1Job censureth the arrogant pretensions of his friends to superior knowledge: 6he sheweth that wicked men often prosper under the hand of God; 13he acknowledgeth the divine wisdom and omnipotency.
1AND Job answered and said,
2No doubt 1but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
1 He speaks ironically, as if he said: Ye are the people with whom wisdom is to be found; others compared with you are but brutes, and especially I am, as ye say, but as a young wild ass, Job 11:12. Other, because ye are a people, that is, being but few, ye repute yourselves as understanding as if ye were an entire nation.
3But 2I have understanding as well as you; 3I am not inferior to you: yea, 4who knoweth not such things as these?
2 That is, I am likewise endued with understanding to judge between truth and falsehood, and to distinguish between good and bad. Understanding for heart; see Job 9 on verse 4.
3 Hebr. I fall not before you, or, more than you, namely, from the step of understanding and wisdom, that is, as for understanding, I need not be ashamed before you, being of no lower or less degree in the same than yourselves. To fall is sometimes with the Hebrews to be small, unworthy and despised. Compare Neh. 6:16; Job 13:2.
4 That is, who does not know these things, which ye produced of God’s righteous government, where He is wont to reward the good, and to punish the wicked? There is no singular matter in your arguments that everyone with scanty knowledge would not know as much.
4 Ia am as one 5mocked of his neighbour, who 6calleth upon God, and he answereth him: theb just upright man is 7laughed to scorn.
a Job 16:10; 17:2; 21:3; 30:1.
5 Or, laughed, that is, one who, by reason of his miserable condition, is become a laughing-stock, even from those who, for friendship’s sake, ought to pity and comfort him.
6 Understand this calling of the friend who is mocked. Job wants to say: I am indeed now despised and mocked by you, but yet I am not without comfort by God, because He hears me when I cry unto Him. This may likewise be understood of the friend, who mocks his neighbor. The sense would be: that not only he scoffs at his neighbor being in adversity, but likewise makes himself believe to be in God’s favor and to have been heard by Him, because of his own living in peace and prosperity.
b Prov. 14:2.
7 Namely, the wicked and perverse, who by their prosperity are lifted up and have become wanton.
5He that is 8ready to slip 9with his feet is as 10a lamp despised in the thought of him that is 11at ease.
8 That is, he seems to be near his downfall, by reason of the manifold crosses and vexations which are fallen upon him. Job understands this of himself. Compare Psalm 35:15; 38:17; Jer. 20:10.
9 Hebr. to the tripping of the foot, or, for to be among them that stumble with the feet.
10 That is, as a despised torch, which is almost burnt up and wasted to the last, and which is cast away as being unprofitable to give any light more.
11 Namely, from all fear of evil, as Prov. 1:33. That is, who lives at ease and sit in prosperity, without suffering or expecting any trouble or torment from anyone.
6The tabernacles of robbers 12prosper,c and they that provoke God are 13secure; 14into whose hand God 15bringeth abundantly.
12 Or, are at rest. This is said in opposition to what Job’s friends had taught and urged of the adversity and punishment of the wicked. See Job 4:8, 9; 5:3, 4; 8:13, 14, 15; 11:11, 20.
c Job 21:7; Psalm 73:11, 12; Jer. 12:1; Hab. 1:3, 4.
13 That is, as strongholds and forts, in which they trust.
14 Understand the hand of God. Other, for him to whom God bringeth all into his hand.
15 Understand all manner of temporal blessings.
7But 16ask now the beasts, and 17they 18shall 19teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
16 That is, observe and mark the beasts, and consider how they, through God’s Providence, are so commodiously and usefully serviceable to the wicked, and contrarily often unserviceable, yea, hurtful to the godly; or, take notice, how the smaller animals are oppressed by the greater, the tame ones by the wild, the silly by the wily or crafty.
17 Hebr. and it shall teach thee, that is, each or every one of them shall teach thee. See Gen. 47 on verse 3.
18 Namely, that it goes often ill with the good person, and well with the bad person.
19 Namely, not by speech and reasoning, which they have not, but with their acts and by what happens to them. Also in the sequel.
8Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9Who knoweth not in 20all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought 21this?
20 Namely, creatures. He wants to say, that they are all as so many witnesses of God’s freewill dispensation of His benefits and punishments, without always regarding the condition of men.
21 Namely, that the godly are commonly subject to many tribulations, and the wicked enjoy all manner of prosperity.
10In whose 22hand is the 23soul of every living thing, and the 24breath of all 25mankind.26
22 That is, power and subjection. See Gen. 16 on verse 6.
23 This word here signifies life, or the emotional soul, which is in all living creatures.
24 This word has regard to man, who has a reasonable and immortal soul, which is called a spirit. See Num. 16:22, and the annotation.
25 Understand the body of man, wherein inhabits the reasonable soul. Also Gen. 17:13; Lev. 19:28; Ezek. 11:19.
26 The Hebrew word here used often signifies the female as well as the male gender, that is, all mankind. Also Exod. 19:13; 21:16; Job 15:16; 34:11, etc.
11Dothd not the 27ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
d Job 6:30; 34:3.
27 That is, the understanding, by means of the ears. The sense is: Does not the understanding apprehend the speeches and discourses, whether they are false or true, reasonable or unreasonable, rational or absurd? Job gives his friends to understand, while they knew well enough how to make use of their outward senses, that they ought likewise to apply their understanding to comprehend his arguments, and out of them the wonderful administration of God. Job 34:3 is the same comparison.
