Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 16:3
Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
3. Shall vain words have an end ] lit. is there any end to words of wind? To retort their charge of “windy knowledge” (ch. Job 15:2), Job cannot help fearing that there is no end to such empty harangues on their side, though he cannot imagine what provokes them to reply instead of letting the controversy drop, as he had long ago besought them (ch. Job 13:5). For emboldeneth provoketh is better.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Shall vain words? – Margin, As in Hebrew words of wind; that is, words which were devoid of thought-light, trifling. This is a retort on Eliphaz. He had charged Job Job 15:2-3 with uttering only such words. Such forms of expression are common in the East. His promise, it is only wind. Breath, breath: all breath. Roberts.
Or what emboldeneth thee? – What provokes or irritates thee, that thou dost answer in this manner? What have I said, that has given occasion to such a speech – a speech so severe and unkind? The Syriac reads this, do not afflict me any more with speeches; for if you speak any more, I will not answer you.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Vain words] Literally, words of air.
What emboldeneth thee] Thou art totally ignorant of the business; what then can induce thee to take part in this discussion?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
When wilt thou put an end to these idle and impertinent discourses? He retorts upon him his charge against Job, Job 15:2,3.
That thou answerest, to wit, so or in such manner, so censoriously, and opprobriously, and peremptorily. What secret grounds hast thou for thy confidence? Thy arguments are flashy and weak; if thou hast any stronger, produce them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. “Words of wind,”Hebrew. He retorts upon Eliphaz his reproach (Job15:2).
emboldenethliterally,”What wearies you so that ye contradict?” that is, Whathave I said to provoke you? &c. [SCHUTTENS].Or, as better accords with the first clause, “Wherefore do yeweary yourselves contradicting?” [UMBREIT].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Shall vain words have an end?…. Or “words of wind” k, vain empty words, great swelling words of vanity, mere bubbles that look big, and have nothing in them; here Job retorts what Eliphaz had insinuated concerning him and his words, Job 15:2; and he intimates such worthless discourses should have an end, and a speedy one, and not be carried on to any length, they not bearing it; and wishes they were at an end, that he might hear no more of them; and suggests that it was weak and foolish in them to continue them; that if they could speak to no better purpose, it would be best to be silent:
or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? when men are engaged in a good cause, have truth on their side, and are furnished with arguments sufficient to defend it, this animates and emboldens them to stand up in the defence of it, and to answer their adversaries, and to reply when there is occasion; but Job could not imagine what should encourage and spirit up Eliphaz to answer again, when he had been sufficiently confuted; when his cause was bad, and he had no strong reasons to produce in the vindication of it; or “what has exasperated” or “provoked thee” l to make reply? here Job seems to have thought that he had said nothing that was irritating, though it is notorious he had, such were his grief and troubles; and so well assured he was of his being in the right, that the harsh and severe words and expressions he had used were not thought by him to have exceeded due bounds, such as
Job 12:2.
k “verbis venti”, Beza, Bolducius, Mercerus, Schmidt, Michaelis. l “quid exacerbat te”, Junius Tremellius so Codureus, Schultens.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Shall vain words have an end?The English idiom rather requires, Shall not vain words have an end? for if not, what emboldeneth or provoketh thee that thou answerest? Eliphaz had contributed nothing to the discussion in his last reply; he had simply reiterated what had been said before.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Vain words Windy words. Like expressions abound in the classics. “Windy glory,” (Virgil;) “Windy people,” (Horace.) A retort upon Eliphaz for his taunting words, “windy knowledge,” Job 15:2, margin.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(3) Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? (4) I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. (5) But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. (6) Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
There is a very sweet expression of Job in these verses, in which he intimates, that he would not have served his friends as they have him, had a reverse of circumstances been their portion. Reader! do not overlook it, for it is a blessed token of grace. And how beautiful and lovely is the same feature in JESUS, as the apostle hath marked it; Who when he was reviled, reviled not again. 1Pe 2:23 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Job 16:3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
Ver. 3. Shall vain words have an end? ] Heb. Shall there be an end to words of wind? Ampullatur in arcto. Bubbles of words, big swollen speeches, full of pride, void of reason; when shall we once have an end of them? They that would comfort another indeed must not multiply vain repetition (for these are very burdensome to a serious ear, much more to a sad heart), much less bitter speeches, least of all taunts and buffooneries, as Job 16:4 . For, like as, if the eye be inflamed, the mildest medicine troubleth it, so is it here: how much more when harsh and uncouth!
Or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Shall . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
vain words = empty words. Heb, words of wind.
what . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
vain words: Heb. words of wind, Job 6:26, Job 8:2, Job 15:2
what emboldeneth: Job 20:3, Job 32:3-6, Mat 22:46, Tit 1:11, Tit 2:8
Reciprocal: Exo 5:9 – vain words Job 6:25 – what doth Job 11:2 – the multitude Job 13:5 – General Job 15:3 – he reason Job 18:2 – How long Job 27:12 – altogether Rom 9:20 – repliest
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 16:3. Shall vain words have an end? When wilt thou put an end to these impertinent discourses? He retorts upon him his charge, Job 15:2-3. And what imboldeneth thee that thou answerest Namely, in such a manner, so censoriously, opprobriously, and peremptorily. What secret grounds hast thou for thy confidence? Thy arguments are weak; if thou hast any stronger, produce them. It is a great piece of confidence to charge men, as Eliphaz did Job, with those crimes which we cannot prove upon them; to pass a judgment on mens spiritual state, upon the view of their outward condition, and to re-advance those objections which have been again and again answered.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:3 Shall {a} vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
(a) Which serve for vain ostentation and for no true comfort.