1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
1 Then Job H347 answered H6030 and said, H559
2 I have heard H8085 many such things: H7227 miserable H5999 comforters H5162 are ye all.
3 Shall vain H7307 words H1697 have an end? H7093 or what emboldeneth H4834 thee that thou answerest? H6030
4 I also could speak H1696 as ye do: if H3863 your soul H5315 were H3426 in my soul's H5315 stead, I could heap up H2266 words H4405 against you, and shake H5128 mine head H7218 at H1119 you.
5 But I would strengthen H553 you with H1119 my mouth, H6310 and the moving H5205 of my lips H8193 should asswage H2820 your grief.
6 Though I speak, H1696 my grief H3511 is not asswaged: H2820 and though I forbear, H2308 what am I eased? H1980
7 But now he hath made me weary: H3811 thou hast made desolate H8074 all my company. H5712
8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, H7059 which is a witness H5707 against me: and my leanness H3585 rising up H6965 in me beareth witness H6030 to my face. H6440
9 He teareth H2963 me in his wrath, H639 who hateth H7852 me: he gnasheth H2786 upon me with his teeth; H8127 mine enemy H6862 sharpeneth H3913 his eyes H5869 upon me.
10 They have gaped H6473 upon me with their mouth; H6310 they have smitten H5221 me upon the cheek H3895 reproachfully; H2781 they have gathered H4390 themselves together H3162 against me.
11 God H410 hath delivered H5462 me to the ungodly, H5760 and turned me over H3399 into the hands H3027 of the wicked. H7563
12 I was at ease, H7961 but he hath broken me asunder: H6565 he hath also taken H270 me by my neck, H6203 and shaken me to pieces, H6327 and set me up H6965 for his mark. H4307
13 His archers H7228 compass me round about, H5437 he cleaveth H6398 my reins H3629 asunder, H6398 and doth not spare; H2550 he poureth out H8210 my gall H4845 upon the ground. H776
14 He breaketh H6555 me with breach H6556 upon H6440 breach, H6556 he runneth H7323 upon me like a giant. H1368
15 I have sewed H8609 sackcloth H8242 upon my skin, H1539 and defiled H5953 my horn H7161 in the dust. H6083
16 My face H6440 is foul H2560 with weeping, H1065 and on my eyelids H6079 is the shadow of death; H6757
17 Not for any injustice H2555 in mine hands: H3709 also my prayer H8605 is pure. H2134
18 O earth, H776 cover H3680 not thou my blood, H1818 and let my cry H2201 have no place. H4725
19 Also now, behold, my witness H5707 is in heaven, H8064 and my record H7717 is on high. H4791
20 My friends H7453 scorn H3887 me: but mine eye H5869 poureth out H1811 tears unto God. H433
21 O that one might plead H3198 for a man H1397 with God, H433 as a man H120 pleadeth for his neighbour! H1121 H7453
22 When a few H4557 years H8141 are come, H857 then I shall go H1980 the way H734 whence I shall not return. H7725
1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.
5 `But' I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage `your grief'.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 And thou hast laid fast hold on me, `which' is a witness `against me': And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.
9 He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.
11 God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.
13 His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no `resting' -place.
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.
20 My friends scoff at me: `But' mine eye poureth out tears unto God,
21 That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!
22 For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
1 And Job answereth and saith: --
2 I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters `are' ye all.
3 Is there an end to words of wind? Or what doth embolden thee that thou answerest?
4 I also, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul's stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.
5 I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.
6 If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease -- what goeth from me?
7 Only, now, it hath wearied me; Thou hast desolated all my company,
8 And Thou dost loathe me, For a witness it hath been, And rise up against me doth my failure, In my face it testifieth.
9 His anger hath torn, and he hateth me, He hath gnashed at me with his teeth, My adversary sharpeneth his eyes for me.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have smitten my cheeks, Together against me they set themselves.
11 God shutteth me up unto the perverse, And to the hands of the wicked turneth me over.
12 At ease I have been, and he breaketh me, And he hath laid hold on my neck, And he breaketh me in pieces, And he raiseth me to him for a mark.
13 Go round against me do his archers. He splitteth my reins, and spareth not, He poureth out to the earth my gall.
14 He breaketh me -- breach upon breach, He runneth upon me as a mighty one.
15 Sackcloth I have sewed on my skin, And have rolled in the dust my horn.
16 My face is foul with weeping, And on mine eyelids `is' death-shade.
17 Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer `is' pure.
