5 But H199 oh that H5414 God H433 would speak, H1696 and open H6605 his lips H8193 against thee;
Then the LORD H3068 answered H6030 Job H347 out of the whirlwind, H5591 and said, H559 Who is this that darkeneth H2821 counsel H6098 by words H4405 without knowledge? H1847
Oh that H5414 I knew H3045 where I might find H4672 him! that I might come H935 even to his seat! H8499 I would order H6186 my cause H4941 before H6440 him, and fill H4390 my mouth H6310 with arguments. H8433 I would know H3045 the words H4405 which he would answer H6030 me, and understand H995 what he would say H559 unto me. Will he plead H7378 against H5978 me with his great H7230 power? H3581 No; but he would put H7760 strength in me. There the righteous H3477 might dispute H3198 with him; so should I be delivered H6403 for ever H5331 from my judge. H8199
Behold, I am according to thy wish H6310 in God's H410 stead: I also am formed H7169 out of the clay. H2563 Behold, my terror H367 shall not make thee afraid, H1204 neither shall my hand H405 be heavy H3513 upon thee. Surely thou hast spoken H559 in mine hearing, H241 and I have heard H8085 the voice H6963 of thy words, H4405 saying, I am clean H2134 without transgression, H6588 I am innocent; H2643 neither is there iniquity H5771 in me. Behold, he findeth H4672 occasions H8569 against me, he counteth H2803 me for his enemy, H341 He putteth H7760 my feet H7272 in the stocks, H5465 he marketh H8104 all my paths. H734 Behold, in this thou art not just: H6663 I will answer H6030 thee, that God H433 is greater H7235 than man. H582 Why dost thou strive H7378 against him? for he giveth not account H6030 of any of his matters. H1697 For God H410 speaketh H1696 once, H259 yea twice, H8147 yet man perceiveth H7789 it not. In a dream, H2472 in a vision H2384 of the night, H3915 when deep H8639 sleep falleth H5307 upon men, H582 in slumberings H8572 upon the bed; H4904 Then he openeth H1540 the ears H241 of men, H582 and sealeth H2856 their instruction, H4561 That he may withdraw H5493 man H120 from his purpose, H4639 and hide H3680 pride H1466 from man. H1397 He keepeth back H2820 his soul H5315 from the pit, H7845 and his life H2416 from perishing H5674 by the sword. H7973
Moreover the LORD H3068 answered H6030 Job, H347 and said, H559 Shall he that contendeth H7378 with the Almighty H7706 instruct H3250 him? he that reproveth H3198 God, H433 let him answer H6030 it. Then Job H347 answered H6030 the LORD, H3068 and said, H559 Behold, I am vile; H7043 what shall I answer H7725 thee? I will lay H7760 mine hand H3027 upon H3926 my mouth. H6310 Once H259 have I spoken; H1696 but I will not answer: H6030 yea, twice; H8147 but I will proceed no further. H3254
And it was so, that after H310 the LORD H3068 had spoken H1696 these words H1697 unto Job, H347 the LORD H3068 said H559 to Eliphaz H464 the Temanite, H8489 My wrath H639 is kindled H2734 against thee, and against thy two H8147 friends: H7453 for ye have not spoken H1696 of me the thing that is right, H3559 as my servant H5650 Job H347 hath.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 11
Commentary on Job 11 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 11
FIRST SERIES.
Job 11:1-20. First Speech of Zophar.
2. Zophar assails Job for his empty words, and indirectly, the two friends, for their weak reply. Taciturnity is highly prized among Orientals (Pr 10:8, 19).
3. lies—rather, "vain boasting" (Isa 16:6; Jer 48:30). The "men" is emphatic; men of sense; in antithesis to "vain boasting."
mockest—upbraidest God by complaints, "shall no man make thee ashamed?"
4. doctrine—purposely used of Job's speeches, which sounded like lessons of doctrine (De 32:2; Pr 4:2).
thine—addressed to God. Job had maintained his sincerity against his friends suspicions, not faultlessness.
6. to that which is!—Rather, "they are double to [man's] wisdom" [Michaelis]. So the Hebrew is rendered (Pr 2:7). God's ways, which you arraign, if you were shown their secret wisdom, would be seen vastly to exceed that of men, including yours (1Co 1:25).
exacteth—Rather, "God consigns to oblivion in thy favor much of thy guilt."
7. Rather, "Penetrate to the perfections of the Almighty" (Job 9:10; Ps 139:6).
8. It—the "wisdom" of God (Job 11:6). The abruptness of the Hebrew is forcible: "The heights of heaven! What canst thou do" (as to attaining to them with thy gaze, Ps 139:8)?
know—namely, of His perfections.
10. cut off—Rather, as in Job 9:11, "pass over," as a storm; namely, rush upon in anger.
shut up—in prison, with a view to trial.
gather together—the parties for judgment: hold a judicial assembly; to pass sentence on the prisoners.
11. (Ps 94:11).
consider—so as to punish it. Rather, from the connection, Job 11:6, "He seeth wickedness also, which man does not perceive"; literally, "But no (other, save He) perceiveth it" [Umbreit]. God's "wisdom" (Job 11:6), detects sin where Job's human eye cannot reach (Job 11:8), so as to see any.
12. vain—hollow.
would be—"wants to consider himself wise"; opposed to God's "wisdom" (see on Job 11:11); refuses to see sin, where God sees it (Ro 1:22).
wild ass's colt—a proverb for untamed wildness (Job 39:5, 8; Jer 2:24; Ge 16:12; Hebrew, "a wild-ass man"). Man wishes to appear wisely obedient to his Lord, whereas he is, from his birth, unsubdued in spirit.
13. The apodosis to the "If" is at Job 11:15. The preparation of the heart is to be obtained (Pr 16:1) by stretching out the hands in prayer for it (Ps 10:17; 1Ch 29:18).
14. Rather, "if thou wilt put far away the iniquity in thine hand" (as Zaccheus did, Lu 19:8). The apodosis or conclusion is at Job 11:15, "then shalt thou," &c.
15. Zophar refers to Job's own words (Job 10:15), "yet will I not lift up my head," even though righteous. Zophar declares, if Job will follow his advice, he may "lift up his face."
spot—(De 32:5).
steadfast—literally, "run fast together," like metals which become firm and hard by fusion. The sinner on the contrary is wavering.
16. Just as when the stream runs dry (Job 6:17), the danger threatened by its wild waves is forgotten (Isa 65:16) [Umbreit].
17. age—days of life.
the noon-day—namely, of thy former prosperity; which, in the poet's image, had gone on increasing, until it reached its height, as the sun rises higher and higher until it reaches the meridian (Pr 4:18).
shine forth—rather, "though now in darkness, thou shall be as the morning"; or, "thy darkness (if any dark shade should arise on thee, it) shall be as the morning" (only the dullness of morning twilight, not nocturnal darkness) [Umbreit].
18. The experience of thy life will teach thee there is hope for man in every trial.
dig—namely, wells; the chief necessity in the East. Better, "though now ashamed (Ro 5:5, opposed to the previous 'hope'), thou shalt then rest safely" [Gesenius];
19. (Ps 4:8; Pr 3:24; Isa 14:30); oriental images of prosperity.
make suit—literally, "stroke thy face," "caress thee" (Pr 19:6).
20. A warning to Job, if he would not turn to God.
The wicked—that is, obdurate sinners.
eyes … fail—that is, in vain look for relief (De 28:65). Zophar implies Job's only hope of relief is in a change of heart.
they shall not escape—literally, "every refuge shall vanish from them."
giving up of the ghost—Their hope shall leave them as the breath does the body (Pr 11:7).