Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 37:19
Teach us what we shall say unto him; [for] we cannot order [our speech] by reason of darkness.
19. This thought of the strong expanse of heaven stretched out by God suggests to Elihu His unspeakable greatness and unsearchableness, and he demands of Job with what words of man such a Being is to be addressed, if one sought to contend with Him.
by reason of darkness ] That is, of understanding in presence of the unsearchableness of God.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Teach us what we shall say unto him – This seems to be addressed to Job. It is the language of Elihu, implying that he was overawed with a sense of the majesty and glory of such a God. He knew not in what manner, or with what words to approach such a Being, and he asks Job to inform him, if he knew.
We cannot order our speech by reason of darkness – Job had repeatedly professed a desire to bring his cause directly before God, and to argue it in his presence. He felt assured that if he could do that, he should be able so to present it as to obtain a decision in his favor; see Job 13:3, note; Job 13:18-22, notes. Elihu now designs, indirectly, to censure that confidence. He says that he and his friends were so overawed by the majesty of God, and felt themselves so ignorant and so ill qualified to judge of him and his works, that they would not know what to say. They were in darkness. They could not understand even the works of his hands which were directly before them, and the most common operations of nature were inscrutable to them. How then could they presume to arraign God? How could they manage a cause before him with any hope of success? It is scarcely necessary to say, that the state of mind referred to here by Elihu is that which should be cultivated, and that the feelings which he expresses are those with which we should approach the Creator. We need someone to teach us. We are surrounded by mysteries which we cannot comprehend, and we should, therefore, approach our Maker with profound reverence and submission
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Job 37:19-24
Teach us what we shall say unto Him.
Man and God
I. Suggestions concerning man.
1. The sublimest act, speaking to God. Teach us what we shall say unto Him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Shall it be told Him that I speak? If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. Speaking to God is an act implying a belief in the personality, presence, and susceptibility of God. Concerning this act, Elihu here intimates three things:
(1) A conscious unfitness for it.
(2) A conscious necessity for it. Has there ever lived a man who has not felt at times the necessity of communing with God?
(3) The conscious solemnity of the act. If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up, or destroyed. Is there any act more sublimely awful than the act of speaking to God?
2. A sad tendency. This is suggested in the words, Men see not the bright light which is in the clouds. Although the reference here is of course to the physical fact, it is certainly suggestive of the mental tendency, which is very strong in some, to look at the dark side of things. You see this tendency–
(1) In the sceptic, in relation to the dark things of revelation.
(2) In the refiner, in relation to Gods providence.
(3) In the misanthrope, in relation to the character of his fellow men.
(4) In the desponding Christian, in relation to his own experience.
II. Declarations concerning God. There are four facts concerning God here declared; and as they have been noticed more than once before, it will be sufficient just to mention them.
1. His greatness is referred to. With God is terrible majesty.
2. His inscrutability is referred to. We cannot find Him out.
3. His righteousness. He is excellent in power and in judgment, and in plenty of justice.
4. His independency. He respecteth not any that are wise of heart. (Homilist.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 19. Teach us what we shall say unto him?] Thou pretendest to be so very wise, and to know every thing about God, pray make us as wise as thyself, that we may be able to approach with thy boldness the Sovereign of the world; and maintain our cause with thy confidence before him. As for our parts, we are ignorant; and, on all these subjects, are enveloped with darkness. Mr. Good translates: –
“Teach us how we may address him,
When arrayed in robes of darkness.”
It is a strong and biting irony, however we take it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Unto him, i.e. unto God, either by way of apology for thee; or rather, by way of debate and disputation with him about his counsels and ways: about which we know not what to say, and therefore are willing to be taught by thee, who pretendest to such exquisite knowledge of these matters. So it is a reproof of his presumption and arrogance.
We cannot order our speech; we know neither with what words or matter, nor in what method and manner, to maintain discourse with him, or plead against him. The words our speech are easily understood out of the former clause of the verse.