18 O earth, do not thou cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.
19 Also, now, lo, in the heavens `is' my witness, And my testifier in the high places.
20 My interpreter `is' my friend, Unto God hath mine eye dropped:
21 And he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.
22 When a few years do come, Then a path I return not do I go.
1 And Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.
3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;
5 [But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he hath made me weary; ... thou hast made desolate all my family;
8 Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.
9 His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.
10 They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.
11 ùGod hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13 His arrows encompass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!
19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.
20 My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto +God.
21 Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!
22 For years [few] in number shall pass, -- and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.
1 Then Job answered,
2 "I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are you all!
3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul's place, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
6 "Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.
8 You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.
9 He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He has gnashed on me with his teeth: My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth; They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
11 God delivers me to the ungodly, And casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
13 His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have thrust my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.
17 Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
18 "Earth, don't cover my blood, Let my cry have no place to rest.
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
21 That he would maintain the right of a man with God, Of a son of man with his neighbor!
22 For when a few years are come, I shall go the way from whence I shall not return.
1 And Job made answer and said,
2 Such things have frequently come to my ears: you are comforters who only give trouble.
3 May words which are like the wind be stopped? or what is troubling you to make answer to them?
4 It would not be hard for me to say such things if your souls were in my soul's place; joining words together against you, and shaking my head at you:
5 I might give you strength with my mouth, and not keep back the comfort of my lips.
6 If I say what is in my mind, my pain becomes no less: and if I keep quiet, how much of it goes from me?
7 But now he has overcome me with weariness and fear, and I am in the grip of all my trouble.
8 It has come up as a witness against me, and the wasting of my flesh makes answer to my face.
9 I am broken by his wrath, and his hate has gone after me; he has made his teeth sharp against me: my haters are looking on me with cruel eyes;
10 Their mouths are open wide against me; the blows of his bitter words are falling on my face; all of them come together in a mass against me.
11 God gives me over to the power of sinners, sending me violently into the hands of evil-doers.
12 I was in comfort, but I have been broken up by his hands; he has taken me by the neck, shaking me to bits; he has put me up as a mark for his arrows.
13 His bowmen come round about me; their arrows go through my body without mercy; my life is drained out on the earth.
14 I am broken with wound after wound; he comes rushing on me like a man of war.
15 I have made haircloth the clothing of my skin, and my horn is rolled in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, and my eyes are becoming dark;
17 Though my hands have done no violent acts, and my prayer is clean.
18 O earth, let not my blood be covered, and let my cry have no resting-place!
19 Even now my witness is in heaven, and the supporter of my cause is on high.
20 My friends make sport of me; to God my eyes are weeping,
21 So that he may give decision for a man in his cause with God, and between a son of man and his neighbour.
22 For in a short time I will take the journey from which I will not come back.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 16
Commentary on Job 16 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 16
SECOND SERIES.
Job 16:1-22. Job's Reply.
2. (Job 13:4).
3. "Words of wind," Hebrew. He retorts upon Eliphaz his reproach (Job 15:2).
emboldeneth—literally, "What wearies you so that ye contradict?" that is, What have I said to provoke you? &c. [Schuttens]. Or, as better accords with the first clause, "Wherefore do ye weary yourselves contradicting?" [Umbreit].
4. heap up—rather, "marshal together (an army of) words against you."
shake … head—in mockery; it means nodding, rather than shaking; nodding is not with us, as in the East, a gesture of scorn (Isa 37:22; Jer 18:16; Mt 27:39).
5. strengthen … with … mouth—bitter irony. In allusion to Eliphaz' boasted "consolations" (Job 15:11). Opposed to strengthening with the heart, that is, with real consolation. Translate, "I also (like you) could strengthen with the mouth," that is, with heartless talk: "And the moving of my lips (mere lip comfort) could console (in the same fashion as you do)" [Umbreit]. "Hearty counsel" (Pr 27:9) is the opposite.
6. eased—literally, "What (portion of my sufferings) goes from me?"
7. But now—rather, "ah!"
he—God.
company—rather, "band of witnesses," namely, those who could attest his innocence (his children, servants, &c.). So the same Hebrew is translated in Job 16:8. Umbreit makes his "band of witnesses," himself, for, alas! he had no other witness for him. But this is too recondite.
8. filled … with wrinkles—Rather (as also the same Hebrew word in Job 22:16; English Version, "cut down"), "thou hast fettered me, thy witness" (besides cutting off my "band of witnesses," Job 16:7), that is, hast disabled me by pains from properly attesting my innocence. But another "witness" arises against him, namely, his "leanness" or wretched state of body, construed by his friends into a proof of his guilt. The radical meaning of the Hebrew is "to draw together," whence flow the double meaning "to bind" or "fetter," and in Syriac, "to wrinkle."
leanness—meaning also "lie"; implying it was a "false witness."
