Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 34:36
My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.
36. It is not certain whether Job 34:36 be a continuation of the judgment of Elihu’s hearers or be his own words. The sentiment is excessively harsh, and probably Elihu, though of course concurring in it, puts it forth indirectly as the judgment of others. The wish is expressed that Job might be tried unto the end, constantly that his afflictions might be continued till he should give over answering in the manner of wicked men. His “answers” are his speeches in reply to the three friends, which are characterized as such as only ungodly men would utter.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
My desire is – Margin, or, my father, let Job be tried. This variation between the text and the margin, arises from the different interpretations affixed to the Hebrew word ‘abiy. The Hebrew word commonly means father, and some have supposed that that sense is to be retained here, and then it would be a solemn appeal to God as his Father – expressing the earnest prayer of Elihu that Job might be fully tried. But the difficulties in this interpretation are obvious:
(1) Such a mode of appeal to God occurs nowhere else in the book, and it is little in the spirit of the poem. No particular reason can be assigned why that solemn appeal should be made here, rather than in many other places.
(2) The name Father, though often given to God in the Scriptures, is not elsewhere given to him in this book.
The probability is, therefore, that the word is from ‘abah – to breathe after, to desire, and means that Elihu desired that Job should have a fair trial. No other similar form of the word, however, occurs The Vulgate renders it, Pater mi, my father; the Septuagint, But learn, Job, no more to make reply like the foolish; the Chaldee, – I desire.
May be tried – That his views may be fully canvassed and examined. He had expressed sentiments which Elihu thought should not be allowed to pass without the most careful examination into their truth and bearing. Unto the end. In the most full and free manner; that the matter should be pursued as far as possible, so that it might be wholly understood. Literally, it means forever – ad–netsach.
Because of his answers for wicked men – Because of the views which he has expressed, which seem to favor the wicked. Elihu refers to the opinions advanced by Job that God did not punish people in this life, or did not deal with them according to their characters, which he interpreted as giving countenance to wickedness, or as affirming the God was not the enemy of impiety. The Vulgate renders this, My Father, let Job be tried to the end; do not cease from the man of iniquity; but the true meaning doubtless is, that Job had uttered sentiments which Elihu understood to favor the wicked, and he was desirous that every trial should be applied to him which would tend to correct his erroneous views.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 36. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end] abi yibbachen Aiyob, “My father, let Job be tried.” So the VULGATE, Pater mi, probetur Job. But it may be as in the common translation, I wish Job to be tried; or, as Mr. Good renders it, Verily, let Job be pursued to conquest for replying like wicked men.
This is a very harsh wish: but the whole chapter is in the same spirit; nearly destitute of mildness and compassion. Who could suppose that such arguings could come out of the mouth of the loving Saviour of mankind? The reader will recollect that a very pious divine has supposed Elihu to be Jesus Christ!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Either,
1. That he may be further tried by God, or exercised with afflictions, till he be thoroughly convinced or humbled. But it seems harsh that he should pray for the continuance or increase of Jobs afflictions. Or rather,
2. That his words and cause which I am now debating may be examined and sifted, that you that are here present, or any other wise men, may consider and judge thereof, as he desired above, Job 34:2,10,34.
Unto the end, i.e. thoroughly and exactly, till the cause be brought to an issue. Or, unto victory, i.e. till judgment be brought forth unto victory.
Because of his answers; or, concerning his answers, or replies, or discourses; for answering is oft used in Scripture, both in the Old and New Testament, for speaking. So he limits and changeth the state of the controversy: I do not meddle with Jobs former life, nor charge him with hypocrisy, as his three friends have done; but I justly reprove him for his hard speeches against God, whereby he hath reproached his justice and goodness.
For wicked men, i.e. on their behalf, or for their use. He hath put arguments into their mouths against God and his providence. Or, with or among wicked men; as if he were one of them; or such answers as they use to make, which therefore are very unbecoming such a man as Job is, or pretends to be.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
36. Margin, not so well,”My father,” Elihu addressing God. This title does notelsewhere occur in Job.
triedby calamities.
