1Zophar sharply reproveth Job for justifying himself: 7he sheweth that God's counsels are unsearchable; 13and that repentance is the only sure way for him to recover lost happiness.
1THEN answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
2Should not 1the multitude of words be answered? and should 2a man full of talk be 3justified?
1 Other, he who is much in words, or, one who speaks much.
2 Hebr. a man of lips, that is, a babbler and prater. Also he is called a man of the tongue who is inclined to speak evil and to slander, Psalm 140:11. Contrarily, a man of words is one who is eloquent or able to speak well, Exod. 4:10.
3 Or, righteous?
34Should thy 5lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
4 Other, Should men be silent upon thy lies?
5 The word in the original has various significations, but is likewise taken for lies Jer. 48:30.
4For thou hast said, 6My doctrine is pure, and 7I am clean 8in thine eyes.
6 Namely, whereby Job had taught that God does punish the good as well as the wicked, Job 9:22, although He does it righteously, Job 9:2, 3, yet not always regarding sin (as when he punishes the wicked), Job 10:7. The Hebrew word does not only signify instruction, which is given, but also the knowledge, which is received. Compare Prov. 1:5; 4:2, etc.
7 See Job 10:7, where Job says indeed, that he was not wicked, but not as Zophar here upbraids him that he was pure and clean in the eyes of the Lord. The former understood Job of abominable impiety, which his friends laid to his charge; and the other, for which Zophar here rebukes him, is to be understood of a perfect cleanness and purity, which Job never attributed neither to himself nor to another. See Job 9:2.
8 Here the eyes of God signifies His judgment. Also 1 Sam. 15:19; 1 Kings 11:6.
5But 9oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;
9 Hebr. who shall give that God would speak? See Job 6 on verse 8.
6And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are 10double to that which 11is! Know therefore that God 12exacteth of thee less than thine 13iniquity deserveth.
10 That is, once again as great in deed and truth. The sense is: That in the wisdom of God there was much more reason to punish Job harder yet than he was punished, if He would proceed against him according to the utmost of His justice. Compare Ezra 9 on verse 15. Other, for there is yet once again as much wisdom.
11 Other, by the law, which requires a double satisfaction for the breach thereof. See of the Hebrew word touschijah Job 5 on verse 12.
12 That is, abateth, or lesseneth. Or thus: that God forgetteth thee (that is, shows thee no kindness) because of thy iniquity, or, that God requireth of thee, etc. Other, requireth less of thee than thine iniquity deserveth.
13 That is, punishment of thine iniquity. See Lev. 5 on verse 1.
7Canst thou 14by searching find out God? canst thou find out 15the Almighty unto perfection?
14Searching is called that which is gotten by searching, as understanding, wisdom and judgment; for, although these things be not in God by any such means, yet they are called so according to the manner of men. Searching now, is ascribed to God and His Spirit Job 28:27; 1 Cor. 2:10. Understand thereby the secret and yet just judgment of God, which He does use in punishing. Other, Shalt thou find God by searching?
15 That is, the secrets of the wisdom of Almighty God, or His perfection.
816It is as high as heaven; 17what canst thou do? deeper than 18hell; what canst thou know?
16 That is, the wisdom of God, of which is spoken in verse 6 (or the perfection of God, whereof some hold that the seventh verse speaks about), is to be compared to the highest heaven. See Eph. 3:18.
17 Namely, to search and to find out to the fullest.
18 Compare Job 26:6, and see Gen. 37 on verse 35.
9The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.
10If 19he cut off, and 20shut up, or 21gather together, then who can hinder him?
19 Namely, God, Who shows Himself as such in His works. Also Job 9:11, see the annotations. Other, if he alter, namely, His work.
20 Or, deliver up, namely, in the violence of punishment, which He is executing righteously against him.
21 Understand unto the enjoyment of His benefits, which He shows to those whom He receives in favor.
11Fora he knoweth 22vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then 23consider it?
a Psalm 10:11, 14; 35:22.
