Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:31
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him [what] he hath done?
31. The person spoken of in this verse seems most naturally the wicked man. It is doubtful however whether the testimony of the travellers is here still carried on, or whether the present words are not those of Job himself. The history of the evil man is proceeded with: his power makes him irresponsible and extorts the homage of men, who do him honour in death ( Job 21:32). Others suppose the verse to be spoken of God, in which case the words are almost parenthetical, the history of the sinner being resumed in Job 21:32. If said of God the verse refers to the inscrutable dealings of His omnipotent power ( Job 21:30), dealings against which the moral sense of mankind reclaims indeed, but of what avail are the reclamations of the moral sense against omnipotence? cf. ch. Job 9:12, Job 23:13. The language, however, seems less appropriate if spoken of God.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Who shall declare his way to his face? – That is, the face of the wicked. Who shall dare to rise up and openly charge him with his guilt? The idea is, that none would dare to do it, and that, therefore, the wicked man was not punished according to his character here, and was reserved to a day of future wrath.
And who shall repay him what he hath done? – The meaning is, that many wicked people lived without being punished for their sins. No one was able to recompense them for the evil which they had done, and consequently they lived in security and prosperity. Such were the tyrants and conquerors, who had made the world desolate.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 31. Who shall declare his way to his face?] But while the wicked is in power, who shall dare to tell him to his face what his true character is? or, who shall dare to repay him the evil he has done? As such a person cannot have his punishment in this life, he must have it in another; and for this the day of wrath – the day of judgment, is prepared.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
His way, i.e. his wicked course and actions, and whither they lead him. His power and splendour is so great, that scarce any man dare reprove him for his sin, or show him his danger.
To his face, i.e. plainly, and whilst he lives, as the same phrase is used, Deu 7:10.
Who shall repay him what he hath done? no man can bring him to an account or punishment.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
31. That is, who dares to chargehim openly with his bad ways? namely, in this present life. He shall,I grant (Job 21:30), be”repaid” hereafter.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Who shall declare his way to his face?…. Jarchi and Aben Ezra think that Job here returns to God, and speaks of him, as in
Job 21:22; signifying that no man can or ought to presume to charge the ways of God in his providence with inequality or injustice, in sparing the wicked now, and reserving them to wrath and destruction hereafter; since he is a sovereign Being, and does what he pleases, and none can hinder him, nor ought any to say to him, what dost thou? nor does he give an account of his matters to the children of men; but this respects the wicked man, and describes his state and condition in this life, as being possessed of such wealth and riches, and living in such grandeur and splendour, and advanced to such places of honour and glory, as to be above the reproof of men; though his way, his course of life, is a very wicked one, and he ought to be told to his face the evil of his way, and the danger he is exposed to by it, and what will be the sad consequence of it; his relations and friends, his neighbours and acquaintance, should labour to convince him of his evil, and reprove him to his face, and endeavour to reclaim him from it; but how few are there that have courage and faithfulness enough to do this, since they are sure to incur his displeasure and hatred, and run the risk of their lives, as John the Baptist lost his for his faithfulness in reproving Herod to his face, for taking to him his brother Philip’s wife? Mt 14:3;
and who shall repay him [what] he hath done? bring him to an account for his crimes, and to just punishment for them; who will venture to bring a charge against him, or enter an action at law, bring him before a court of judicature, and prosecute him, and get judgment passed upon him? as such a man is above all reproof for his sins, he is out of the reach of punishment for them; he lives with impunity, none can punish him but God; and being lifted up with his greatness, he neither fears God nor regards man.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Strophe b The doom of the wicked is sure, notwithstanding that in his life he was above accountability to man, and in his death honoured with a grand funereal cortege, and with undying fame among men, Job 21:31-34.
31. His way to his face No one dares to declare to the face of the powerful wicked the way (of destruction, ) they pursue. Nor does any one dare confront them with their evil deeds. Yet though above all responsibility to man, they are not above responsibility to God.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 21:31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him [what] he hath done?
Ver. 31. Who shall declare his way to his face? &c. ] Who shall be so bold as to deal plainly with this rich wretch, and tell him his own? Divitibus ideo deest amicus, quia nihil deest. Great men have many flatterers, and not a few mutterers against them, but very few that will faithfully show them their sin, and forewarn them of their danger, lest they meet with the same hard measure that the hares in the fable did, who, taking upon them to reprove the lion, were torn in pieces by him for the same. Truth breedeth hatred; and although she be a good mistress, yet they that follow her too close at the heels may hap to have their teeth struck out. But truth, downright truth, must be spoken, however it be taken. Elias dealt roundly and impartially with wicked Ahab, Jeremiah with Josiah’s sons and successors, the Baptist with Herod, Christ with the elders and Pharisees, that noble General Trajan with Valens, the Arian emperor, telling him, That by his persecuting the orthodox he had lost the day, abandoning the victory, and sending it away to the enemy.
And who shall repay him what he hath done?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
declare: 2Sa 12:7-12, 1Ki 21:19-24, Psa 50:21, Jer 2:33-35, Mar 6:18, Act 24:25, Gal 2:11
repay: Job 21:19, Job 41:11, Deu 7:10, Isa 59:13, Rom 12:19, Jam 2:13
Reciprocal: Deu 21:7 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 21:31. Who shall declare his way? That is, his wicked course and actions, and whither they lead him; to his face That is, plainly, and while he lives, as the same phrase is used Deu 7:10. His power and splendour are so great that scarcely any man dare reprove him for his sin, or show him his danger. And who shall repay him what he hath done? No man can bring him to an account or punishment. Job is here pursuing the same way of reasoning which he did before, and showing that the wicked mighty man is so far from being always punished in this world, that he often does what he pleases without any to control him, or so much as open their lips against him. And that such a one shall at last go down to the grave in peace, and be buried with great pomp.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
21:31 Who shall declare his way {s} to his face? and who shall repay him [what] he hath done?
(s) Though men flatter him, and no one dares to reprove him in this world, yet death is a token that he will bring him to an account.