THE BOOK OF
JOB

Job 23

1Job longeth to appear before God, 6in confidence of being heard with mercy, and acquitted. 8God, though invisible, observeth our ways. 11Job asserteth his own integrity; 13but the immutable counsel of God troubleth him.


1THEN Job answered and said,

21Even to day is my 2complaint 3bitter: 4my stroke is 5heavier than my groaning.

1 Namely, after so many defenses, which I have done beforehand as proof of mine innocence and uprightness. Or, the words may be read as a question: Shall my complaint be likewise rebellion this day?

2 Namely, which I do about my great misery.

3 That is, this bitterness is held to be obstinacy against God. This says Job, because his justifications, expressed before, were condemned by his friends. Compare Job 4:5; 5:1; 8:2, 3; 11:2, 3; 15:4; 22:4, 5.

4 Hebr. my hand, that is, the hand of God, wherewith I am plagued and afflicted now; for, the hand of God is taken for God’s punishment, which is likewise called Job’s hand and punishment, because he had to bear and endure it. See Job 13:21, and the annotation.

5 That is, more grievous than I am able to express by my sighs and complaints. Thus the Hebrew particle hal is likewise taken Psalm 89:7.

36Oh that I knew where I might find 7him! that I might 8come even to his seat!

6 Hebr. Who shall give, I have known, and I shall find him. See of this kind of wishing Job 6 on verse 8.

7 Namely, God.

8 Namely, not of His severe justice, but of His tender mercy, in confidence, not of any perfection before God, but of my innocence before men.

4I would 9order 10my cause before him, and fill my mouth 11with arguments.

9 That is, orderly declare, treat and defend.

10 That is, my lawsuit. Compare Num. 27:5; 1 Kings 8:45.

11 That is, with grounds and reasons to plead my cause; namely, to show and to evidence the truth, that I am not a hypocrite, as I am judged and counted by these friends of mine. See of the Hebrew word Job 13 on verse 6.

5I would know the words which 12he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

12 Namely, God.

6Will he plead against me 13with his great power? No; but he would 14put strength in me.

13 That is, according to the utmost and fullness of His power and the exact severity of His justice.

14 The full phrase is Job 1:8, and see the annotation. The meaning is, that God would be ready to give Job a gracious hearing, and to take cognizance of the accusations made against him. Other, he should lay strength in me; namely, to stand before His majesty, as Who would be far from oppressing me by the same, or dealing with extremity of rigor against me, Isa. 27:4, 8.

715There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever 16from my judge.

15 Namely, where God would not proceed with the exactness of His justice and the absoluteness of His power. He speaks thus in regard of the dispute he had with his friends.

16 Namely, be declared free by Him in the matter of these accusations or charges wherewith my friends charge me.

817Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

17 He reflects on what he had said in verse 3: Oh that I knew where I might find him! As if he said: I cannot know this; how then would I be able to deal with Him? For, He is invisible and incomprehensible, and a sovereign Work-master, being not bound to reveal Himself at any one’s pleasure. Compare Job 9:11.

918On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

18 The meaning is, that the judgments of God are above our understanding, and cannot be fathomed by us which way so ever we turn ourselves.

10But he knoweth the 19way that I take: when he hath 20tried me, I shall come forth 21as gold.

19 That is, my affection, will, movements, intentions, words, works and the entire life. See Gen. 6 on verse 12.

20 Compare Job 7:18 and the annotation.

21 That is, I shall be found pure and clean of all those things my friends do charge me; even as the gold comes forth most pure out of the fire wherein it was refined.

1122My foot hath 23held his 24steps, his 25way havea I kept, and not declined.

22 He gives the reason of what he had said in the previous verse, and refutes the accusations of Eliphaz, Job 22:5.

23 That is, I have steadfastly followed His way, that is, His commandments. Compare Job 17:9.

24 Refer to the following word way.

25 See Gen. 18 on verse 19.

a Job 34:4, etc.

12Neither have I gone back from the commandment 26of his lips; I have 27esteemed the words of his mouth more than my 28necessary food.

26 That is, those pronounced by His lips or mouth; that is, either by Himself or by His servants and ministers.

27 That is, kept in good memory, and locked them up in the closet of my heart, as a precious treasure, to have it evermore in remembrance in all I do or leave undone. Also Psalm 119:11; Prov. 2:1, 7; 7:1.

28 Understand the daily appointed and allotted sustenance for my body, that is, as much as necessary, or is apportioned by God to me. Also Gen. 47:22; Prov. 30:8; 31:15.

1329But he is in 30one mind, and who can turn him? andbwhat 31his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

29 As if he said: Although I have a good conscience, nevertheless since He is pleased to visit me thus, who can avoid or help it? Who shall call Him to account for it? See Job 9:12; 11:10; Rom. 9:19.

30 Or, someone. Or, as some (have): is he advantaged in anything?

b Psalm 115:3.

31 That is, He Himself, namely, God. Also Lev. 26:30; Isa. 1:14.

14For he performeth 32the thing that is appointed for me: and many such 33things are with him.

32 Hebr. my decree, or appointed portion, namely, of punishments, which He has determined to send upon me.

33 That is, His hidden and yet most righteous judgments.

15Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when 34I consider, I am afraid of him.

34 That is, when I consider His immense power, infinite wisdom and terrible severity.

16For God maketh my heart 35soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:

35 That is, fearful, weak, tender, and broken as it were through all my sufferings and fears, which impresses me the greatness of His power and majesty. See similar expression Deut. 20:3.

17Because I was not 36cut off 37before the darkness, neither hath 38he covered 39the darkness 40from my face.

36 That is, not taken away out of this world by death.

37 Hebr. from or before the face of the darkness, that is, before the darkness came upon me; or, in the behalf, that is, by reason of the darkness. Understand by this the suffering and misery wherein he was stuck. See Gen. 15 on verse 12. He is amazed that he was not dead yet, having suffered such extremities.

38 Namely, God.

39 Hebr. obscurity. Understand the darkness of death, which the dying person experiences. This covers the face of someone as long as he does not see it, that is, does not die, but is kept alive; of which Job was weary, Job 3:23; 6:8, 9. Other, and that he hath not covered the obscurity from my face, that is, that He has not taken away this affliction from me, namely, by death, in order that I might no longer behold and endure it. Thus the particle neither is inserted again, out of the former member of this verse, and the word darkness (Hebr. obscurity) taken in the self-same sense with that of darkness going before.

40 That is, from my intelligence and knowledge; to the end that I would neither see nor feel my pain and vexation anymore.