Albert Barnes

so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand threw a kiss from my mouth,

“And my heart hath been secretly enticed - That is, away from God, or led into sin. Or my mouth hath kissed my hand - Margin, my hand hath kissed my mouth. The margin accords with the Hebrew.”

If I have rejoiced in my enemy’s ruin, or exulted when evil befell him—

“If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me - Job here introduces another class of offences, of which he says he was innocent. The subject referred to is the proper treatment of those who injure us.”

if the men of my house have not said, ‘Who is there who has not had his fill?’—

“If the men of my tabernacle - The men of my tent; or those who dwell with me. The reference is doubtless to those who were in his employ, and who, being constantly with him, had an opportunity to observe his manner of life.”

if I have covered my transgressions like Adam by hiding my guilt in my heart,

“If I covered my transgressions as Adam - That is, if I have attempted to hide or conceal them; if, conscious of guilt, I have endeavored to cloak my sins, and to appear righteous.”

if I have devoured its produce without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants,

“If I have eaten the fruits thereof - Margin, strength. The strength of the earth is that which the earth produces or which is the result of its strength.”

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

“So these three men ceased to answer Job - Each had had three opportunities of replying to him, though in the last series of the controversy Zophar had been silent.”

and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

“Because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job - They held Job to be guilty, and yet they were unable to adduce the proof of it, and to reply to what he had said.”

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he.

“Now Elihu had waited - Margin, as in Hebrew, expected Job in words. The meaning is plain, that he had waited until all who were older than himself had spoken. Because they were elder than he - Margin, as in Hebrew, older for days.”

I thought that age should speak, and many years should teach wisdom.

“I said, Days should speak - The aged ought to speak. They have had the advantage of long observation of the course of events; they are acquainted with the sentiments of past times; they may have had an opportunity of conversing with distinguished sages, and…”

It is not only the old who are wise, or the elderly who understand justice.

“Great men are not always wise - Though wisdom may in general be looked for in them, yet it is not universally true. Great men here denote those who are distinguished for rank, age, authority.”

Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,

“I gave ear to your reasons - Margin, “understandings.” The meaning is, that he had given the most respectful attention to the views which they had expressed, implying that he had been all along present, and had listened to the debate.”

So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not man, refute him.’

“Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom - That is, this has been permitted and ordered in such a manner that it might be manifest that the truths which are to convince him come from God and not from man.”

Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; words have escaped them.

“They were amazed - There also are the words of Elihu, and are designed to express his astonishment that the three friends of Job did not answer him.”

I too will answer; yes, I will declare what I know.

“I also will show mine opinion - In this language, as in Job 32:6, there is a delicate expression of modesty in the Hebrew which does not appear in our translation. It is אף־אני 'aph 'ănı̂y - even I.”

Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; it is about to burst like a new wineskin.

“Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent - Margin, as in Hebrew, “is not opened” - לאיפתח lo' yipâthach. The repherence is to a bottle, in which there is no opening, or no vent phor the phermenting wine to work itselph ophph.”

I will be partial to no one, nor will I flatter any man.

“Let me not, I pray you - This is not to be regarded as an address to them, or a prayer to God, but as an expression of his determination.”

“But now, O Job, hear my speech, and listen to all my words.

“Wherefore, Job, I pray thee - In the next chapter he addresses the three friends of Job. This is addressed particularly to him. My speeches - Hebrew, “my words” - מלה millâh.”

Behold, I will open my mouth; my address is on the tip of my tongue.

“My tongue hath spoken in my mouth - Margin, “palate.” The meaning is, that since he had ventured to speak, and had actually commenced, he would utter only that which was worthy to be heard.”

Refute me if you can; prepare your case and confront me.

“If thou canst answer me - The meaning of this verse is this: “The controversy between you and me, if you choose to reply, shall be conducted in the most equitable manner, and on the most equal terms.”

Surely no fear of me should terrify you; nor will my hand be heavy upon you.

“Behold my terror shall not make thee afraid - Job had earnestly desired to carry his cause directly before God, but he had expressed the apprehension that he would overawe him by his majesty, so that he would not be able to manage his plea…”

‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.

“I am clean - I am pure and holy. Without transgression - Job had not used these very expressions, nor had he intended to maintain that he was absolutely free from sin; see Job 9:20.”

Yet God finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy.

“Behold, he findeth occasions against me - That is, God. This is not exactly the language of Job, though much that he had said had seemed to imply this.”

He puts my feet in the stocks; He watches over all my paths.’

“He putteth my feet in the stocks - This also is language which Job had used; see Job 13:27. “He marketh all my paths;” in Job 13:27, “Thou lookest narrowly unto all my paths;” see the notes at that verse.”

Why do you complain to Him that He answers nothing a man asks?

“Why dost thou strive against him? - By refusing to submit to him, and by calling in question his wisdom and goodness. For he giveth not account of any of his matters - Margin, as in Hebrew “answereth not.””

In a dream, in a vision in the night, when deep sleep falls upon men as they slumber on their beds,

“In a dream - This was one of the methods by which the will of God was made known in the early periods of the world; see the notes at Job 4:12-17.”