Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 19:22

Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

22. satisfied with my flesh ] Why cannot ye be sated with devouring me? The figure is sufficiently plain. In Oriental phrase “to devour or eat the parts or pieces of one” is to calumniate him, to accuse him, Dan 3:8, Dan. 6:34. Job asks why they will not cease to bring accusations against him?

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Why do ye persecute me as God? – As God has done. That is, without giving me any reason for it; accusing me of crimes without proof, and condeming me without mitigation. That there is here an improper reflection on God, will be apparent to all. It accords with what Job frequently expresses where he speaks of him as judging him severly, and is on of the instances which prove that he was not entirely perfect.

And are not satisfied with my flesh – That is, are not contented that my body is subjected to inexpressible torment, and is wholly wasting away, but add to this the torment of the soul. Why is it not enough that my body is thus tormented without adding the severer tortures of the mind?

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 22. Why do ye persecute me as God] Are not the afflictions which God sends enough? Do ye not see that I have as much as I can bear? When the papists were burning Dr. Taylor at Oxford, while wrapped in the flames, one of the true sons of the Church took a stick out of the faggots, and threw it at his head, and split open his face. To whom he calmly said, Man, why this wrong? Do not I suffer enough?

And are not satisfied with my flesh?] Will ye persecute my soul, while God is persecuting my body? Is it not enough that my body is destroyed? Why then labour to torment my mind?

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

As God; either,

1. As God doth; or rather,

2. As if you were gods, and not men; as if you had the same infinite knowledge which God hath, whereby you can search my heart, and know my hypocrisy; and the same sovereign and absolute authority, to say and do what you please with me, without giving any reason or account of it, which is indeed the prerogative of the great God; but it belongs not to you, who are men, and therefore liable to mistake and misjudging, and such as must give all account to God of all their words and carriages towards their brethren, and particularly towards persons in affliction, and withal subject to the same diseases and calamities under which I groan; and therefore may need the pity which I expect from you.

With my flesh, i.e. with the consumption and torment of my whole body, but add to it the vexation of my spirit, by grievous reproaches and censures; but are like wolves or lions, that are not contented with devouring the flesh of their prey, but also break their bones.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

22. as Godhas persecuted me.Prefiguring Jesus Christ (Ps69:26). That God afflicts is no reason that man is to add to asufferer’s affliction (Zec 1:15).

satisfied with my fleshItis not enough that God afflicts my flesh literally (Job19:20), but you must “eat my flesh” metaphorically (Ps27:2); that is, utter the worst calumnies, as the phrase oftenmeans in Arabic.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Why do ye persecute me as God,…. As if they were in his stead, or had the same power and authority over him, who is a sovereign Being, and does what he pleases with his creatures, and is not accountable to any for what he does; but this is not the case of men, nor are they to imitate God in all things; what he does is not in all things a warrant to do the like, or to be pleaded and followed as a precedent by them; they should be merciful as he is merciful, but they are not to afflict and distress his people because he does, and which he does for wise ends and reasons; for such a conduct is resented by him, see Zec 1:15. God persecuted or pursued and followed Job with one affliction after another, and hunted him as a fierce lion does his prey, Job 10:16; but this was not a reason why they should do the same. Some read the words, “why do ye persecute me as those?” p you that profess to be my friends, why do ye persecute me as those before mentioned, as those wicked men? or “with those”, with such reproaches and calumnies; but the original will not bear it:

and are not satisfied with my flesh? It was not enough that he was afflicted in his body, and his flesh was ulcerated from head to feet, and was clothed with worms and clods of dust; they were not content that his children, which were his own flesh, were tore away from him, and destroyed; and that his substance, which is sometimes called the flesh of men, see Mic 3:3; was devoured, and he was spoiled and plundered of it; but they sought to afflict his mind, to wound his spirit, by their heavy charges and accusations, by their calumnies and reproaches, and hard censures of him; he suggests, that they dealt with him more cruelly than savage beasts, who, when they have got their prey, are satisfied with their flesh; but they, who would be thought to be his friends, were not satisfied with his.

p Ben Gersom.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(22) Why do ye persecute me as God?Comp. Job. 16:9.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

22. Satisfied with my flesh According to Schultens, to eat the flesh of another, is an Arabic phrase for calumniating him. The comparison, so common in the East, of an evil report to a wild beast devouring the flesh, appears often in the classics, and is still retained in our word backbite. Psa 27:2.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 19:22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

Ver. 22. Why do ye persecute me as God? ] Is this that pitying of me thus to press me with reproaches, and therein to think you gratify God, and do him good service? Know ye not, that to persecute him whom he hath smitten is greatest cruelty? and to talk to the grief of those whom he hath wounded is to heap up guilt, and thereby wrath? Psa 69:26-27 . When a deer is shot the rest of the herd push him out of the company. When a tree falleth every passenger is ready to be pulling at it, D . But God’s people should love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous, 1Pe 3:8 ; and of some have compassion, making a difference, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, Jdg 1:22-23 . Thus it should be; but as of old, in Egypt, one Hebrew smote another; blows enough were not dealt by the common adversary, but their own must add to the violence. Still Satan is thus busy, and Christians are thus malicious; that, as if they wanted persecutors, they persecute one another; and if (as here) they can but do as God, that is, for God, as they mispersuade themselves (to vindicate his justice, and to promote his glory), then they rage and are confident, as these friends of Job; in whom nevertheless it was rather error amoris than amor erroris, an error of love than any love of error.

And are not satisfied with my flesh? ] Which is pined away with pain and grief; this contents you not, but you must break my bones also, and suck my blood by your contumelies and calumnies. Brentius and others apply this text to slanderers and backbiters, whom they compare to cannibals, Est detractoris periphrasis (Mercer). Non minus enim calumniatores homines devorant quam Scythae (Brent. in loc.). It is reported of wolves, that when they have once fed upon man’s flesh they desist not, but desire more of it. Job looketh upon his friends as such man eaters, wherein his sorrow transported him too far; and while he was moving them to compassion he shows himself overly passionate.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

persecute: Job 10:16, Job 16:13, Job 16:14, Psa 69:26

and are not: Job 2:5, Job 31:31, Isa 51:23, Mic 3:3

Reciprocal: Job 14:22 – his flesh Job 19:28 – Why Psa 27:2 – to Psa 69:20 – comforters Psa 109:16 – persecuted Ecc 4:1 – they had

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Job 19:22. Why do you persecute me as God? As if you had the same infinite knowledge which God hath, whereby you could search my heart, and know my hypocrisy, and the same sovereign authority, to say and do what you please with me. And are not satisfied with my flesh That is, with the consumption and torment of my whole body, but add to it the vexation of my spirit, by grievous censures and reproaches, and are like wolves and lions, which are not contented with devouring the flesh of their prey, but also break their bones.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

19:22 Why do ye persecute me as {n} God, and are not satisfied with my {o} flesh?

(n) Is it not enough that God punishes me, unless you by reproaching increase my sorrow?

(o) To see my body punished, unless you trouble my mind?

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes