Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 37:20
Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
20. The verse means,
Shall it be told him that I would speak?
Or shall a man wish that he should be swallowed up?
Elihu recoils from the thought of going into God’s presence to strive with Him; such daring presumption would be voluntarily to court destruction. The words “shall a man wish?” are lit. has a man said or commanded? i. e. has any one ever voluntarily ordered his own annihilation? Nothing other than this does the man do who ventures to contend with the Almighty.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Shall it be told him that I speak? – Still the language of profound awe and reverence, as if he would not have it even intimated to God that he had presumed to say anything in regard to him, or with a view to explain the reason of his doings.
If a man speak – That is, if he attempt to speak with God; to argue a case with him; to contend with him in debate; to oppose him. Elihu had designed to reprove Job for the bold and presumptuous manner in which he bad spoken of God, and for his wish to enter into a debate with him in order to vindicate his cause. He now says, that if anyone should attempt this, God had power at once to destroy him; and that such an attempt would be perilous to his life. But other interpretations have been proposed, which may be seen in Rosenmuller, Umbreit, and Lee.
Surely he shall be swallowed up – Destroyed for his presumption and rashness in thus contending with the Almighty. Elihu says that on this account he would not dare to speak with God. He would fear that he would come forth in his anger, and destroy him. How much man by nature instinctively feels, when he has any just views of the majesty of God, that he needs a Mediator!
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. Shall it be told him that I speak?] Shall I dare to whisper even before God? And suppose any one were to accuse me before him for what I have spoken of him, though that has been well intended, how should I be able to stand in his presence? I should be swallowed up in consternation, and consumed with the splendour of his majesty.
But in what state art thou? What hast thou been doing? Thou hast arraigned God for his government of the world; thou hast found fault with the dispensations of his providence; thou hast even charged him with cruelty! What will become of THEE?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That I speak, Heb. that I will speak. Shall I send, or who dare carry, a challenge from me to God, or a message that I am ready and desirous to debate with him concerning his proceedings? This indeed thou hast done in effect, but far be such presumption from me.
If a man speak; if a man should be so bold and venturous to enter the lists with God.
He shall be swallowed up with the sense of Gods infinite majesty and spotless purity.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
20. What I a mortal say againstGod’s dealings is not worthy of being told HIM.In opposition to Job’s wish to “speak” before God (Job 13:3;Job 13:18-22).
if . . . surely he shall beswallowed upThe parallelism more favors UMBREIT,”Durst a man speak (before Him, complaining) that he is(without cause) being destroyed?“
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Shall it be told him that I speak?…. And what I speak? there is no need of it, since he is omniscient, and knows every word that is spoken by men; or is anything I have said concerning him, his ways, and his works, worthy relating, or worthy of his hearing, being so very imperfect? nor can the things I have spoken of, though common things, be fully explained to any; or should it be told him, the Lord, that he, Elihu, had spoke as Job had done, and arraigned his justice, and complained of his dealings? God forbid; he would not have it said they were spoken by him for all the world: or “shall it be recorded unto him what I speak?” as Mr. Broughton, or that I speak; shall it be recorded in a book, and that sent to God; that I will speak in thy cause, and be an advocate for thee, and endeavour to justify thee in all thou hast said? no, by no means;
if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up; if he speaks of the being and perfections of God, he is soon lost; his essence, and many of his attributes, are beyond his comprehension; if he speaks of his works of nature and providence, he is presently out of his depth; there is a bathos, a depth in them he cannot fathom: if he speaks of his love, and grace, and mercy, in the salvation of man, he is swallowed up with admiration; he is obliged to say, what manner of love is this? it has heights he cannot reach, depths he cannot get to the bottom of, lengths and breadths immeasurable: or should he undertake to dispute with God, to litigate a point with him concerning his works, he could not answer him in one thing of a thousand; and particularly Elihu suggests, was he to undertake Job’s cause, it would soon be lost and all over with him; so Mr. Broughton renders the words, “would any plead, when he should be undone?” who would engage in a cause he is sure would be lost, and prove his utter undoing?
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) Be swallowed up.The sense will vary, according as we understand this of God or of the sun. In the first case, it is a simple expression of awe at Gods majesty: Shall it be told Him that I would speak? If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up; but unquestionably the sense is clearer if we understand it of the sun: Shall it be told of him? Shall I, indeed, speak it? or hath any man ever ventured to say, in such a case, that the sun is swallowed up, extinguished?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. That I speak Shall it be told Him that I question and arraign his moral government even I, involved in such darkness (Job 37:19) that I cannot order aright my speech? He who thus speaks has reason to fear destruction: for such is the overwhelming presence of God that none can “see his face and live,” much less speak to him face to face.
If a man speak swallowed up Dillmann and the best critics render these words as a question: “Hath a man ever said that he would (fain) be destroyed?” Will one readily pursue a course involving certain destruction, such as Job would have done had he intruded himself before God? Exo 19:21; Exo 33:20; Jdg 13:22, etc.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 37:20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Ver. 20. Shall it be told him that I speak? ] An in acta referetur ei, si loquar? Shall it be recorded before him? &c. q.d. Then woe be to me, for I am sure to rue it; yea, and (without mercy) to be ruined for it. Did not Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesy long since, saying, “Behold, the Lord cometh to execute judgment upon all, and to convince them of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him,” Jdg 1:14-15 .
If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Shall it: Psa 139:4, Mat 12:36, Mat 12:37
surely: Job 6:3, Job 11:7, Job 11:8
Reciprocal: Job 39:24 – He swalloweth Psa 40:5 – they cannot Psa 107:27 – are at their wit’s end
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 37:20. Shall it be told him that I speak? Does he need to be informed of any thing? Is any thing that I have said of him worth his hearing? Will any one report it to him? Will any man dare to approach him? But the Hebrew, , adabber, should rather be rendered, I should, or I will, speak. Shall I send, or who dare carry, a challenge from me to God, or a message that I am ready and desirous to debate with him concerning his proceedings? This, indeed, thou hast done, in effect, but far be such presumption from me. If a man speak If a man should be so bold and venturous as to enter the lists with God, surely he shall be swallowed up With the sense of his infinite majesty and spotless purity.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
37:20 Shall it be {q} told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
(q) Has God need that any should tell him when man murmurs against him?