answers for wicked men(Seeon Job 34:8). Trials of thegodly are not removed until they produce the effect designed.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end,…. This is my opinion, or what “I bring in” o adduce, and lay before you, men of understanding and wisdom, and leave it with you to consider of. Some render it, “O my Father, let Job be tried”, c. as if it was an apostrophe to God, and a request to him so Mr. Broughton, who adds,
“which art in heaven,”
and the same is added by some Jewish interpreters p, as there are others q of them which go this way, and also several Christian commentators r; and of late s it has been urged, from this and other passages, that Elihu was Christ, who here addresses God as his father: but this is his New Testament title; and though God is the father of all men by creation, and of saints by adoption, yet this relation and title are not so frequently claimed under the former dispensation, or however not so early as the times of Job, but are more peculiar to the Gospel dispensation, under which saints receive “not the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the Spirit of adoption, whereby they cry, Abba, Father”, Ro 8:15; wherefore admitting this version, rather some grave venerable person, as Eliphaz t, senior to Elihu, who was a young man, is addressed under this title; or the whole circle of Job’s friends now about him, all elder than Elihu, may be intended; “father” for “fathers”, the singular for the plural, see Ac 7:2; and what he proposes is, that they should make it their joint request at the throne of grace, that Job’s afflictions be still continued; that he might be thoroughly tried by them, and be purged from all his dross, he not appearing yet to be thoroughly sensible of his sinful speeches, and humbled for them; and therefore it was proper he should be still corrected and chastened to the end, or unto victory, as Mr. Broughton, or until victory was obtained, and he was obliged to yield, and cry “peccavi”: but since afflictions are things not joyous but grievous, and it does not seem so agreeable to a good man, kind and humane, to desire the continuance of the afflictions of another, though palliated with a plausible for his good; it seems better to understand this as a motion made to the understanding part of the company by Elihu, that the words of Job, which he had spoken without knowledge and wisdom, might be taken under strict examination by them, and thoroughly scanned, that it might be better known what was proper to be said more to him for his conviction;
because of [his] answers for wicked men; or concerning or relative to such answers which he had made, which were like to those which wicked men make; who charge the ways of God with inequality and want of equity, ask where is the God of judgment? or which serve the cause of the wicked, and which furnish them with arguments, prepare them for them, and put them into their mouths, to argue against God and his providential dealings with men, and against all religion. See
Job 34:8.
o “pro” “adducam”, so some in Codurcus: “haec autem in medio affero”, Tigurine version; “adduco”, Schultens. p P. Abraham Peritsol, Simeon Bar Tzemach, Sephorno. q Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Ben Gersom. r Junius Tremellius, Piscator, Vatablus, Drusius, Cocceius so V. L. s Hodge’s Elihu. t So Hieron. Trad. Heb. fol. 75. I.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(36) My desire is that Job may be tried.There seems to be reason to prefer the marginal rendering, and consider the words as addressed to God: Oh my Father, let Job be tried, &c. Pater mi probetur Job, Vulg. Elihus words cannot have fallen upon Job with more acceptance or with lighter weight than those of his other friends. He must have felt, however, that his cause was safe with God, whatever the misunderstanding of men.
Because of his answers for wicked men. Rather, his answering like wicked men.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
36. My desire The word , which also signifies “my father,” is probably cognate with the root, , “to desire,” and is correctly rendered in the text. In the Arabic, to the present time, the vernacular abi is an expression for importunate imploring, and is kindred to abghi, a word used to express more moderate desire. Delitzsch, in loc., devotes some five pages to a learned treatise on this word.
Unto the end The phrase may express either duration or degree of trial, or both; in the same manner as , “to the uttermost,” of Heb 7:25, may be interpreted either of completeness or duration.
For After the manner of wicked men. They use the same arguments, and utter the same complaints.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 34:36 My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.
Ver. 36. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end ] Or, unto victory, till he be vanquished and set down, Usque ad victoriam (Trem). It is conceived that Job, by clapping his hands, as Job 34:37 , or by the set of his countenance, or some other way, had discovered his dislike of and discontent at that which Elihu had spoken. He therefore begs of God to continue afflicting him, till he be in a better mind, Crux sancta est et salubris. This he doth by a special instinct for Job’s good, and not out of any desire for revenge. So Farel pronounced a curse upon young Calvin’s studies, in case he should refuse to join with him in the Lord’s work at Geneva, where a Church had been newly planted; this so thunderstruck him, that he dared not stir from there to his dying day, At ego tibi studia tua praetexenti denuncio Omnipotentis Dei nomine, &c. (Calv. Vit.). Some read it, My Father, let Job be tried. It is not to be doubted but those ancients also called God by this sweet name of Father. See Joh 8:41 . Beza makes Elihu thus bespeaking Job, for honour’s sake, O my Father, Job shall be yet still tried. The Tigurines read, Haec autem in medium affero, These things I produce, that Job’s things may be most exactly discussed, and wicked men’s mouths stopped.
Because of his answers for wicked men
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
My desire is that Job may be tried: or, My father, let Job be tried, Job 23:16, Psa 17:3, Psa 26:2, Jam 5:11
his answers: Job 34:8, Job 34:9, Job 12:6, Job 21:7, Job 24:1
Reciprocal: Job 13:9 – search Job 34:4 – choose Job 36:17 – fulfilled Mal 2:17 – Every
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
34:36 My desire [is that] Job may be {d} tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.
(d) That he may speak as much as he can, that we may answer him and all the wicked that will use such arguments.