mg._ Job 23:6 f. shows the gain Job has got. Job 23:8. He is still in quest of God, but now is convinced t...

  • 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

    From this fascinating dream of a Divine tribunal after the manner of that of a human judge, Job awakens to realise the actual circumstances in which he is placed. God, everywhere present, everywhere e...

  • 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

    _BEHOLD, I GO FORWARD, BUT HE IS NOT THERE; AND BACKWARD, BUT I CANNOT PERCEIVE HIM:_ But I wish in vain. For "behold," etc. FORWARD ... BACKWARD - rather, 'to the east, to the west.' The Hebrew geogr...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    23:8 forward, (m-4) backward, (m-11) Or, for verses 8 and 9, 'to the east ... to the west ... to the north ... to the south.'...

  • 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...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    FORWARD.. BACKWARD] better,' east'. 'west.'...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    God is not like a human judge, whom Job could visit. God rules heaven and earth. He works everywhere (Psalms 139:7-10). And nobody can control him (John 3:8). JOB TRUSTS GOD V10 But God knows where...

  • 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...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    הֵ֤ן קֶ֣דֶם אֶהֱלֹ֣ךְ וְ אֵינֶ֑נּוּ וְ֝ אָחֹ֗

  • 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

    (e) Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: (e) Meaning, that if he considers God's justice, he is not able to comprehend his judgments on what side or...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _East, or Hebrew, "before....if behind I cannot perceive him." (Calmet) --- Where, then, shall I find this just judge? ver. 3. (Haydock)_...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (8) В¶ Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: (9) On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that...

  • 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

    BEHOLD, I GO FORWARD, BUT HE [IS] NOT [THERE],.... Job here returns to what he had said before, Job 23:3; as Jarchi observes, where he expresses his earnest desire after God, that he might know where...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: Ver. 8. _Behold, I go forward_] Heb. Eastward, which is reckoned the forepart of the world; because that eye of...

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

    _I go forward_ קדם, _kedem, ad orientem, toward the east:_ אחור, _achor, ad occidentem, toward the west;_ so the Vulgate, which is likewise the interpretation of the Jewish commentators, who by the _l...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    JOB DESPAIRS OF FINDING VINDICATION IN THIS LIFE...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; whether he goes to the east or to the west, he cannot find the judgment-seat of God, and so the joyful prospect whic...

  • 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

    Job searches in all directions for God, yet this search is in vain. In contrast, the writer of Psalm 139 will declare that God is everywhere. "Jehovah seems to be playing some kind of hide-and-seek ga...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    8-12 Job knew that the Lord was every where present; but his mind was in such confusion, that he could get no fixed view of God's merciful presence, so as to find comfort by spreading his case before...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    I GO FORWARD, i.e. towards the east, which in Scripture is accounted the forepart of the world, as the Hebrew name of it signifies, because of the light of the sun, which ariseth there, and draweth th...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Job 23:8 go H1980 (H8799) forward H6924 backward H268 perceive H995 (H8799) Job 9:11;...

  • 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 Biblical Illustrator

    _Behold, I go forward, but He is not there._ OBSCURITY OF THE DIVINE WORKING The perplexities felt by Job on this and kindred problems were not greater or more harassing than they are to us. Our adva...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOB—NOTE ON JOB 23:1 Job is tired of arguing his case before his friends. In this reply, he ignores most of Eliphaz’s most recent response. Instead, he expresses his desire to stand personally before...

  • 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

    1 Timothy 6:16; Isaiah 45:15; Job 9:11; Psalms 10:1; Psalms 13:1...

  • 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...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Is not — As a judge to hear and determine my causes, otherwise he knew God was essentially present in all places....

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