Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 36:4
For truly my words [shall] not [be] false: he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee.
4. The speaker makes a higher claim than to sincerity here; he claims the character of absolute truth for his teaching he is perfect in knowledge. In a slightly different form the phrase “perfect in knowledge” is applied to God, ch. Job 37:16 ; cf. 1Sa 2:3.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For truly my words shall not be false – This is designed to conciliate attention. It is a professed purpose to state nothing but truth. Even in order to vindicate the ways of God he would state nothing but what would bear the most rigid examination. Job had charged on his friends a purpose to speak wickedly for God; to make use of unsound arguments in vindicating his cause, (see the notes at Job 13:7-8), and Elihu now says that he will make use of no such reasoning, but that all that he says shall be founded in strict truth.
He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee – This refers undoubtedly to Elihu himself, and is a claim to a clear understanding of the subject. He did not doubt that he was right, and that he had some views which were worthy of their attention. The main idea is, that he was of sound knowledge; that his views were not sophistical and captious; that they were founded in truth, and were worthy, therefore. of their profound attention.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. My words shall not be false] My words shall be truth without falsity.
He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.] “The perfection of knowledge is with thee.” Thou art a sensible, well-informed man, and will be able to judge of what I say.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I will not speak any thing against my own conscience, nor against truth, either to flatter God, or to vex thee, as thou supposest thy other friends have done, Job 13:7, and elsewhere.
He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. This is meant either,
1. Of God. Thou hast to do with a God of perfect knowledge, by whom all Shy words and actions. are weighed; and therefore hast need to be more wary and circumspect in thy expressions and behaviour. Or rather,
2. Of himself, as the former part of the verse is. And he speaketh of himself in the third person, for modestys sake. He speaks not of absolute, but of comparative perfection. And whatsoever perfection of knowledge he had, he doth not ascribe it to himself, but to Gods Spirit, Job 32:8. And the meaning may be this, Thou hast not to do with a novice, but with one who hath accurately considered, and through Gods grace doth fully understand, these matters; therefore hearken to me. But the word rendered
perfect signifieth also sincere, or upright, or right. And this may seem best to agree with the former clause, wherein he saith that he would not speak what he knew to be false; and now he adds, that he was and would be upright in the use of his knowledge, or in the delivery of his opinion in this matter, and not be biassed by any passion or prejudice, either to speak otherwise than he thought, or to judge otherwise than he should.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. I will not “speakwickedly for God,” as the friends (Job 13:4;Job 13:7; Job 13:8)that is, vindicate God by unsound arguments.
he that is perfect,&c.Rather, as the parallelism requires, “a man ofintegrity in sentiments is with thee” (is he with whomthou hast to do). Elihu means himself, as opposed to the dishonestreasonings of the friends (Job21:34).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For truly my words [shall] not [be] false,…. But strictly true; he would take the utmost care to say nothing but the truth, with the greatest impartiality and sincerity, so that what was said might be depended upon; truth spoken briefly, clearly, and on so important a subject as the righteousness of God, deserved attention;
he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee; meaning either God, whose knowledge is perfect, who knows all persons and things; knows himself, his nature, persons, and perfections; his thoughts, counsels, and purposes; all his creatures, angels and men; the hearts of all men, their thoughts, words, and works; he, the omniscient and omnipresent God was with Job, from whose presence there is no fleeing; and therefore it became him to be careful of his thoughts, words, and actions; that he did not entertain any unbecoming thoughts of God, and say anything unworthy of him, or do anything that tended to his dishonour; since he was present with him, and nothing could escape his notice: or else Elihu means himself; suggesting, that he who undertook to speak for God and plead his cause, and clear him from the charge of unrighteousness, was no novice, but one that thoroughly understood the point in hand; and though no man is perfect in knowledge in an absolute sense, yet may be in comparison of others; or however may be upright and sincere in his knowledge; which sense the word used often has; and so it may signify, that as he was a sincere searcher after knowledge, and had through divine goodness attained to a competent share of it, even of sound and not superficial knowledge, he should be honest and upright in the communication of it; and this he might choose to observe the more, to excite the attention of Job to what he had to say; though it may be the truest reading of the words is, “perfect knowledge” or “perfection of knowledge is with thee” k, that is, in his own apprehension, so Jarchi; and may be understood either ironically, or rather really, insinuating that Job was a man of such consummate wisdom and knowledge, that he would easily see the force of his reasonings, and the justness of them, and acquiesce in them; and having thus prefaced his discourse, he next enters upon his subject.
k “scientiae perfectae tecum”; so some in Bar Tzemach.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(4) He that is perfect in knowledge.We may presume that he meant God; but in the Authorised Version it looks very much as though he meant himself. (Comp. Job. 37:16.) So apparently Vulg., perfecta scientia probabitur tibi.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Perfect in knowledge Literally, knowledges. In the theodicy which he proposes to Job he claims faultlessness and clearness of perception. (Delitzsch.) The use of the same phrase in Job 37:16, of Deity, leads some to ascribe this attributive here also to God.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 36:4. He that is perfect in knowledge Though the perfection of knowledge be with thee: Heath; who thinks that this alludes to Job’s sarcasm, chap. Job 12:2.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(4) For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. (5) Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. (6) He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. (7) He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them forever, and they are exalted. (8) And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; (9) Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. (10) He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. (11) If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. (12) But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. (13) But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. (14) They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. (15) He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. (16) Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. (17) But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. (18) Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. (19) Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. (20) Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. (21) Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
Elihu hath here beautifully shown the gracious design of the LORD in his visitations, and a most delightful chain of reasoning upon the subject he is here making use of, from beginning to end. He first dwells upon that glorious and distinguishing perfection of the Almighty, his power and sovereignty; and, having set this down as the bottom and foundation of what he was going to reason upon, he shows, in a clear manner, some of the causes for which that omnipotency is exercised. As first, by the display of his power, the LORD induceth trouble and affliction, on purpose to lead the mind into a deep sense of sin. This blessed office of the HOLY GHOST is not unfrequently preparatory to the experimental knowledge of JESUS, and his salvation: and when the LORD hath thus induced trouble, to make the heart sensible of sin, the next gracious office is, as Elihu expresses it, to open the ear to discipline; that is, by making sin appear what it really is, exceeding sinful; and thereby to make a man out of love with himself; to bring the soul in love with the work of GOD’S righteousness in the redemption of the LORD JESUS. And thus having brought the sinner acquainted with himself, which before he did not know, then in the love of GOD, and in the hatred of sin, to keep back the heart from iniquity.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Job 36:4 For truly my words [shall] not [be] false: he that is perfect in knowledge [is] with thee.
Ver. 4. For truly my words shall not be false ] I shall deal truly and plainly with thee; my discourse shall be simple and solid, having no better ornament but that of truth; which is like our first parents, most beautiful when naked: it was sin covered them, it is treachery hides this. Aperta veritas clausos etiam oculos ferit, saith one.
He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
my: Job 13:4, Job 13:7, Job 21:27, Job 21:34, Job 22:6-30, Pro 8:7, Pro 8:8, 2Co 2:17
perfect: Job 37:16, Luk 1:3, Act 24:22, 1Co 14:20, *marg. Col 4:12, 2Ti 3:16, 2Ti 3:17
in: Psa 49:3, Pro 22:20, Pro 22:21
Reciprocal: Job 33:3 – my lips
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
36:4 For truly my words [shall] not [be] false: he that is {b} perfect in knowledge [is] with thee.
(b) You will perceive that I am a faithful instructor, and that I speak to you in the name of God.