By reason of darkness; both because of the darkness of the matter, Gods counsels and ways being a great depth, and far out of our reach; and because of the darkness or blindness of our minds.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
19. Men cannot explain God’swonders; we ought, therefore, to be dumb and not contend with God. IfJob thinks we ought, “let him teach us, what we shall say.”
orderframe.
darknessof mind;ignorance. “The eyes are bewilderingly blinded, when turned inbold controversy with God towards the sunny heavens” (Job37:18) [UMBREIT].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Teach us what we shall say unto him,…. To this wonder working God, of whose common works of nature we know so little; how we should reason with him about his works of Providence, when we know so little of these:
[for] we cannot order [our speech] by reason of darkness; by reason of darkness in themselves, which is in all men naturally, and even in the saints in this state of imperfection; and by reason of the clouds and darkness which are about the Lord himself, who is incomprehensible in his nature and perfections; and by reason of the darkness cast about his providential dealings with men, so that they are unsearchable and past finding out; and the best of men are at a loss how to order their speech, or discourse with God concerning these things.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(19) Teach us what we shall say unto (or, concerning) himi.e., the sun. He is altogether hidden by the clouds; but is he gone? is he not still there behind them?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
19. We cannot order our speech Literally, We cannot set in order.
This is evidently a stern rebuke of Job for his boastful declarations in Job 13:18, and in Job 23:4, that he had set in order his cause: the same word ( ) being used in all three cases, and furnishing an instance among the many in this speech that it is an integral portion of the work.
By reason of darkness The reference is to the darkness of the understanding. Umbreit suggests that the sense of the preceding verse should lead us to think of the bewildering blinding of the eyes when they are turned, in a bold controversy with the Almighty, towards the sunny heavens.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 37:19. Teach us what we shall say The author here gives us an evident proof of his great skill in the management of the drama, as he by degrees prepares us for the appearance of the Almighty. His awful harbingers, the thunder and lightning, at a distance had announced his coming. Elihu then trembled, and his heart was ready to leap out of his breast, Job 37:1. But at his nearer approach, he is in the utmost hurry and confusion: he is afraid to open his mouth; he is lost in amazement. The glory of God is too dazzling for mortal eyes to bear. The 20th and 21st verses may be rendered, Could what I say be reported to him? Can a man speak, when he is swallowed up in amazement? Job 37:21. Even now men cannot behold the bright light when the wind passeth over, and scowereth them clean; Job 37:22. And fair weather cometh from the north.As to God, terrible is the majesty of the Almighty: we cannot, &c. The argument in the 21st verse is to this effect: “Man cannot bear to look at the sun when he shineth in his lustre; how much less on that tremendous blaze of glory which surrounds the throne of the Almighty!” See Schultens and Heath.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Job 37:19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; [for] we cannot order [our speech] by reason of darkness.
Ver. 19. Teach us what we shall say unto him ] A notable scoff, a sharp sarcasm. Verba sunt urgentis et insultantis; q.d. Velim ut e tot argumentis, Job 23:4 , aliqua nunc proferas, I would that thou wouldst bring out some of those many arguments thou didst brag of; for we are at a fault; neither can we (such is our ignorance) find what to say in thy just defence, had we never so good a mind to it.
For we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Teach: Job 12:3, Job 13:3, Job 13:6
we: Job 26:14, Job 28:20, Job 28:21, Job 38:2, Job 42:3, Psa 73:16, Psa 73:17, Psa 73:22, Psa 139:6, Pro 30:2-4, 1Co 13:12, 1Jo 3:2
Reciprocal: Job 6:3 – my words are swallowed up Job 23:4 – order Job 37:23 – we Psa 40:5 – they cannot Rom 11:33 – how
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 37:19-24. How can he, whose mind is dark, address God? Shall I invite Him to converse and court destruction? (Job 37:19 f.). In Job 37:21 follow mg. And now men cannot look on the light when it is bright in the skies when the wind hath passed and cleansed them (i.e. when it has cleared away the clouds). But if man cannot look on the light in the skies how much less can he look on God? (Job 37:22). The north was conceived by the post-exilic Jews as the home of God (cf. Isa 14:13). The golden splendour is therefore the radiance streaming from Gods throne. The Almighty is unsearchable, He is great in power, yet not unjust (Job 37:23). Men must fear him, He regards not those who think themselves wise (Job 37:24). In Job 37:23 render, Touching the Almighty we cannot find Him out, He is excellent in power and in judgment, and to plenteous justice He doeth no violence (Peake).
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
37:19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; [for] we cannot order [our speech] by reason of {p} darkness.
(p) That is, our ignorance: signifying that Job was so presumptuous, that he would control the works of God.