9. Image from a wild beast. So God is represented (Job 10:16).
who hateth me—rather, "and pursues me hard." Job would not ascribe "hatred" to God (Ps 50:22).
mine enemy—rather, "he sharpens, &c., as an enemy" (Ps 7:12). Darts wrathful glances at me, like a foe (Job 13:24).
10. gaped—not in order to devour, but to mock him. To fill his cup of misery, the mockery of his friends (Job 16:10) is added to the hostile treatment from God (Job 16:9).
smitten … cheek—figurative for contemptuous abuse (La 3:30; Mt 5:39).
gathered themselves—"conspired unanimously" [Schuttens].
11. the ungodly—namely, his professed friends, who persecuted him with unkind speeches.
turned me over—literally, "cast me headlong into the hands of the wicked."
12. I was at ease—in past times (Job 1:1-3).
by my neck—as an animal does its prey (so Job 10:16).
shaken—violently; in contrast to his former "ease" (Ps 102:10). Set me up (again).
mark—(Job 7:20; La 3:12). God lets me always recover strength, so as to torment me ceaselessly.
13. his archers—The image of Job 16:12 is continued. God, in making me His "mark," is accompanied by the three friends, whose words wound like sharp arrows.
gall—put for a vital part; so the liver (La 2:11).
14. The image is from storming a fortress by making breaches in the walls (2Ki 14:13).
a giant—a mighty warrior.
15. sewed—denoting the tight fit of the mourning garment; it was a sack with armholes closely sewed to the body.
horn—image from horned cattle, which when excited tear the earth with their horns. The horn was the emblem of power (1Ki 22:11). Here, it is
in the dust—which as applied to Job denotes his humiliation from former greatness. To throw one's self in the dust was a sign of mourning; this idea is here joined with that of excited despair, depicted by the fury of a horned beast. The Druses of Lebanon still wear horns as an ornament.
16. foul—rather, "is red," that is, flushed and heated [Umbreit and Noyes].
shadow of death—that is, darkening through many tears (La 5:17). Job here refers to Zophar's implied charge (Job 11:14). Nearly the same words occur as to Jesus Christ (Isa 53:9). So Job 16:10 above answers to the description of Jesus Christ (Ps 22:13; Isa 50:6, and Job 16:4 to Ps 22:7). He alone realized what Job aspired after, namely, outward righteousness of acts and inward purity of devotion. Jesus Christ as the representative man is typified in some degree in every servant of God in the Old Testament.
18. my blood—that is, my undeserved suffering. He compares himself to one murdered, whose blood the earth refuses to drink up until he is avenged (Ge 4:10, 11; Eze 24:1, 8; Isa 26:21). The Arabs say that the dew of heaven will not descend on a spot watered with innocent blood (compare 2Sa 1:21).
no place—no resting-place. "May my cry never stop!" May it go abroad! "Earth" in this verse in antithesis to "heaven" (Job 16:19). May my innocence be as well-known to man as it is even now to God!
19. Also now—Even now, when I am so greatly misunderstood on earth, God in heaven is sensible of my innocence.
record—Hebrew, "in the high places"; Hebrew, "my witness." Amidst all his impatience, Job still trusts in God.
20. Hebrew, "are my scorners"; more forcibly, "my mockers—my friends!" A heart-cutting paradox [Umbreit]. God alone remains to whom he can look for attestation of his innocence; plaintively with tearful eye, he supplicates for this.
21. one—rather, "He" (God). "Oh, that He would plead for a man (namely, me) against God." Job quaintly says, "God must support me against God; for He makes me to suffer, and He alone knows me to be innocent" [Umbreit]. So God helped Jacob in wrestling against Himself (compare Job 23:6; Ge 32:25). God in Jesus Christ does plead with God for man (Ro 8:26, 27).
as a man—literally, "the Son of man." A prefiguring of the advocacy of Jesus Christ—a boon longed for by Job (Job 9:33), though the spiritual pregnancy of his own words, designed for all ages, was but little understood by him (Ps 80:17).
for his neighbour—Hebrew, "friend." Job himself (Job 42:8) pleaded as intercessor for his "friends," though "his scorners" (Job 16:20); so Jesus Christ the Son of man (Lu 23:34); "for friends" (Joh 15:13-15).
22. few—literally, "years of number," that is, few, opposed to numberless (Ge 34:30).