Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

By His power He stirred the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab.

“Perhaps at creation (Ge 1:9, 10). The parallel clause favors UMBREIT, "He stilleth." But the Hebrew means "He moves."”

By His breath the skies were cleared; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

“UMBREIT less simply, "By His breath He maketh the heavens to revive": namely, His wind dissipates the clouds, which obscured the shining stars. And so the next clause in contrast, "His hand doth strangle," that is, obscures the north constellation, the dragon.”

as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils,

“Implying Job's knowledge of the fact that the living soul was breathed into man by God (Ge 2:7). "All the while." But MAURER, "As yet all my breath is in me" (notwithstanding my trials): the reason why I can speak so boldly.”

I will cling to my righteousness and never let go. As long as I live, my conscience will not accuse me.

“Rather, my "heart" (conscience) reproaches "not one of my days," that is, I do not repent of any of my days since I came into existence [MAURER].”

I will instruct you in the power of God. I will not conceal the ways of the Almighty. Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves.

“The fact is, it is probable that Job tacitly, by giving, in the twenty-eighth chapter, only a general answer, implies, that in spite of the wicked often dying, as he said, in prosperity, he does not mean to deny that the wicked are in the…”

Surely all of you have seen it for yourselves. Why then do you keep up this empty talk?

“"Ye yourselves see" that the wicked often are afflicted (though often the reverse, Job 21:33). But do you "vainly" make this an argument to prove from my afflictions that I am wicked?”

His survivors will be buried by the plague, and their widows will not weep for them.

“The plague of the Middle Ages was called "the black death." Buried by it implies that they would have none else but the death plague itself (poetically personified) to perform their funeral rites, that is, would have no one. his--rather, "their widows."”

The house he built is like a moth’s cocoon, like a hut set up by a watchman.

“The transition is natural from "raiment" (Job 27:16) to the "house" of the "moth" in it, and of it, when in its larva state. The moth worm's house is broken whenever the "raiment" is shaken out, so frail is it.”

Man puts an end to the darkness; he probes the farthest recesses for ore in deepest darkness.

“"Man makes an end of darkness," by exploring the darkest depths (with torches). all perfection--rather, carries out his search to the utmost perfection; most thoroughly searches the stones of darkness and of the shadow of death (thickest gloom); that is, the stones, whatever they be…”

Far from human habitation he cuts a shaft in places forgotten by the foot of man. Far from men he dangles and sways.

“"Forgotten (unsupported) by the foot they hang," namely, by ropes, in descending. In the Hebrew, "Lo there" precedes this clause, graphically placing it as if before the eyes. "The waters" is inserted by English Version.”

Food may come from the earth, but from below it is transformed as by fire.

“"Fire" was used in mining [UMBREIT]. English Version is simpler, which means precious stones which glow like fire; and so Job 28:6 follows naturally (Eze 28:14).”

Its rocks are the source of sapphires, containing flecks of gold.

“The real, of transparent blue: 2. That improperly so called, opaque, with gold spots; that is, lapis lazuli. To the latter, looking like gold dust, UMBREIT refers "dust of gold."”

But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell?

“Can man discover the Divine Wisdom by which the world is governed, as he can the treasures hidden in the earth? Divine Wisdom is conceived as a person (Job 28:12-27) distinct from God (Job 28:23; also in Pr 8:23, 27).”

No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living.

“Man can fix no price upon it, as it is nowhere to be found in man's abode (Isa 38:11). Job implies both its valuable worth, and the impossibility of buying it at any price.”

It cannot be bought with gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

“Not the usual word for "gold"; from a Hebrew root, "to shut up" with care; that is, purest gold (1Ki 6:20, Margin). weighed--The precious metals were weighed out before coining was known (Ge 23:16).”

It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire.

“More valued formerly than now. The term is Greek, meaning "thumb nail," from some resemblance in color. The Arabic denotes, of two colors, white preponderating.”

Coral and quartz are unworthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

“The Urim and Thummim, the means of consulting God by the twelve stones on the high priest's breastplate, "the stones of the sanctuary" (La 4:1), have their counterpart in this chapter; the precious stones symbolizing the "light" and "perfection" of the divine wisdom.”

It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the air.

“None can tell whence or where, seeing it, &c. fowls--The gift of divination was assigned by the heathen especially to birds. Their rapid flight heavenwards and keen sight originated the superstition.”

Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor about it.’

“We have [only] heard--the report of her. In the land of the living (Job 28:13) the workings of Wisdom are seen, though not herself. In the regions of the dead she is only heard of, her actings on nature not being seen (Ec 9:10).”

And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

“Rather, "But unto man," &c. My wisdom is that whereby all things are governed; Thy wisdom is in fearing God and shunning evil, and in feeling assured that My wisdom always acts aright, though thou dost not understand the principle which regulates it; for example…”

when my steps were bathed in cream and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

“Image from pastoral life. When I washed my steps--Literal washing of the feet in milk is not meant, as the second clause shows; Margin, "with me," that is, "near" my path, wherever I walked (De 32:13).”

because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper. The dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.

“The grounds on which Job was praised (Job 29:11), his helping the afflicted (Ps 72:12) who cried to him for help, as a judge, or as one possessed of means of charity. Translate: "The fatherless who had none to help him."”

I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger.

“So far was I from "breaking the arms of the fatherless," as Eliphaz asserts (Job 22:9), I was a "father" to such. the cause which I knew not--rather, "of him whom I knew not," the stranger (Pr 29:7 [UMBREIT]; contrast Lu 18:1, &c.).”

So I thought: ‘I will die in my nest and multiply my days as the sand.

“However, in the bosom of my family, gives a good sense (Nu 24:21; Use "nest" for a secure dwelling. sand-- (Ge 22:17; But the Septuagint and Vulgate, and Jewish interpreters, favor the translation, "the phÅ“nix bird."”

They waited for me as for rain and drank in my words like spring showers.

“Oriental image (Ps 119:131). The "early rain" is in autumn and onwards, while the seed is being sown. The "latter rain" is in March, and brings forward the harvest, which ripens in May or June.”