1228With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
28 As if he said: It is true indeed that the old men ought to be wise by reason of the experience they have of many things, nevertheless, I observe that one is better instructed by God than by those old men. Other, Is wisdom in the ancient?, etc., with which it would appear that Job wishes to prevent what was objected to him in Job 8:8, 9, 10, saying: My friends, by reason of your age and experience, ye ought to be able to comprehend the order of God’s wise government, but the true wisdom is with God, which ye are not able to comprehend, and not only this, but also His strength, to execute powerfully all that which He has wisely determined.
13With 29him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
29 Namely, with God. Of the difference of the words, wisdom, and knowledge or understanding see 1 Kings 3 on verse 12.
14Behold, he 30breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: hee31shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
30 Namely, houses, palaces, strongholds, cities, etc.
e Job 9:12; 11:10; Rev. 3:7.
31 Understand this generally of prisons, sieges and all kinds of vexations, in which one is closely bound up, that one sees no opening or deliverance to get out of it. Compare Isa. 22:22; Rev. 3:7.
15Behold, 32he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he 33sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
32 See examples hereof Gen. 8:2; 1 Kings 17:1, 7.
33 An example hereof see Gen. 7:11.
16With him is strength and 34wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are 35his.
34 Or, the substance or being (of things).
35 The sense is: that without God’s Providence, none can err or stray, nor bring others into error, which is to be understood generally of the erring and straying, not only of the body, but also of the spirit; of the bodily straying we may see Psalm 107:4, of the spiritual Deut. 13:1; 1 Kings 22:20; Ezek. 14:9; 2 Thes. 2:11, where they are ascribed to God; not as to an author or worker of sin, but as to a wise and holy Ruler and righteous Judge thereof.
17Hef leadeth 36counsellers away 37spoiled, andg maketh the 38judges fools.
f 2 Sam. 15:31; 17:14, 23; Isa. 19:12; 29:14; 1 Cor. 1:19.
36 Understand every wicked counseller; that is, whoever or how great so ever he be. A similar expression is in verses 7 and 19.
37 Namely, of understanding, wisdom and judgment.
g 2 Sam. 15:31.
38 See examples hereof 2 Sam. 17:14, 23; Isa. 19:12; 1 Cor. 1:19.
18He looseth the 39bond of kings, and 40girdeth their loins with a girdle.
39 That is, the yoke of tyranny, whereby they keep under and oppress their subjects. This He makes loose, that is, abolish.
40 That is, He does not only deprive them of their power, which they misuse, but, if it pleases Him, He reinstates them with the same; for, the girdle signifies here their full power, ornaments and glory, which they have in their government. Compare Isa. 11:5; Jer. 13:1, 2, etc. Others understand it that He leads the kings away as prisoners and in bonds like captives.
19He leadeth 41princes away spoiled, and 42overthroweth the mighty.
41 Understand every wicked ruler or prince. See on verse 17, and of the Hebrew word see Gen. 41 on verse 45.
42 That is, He confounds all their counsels, intentions, means and practices, and reduces them to nothing.
20Heh removeth away the 43speech of the 44trusty, and taketh away the 45understanding of the aged.
h Job 32:9; Isa. 3:2, 3.
43 Hebr. lip. See Gen. 11 on verse 1 and Job 2 on verse 10.
44 Or, the eloquent ones. Understand those, who besides the ability of their understanding to give good and faithful advice, are steadfast thereby to continue and stand to it, and of ready utterance to deliver their minds, and persuade others; among these are to be accounted the faithful ambassadors, of whom is spoken Prov. 25:13.
45 Hebr. taste; but the word is also taken comparatively for the understanding, reason and judgment of man, whereby he distinguishes good from bad, and things honest from dishonest. Also Psalm 119:66; Prov. 11:22, and to taste for to judge Prov. 31:18.
21Hei poureth contempt upon 46princes, and 47weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
i Psalm 107:40.
46 The Hebrew word signifies properly those who are of themselves freely liberal and bountiful, Exod. 35:5. Thus the princes, nobles and the mighty ones are called, because they seek to get a name and to make themselves renowned by doing good. Compare Psalm 83:11; Prov. 19:6; Luke 22:25.
47 Or, he looseth the girdle of the strong; that is, He weakens the strongest of all; for, a slack belt makes a man slacker of his limbs, but being girded tightly, it makes him the more steady and alert.
22He discovereth 48deep things out of darkness, and bringethj out to light the 49shadow of death.
48 That is, the most hidden things. These are also called elsewhere depths, as Eccl. 7:24; Dan. 2:22; 1 Cor. 2:10.
j Mat. 10:26; 1 Cor. 4:5.
49 Understand the most deep and abstruse things which one would have thought would never come to light. Also Job 34:22.
2350Hek increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: 51he enlargeth the nations, and 52straiteneth them again.
50 As before the flood, Genesis 5 and 6.
k Psalm 107:38.
51 As after the flood, Genesis 10 and 11.
52 This some understand for good, as a blessing, and some for evil, as a punishment.
24He taketh away the 53heart 54of the chief of the people of the earth, and 55causeth them to wanderl in a wilderness 56where there is no way.
53 That is, the understanding and judgment. Also verse 3.
54 Namely, from the rulers and governors of nations or countries, who are thus often called. See Exod. 6:14; Num. 1:16; Deut. 1:13; Judges 11:8, etc.
55 That is, leads them and their people, by their own devices and designs, into destruction.
l Psalm 107:4, 40.
56 Being destitute of all good rule and government.
25They grope in the 57dark without light, and he 58maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.
57 Understand the darkness of their understanding. The sense is: that through God’s just judgment they are totally blinded and have become desperate, that they can discern no way or means to escape destruction.
58 Compare Gen. 19:11; 2 Kings 6:18.