22 Hebr. men of vanity, or falsehood, that is, such as are given to vanity and falsehood. Understand vain doctrine and unprofitable works, which are found in those who are without faith, fear of God and true contrition. Also Psalm 26:4. In the same sense are called in Job 22:15 men of iniquity; in Job 34:8 men of wickedness; in Prov. 24:1 men of malice.
23 That is, consider, understand, take notice and resolve to punish them according to His righteousness. See of the Hebrew word 1 Kings 3 on verse 21.
1224Forb25vain man would be 26wise, 27though man be born like a wild ass's colt.
24 Namely, when God shall execute His judgments and punishments. Other, But man is vain and without understanding, and as the young ass’s colt man is born.
b Job 5:8; 22:21; Eccl. 3:18.
25 Hebr. empty.
26 That is, he shall not only be ready to learn wisdom, but likewise be enabled to comprehend and embrace it; for, the heart is taken in Holy Writ for the mind and understanding. See Job 9 on verse 4.
27 That is, albeit that man is very dull and senseless from the beginning of his life, as the colt of a wild ass, yet he may be able, by considering the works of God, to attain unto and get some wisdom, with the understanding of being enlightened and directed by the Spirit of God.
13If thou 28prepare thine heart, and 29stretch out thine hands 30toward him;
28 Namely, by true repentance. See 2 Chron. 12 on verse 14.
29 See of this ceremony used customarily in prayer 1 Kings 8 on verse 22.
30 Namely, unto God.
1431If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.
31 That is, if thou hast a purpose to hurt or wrong your neighbor, or have already done so. In such manner of speaking the word hand signifies the intent or deed of man, or both. Compare 1 Sam. 26:18; 1 Chron. 12:17; Psalm 26:10.
15For then shalt thou lift up thy face 32without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:
32 That is, out of the manifold miseries in which you are now stuck, and the punishments which thou must now endure.
16Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember 33it 34as waters that pass away:
33 That is, the aforementioned toil or misery.
34 Namely, which flowed very fast and ran so swiftly by, that they left no impression in anyone’s memory. He wants to say, that he would not have any remembrance at all of his misery left to him.
17And thine 35age shall be 36clearer than the noonday; thou shalt 37shine forth, thou shalt be as thec morning.
35 Or, time. Compare Psalm 39:5; 89:47.
36 That is, clearer than the brightness of the sun at noonday. The noonday signifies here an extraordinary splendor and brightness. See Job 5 on verse 14. The sense is: Whatever the remainder of thy life may be, it shall be greatly blessed of God; for, noonday sometimes signifies in the Scripture great prosperity, Isa. 58:10; Amos 8:9.
37 That is, be delivered out of thy trouble and affliction, be enlarged and spread thyself abroad as the morning light. Other, art thou dark, thou shalt be as the morning.
c Psalm 37:6; 112:4.
18And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt 38dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.d
38 Namely, to build and to secure your hut or house. The sense is: that he would have a safe and secure place for his dwelling and abode, wherein he would be able to live peaceably and contentedly.
d Lev. 26:5.
19Alsoe thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall 39make suit unto thee.
e Lev. 26:6; Psalm 3:5; 4:8; Prov. 3:24.
39 That is, men shall humble themselves before thee, entreating with all submission and earnestness for thy favor, by reason of thy greatness, honor and power. The Hebrew word is taken also in the same sense in Exod. 32:11; 1 Sam. 13:12; 1 Kings 13:6; Psalm 45:12; 119:58; Prov. 19:6; Zech. 7:2.
20But thef eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as 40the giving up of the ghost.
f Job 8:13, 14; 18:14.
40 Understand hereby death, which, when it seizes the wicked, bereaves them of all hope, not only because they must leave all their goods and glory behind them, but also that the sense and apprehension of God’s wrath affrights them, which takes away all comfort from them in regard both of this life and of that to come. Compare Jer. 15:9.