Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

“Rather, "ye will then (when the Vindicator cometh) say, Why," &c. root . . . in me--The root of pious integrity, which was the matter at issue, whether it could be in one so afflicted, is found in me.”

“UMBREIT translates, "full of his secret sins," as in Ps 90:8; his secret guilt in his time of seeming righteousness, like secret poison, at last lays him in the dust. The English Version is best. Zophar alludes to Job's own words (Job 17:16). with him--His…”

“Image from food which is taken away from one before he can swallow it. restitution--(So Pr 6:31). The parallelism favors the English Version rather than the translation of GESENIUS, "As a possession to be restored in which he rejoices not." he shall not rej…”

“UMBREIT translates, "His inward parts know no rest" from desires. his belly--that is, peace inwardly. not save--literally, "not escape with that which," &c., alluding to Job's having been stripped of his all.”

“Tact is shown by the friends in not expressly mentioning, but alluding under color of general cases, to Job's calamities; here (Job 1:16) UMBREIT explains it, wickedness, is a "self-igniting fire"; in it lie the principles of destruction. ill . . . tabernac…”

“Job's difficulty was not as to man, but as to God, why He so afflicted him, as if he were the guilty hypocrite which the friends alleged him to be. Vulgate translates it, "my disputation." if it were--rather, "since this is the case."”

“Can you wonder that I broke out into complaints, when the struggle was not with men, but with the Almighty? Reconcile, if you can, the ceaseless woes of the innocent with the divine justice! Is it not enough to make one tremble? [UMBREIT].”

“Ro 9:22. old--in opposition to the friends who asserted that sinners are "cut off" early (Job 8:12, 14).”

“Therefore--rather, "And yet they are such as say," &c., that is, say, not in so many words, but virtually, by their conduct (so the Gergesenes, Mt 8:34).”

“Pr 30:9, Margin, Ex 5:2). what profit-- (Job 35:3; Sinners ask, not what is right, but what is for the profit of self. They forget, "If religion cost self something, the want of it will cost self infinitely more."”

“Job in this whole passage down to Job 21:21 quotes the assertion of the friends, as to the short continuance of the sinner's prosperity, not his own sentiments.”

“Equally questionable is the friends' assertion that if the godless himself is not punished, the children are (Job 18:19; 20:10); and that God rewardeth him here for his iniquity, and that he shall know it to his cost.”

“It is therefore necessary that "his eyes should see his and their destruction" (see Job 14:21). cut off--rather, when the number of his allotted months is fulfilled (Job 14:5). From an Arabic word, "arrow," which was used to draw lots with.”

“Job, seeing that the friends will not admit him as an impartial judge, as they consider his calamities prove his guilt, begs them to ask the opinion of travellers (La 1:12), who have the experience drawn from observation, and who are no way connected with hi…”

“Their testimony (referring perhaps to those who had visited the region where Abraham who enjoyed a revelation then lived) is that "the wicked is (now) spared (reserved) against the day of destruction (hereafter)." The Hebrew does not so well agree with [UMBREI…”

“Yet--rather, "and." brought--with solemn pomp (Ps 45:15). grave--literally, "graves"; that is, the place where the graves are. remain in--rather, watch on the tomb, or sepulchral mound. Even after death he seems still to live and watch (that is, have his "…”

“As the classic saying has it, "The earth is light upon him." His repose shall be "sweet." draw--follow. He shall share the common lot of mortals; no worse off than they (Heb 9:27). UMBREIT not so well (for it is not true of "every man").”

“Is the punishment inflicted on thee from fear of thee, in order to disarm thee? as Job had implied (see on Job 7:12; Job 7:20; and Job 10:17). will he enter . . . into judgment?--Job had desired this (Job 13:3, 21).”

“Eliphaz says this to prove that God can from His height behold all things; gratuitously inferring that Job denied it, because he denied that the wicked are punished here. height--Hebrew, "head of the stars"; that is, "elevation" (Job 11:8).”

“"Yet" you say (see on Job 21:16) that it is "He who filled their houses with good"--"their good is not in their hand," but comes from God. but the counsel . . . is--rather, "may the counsel be," &c.”

“Triumph of the pious at the fall of the recent followers of the antediluvian sinners. While in the act of denying that God can do them any good or harm, they are cut off by Him.”

“The triumphant speech of the pious. If "substance" be retained, translate, rather as the Septuagint, "Has not their substance been taken away, and . . . ?" But the Hebrew is rather, "Truly our adversary is cut down" [GESENIUS].”

“Ophir--derived from a Hebrew word "dust," namely, gold dust. HEEREN thinks it a general name for the rich countries of the South, on the African, Indian, and especially the Arabian coast (where was the port Aphar. El Ophir, too, a city of Oman, was formerly th…”

“Yea--rather, Then shall the Almighty be, &c. defence--rather, as the same Hebrew means in Job 22:24 (see on Job 22:24) --Thy precious metals; God will be to thee in the place of riches. plenty of silver--rather, "And shall be to thee in the place of labor…”

“(Isa 58:9, 14). pay thy vows--which thou hast promised to God in the event of thy prayers being heard: God will give thee occasion to pay the former, by hearing the latter.”