Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 32:20

I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

20. be refreshed ] Rather, find relief; lit. get air or vent. The figure is still that of fermenting wine, Job 32:19.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

I will speak, that I may be refreshed – Margin, breathe. The meaning is, that he would then have room to breathe again; he would feel relieved.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. I will open my lips and answer.] In the preceding verse Elihu compares himself to a skin-bottle, in which the wine was in a state of fermentation, and the bottle ready to burst for want of vent. He carries on the metaphor in this verse: the bottle must be opened to save it from bursting; I will OPEN my mouth.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

That I may be refreshed; that I may ease my mind of those thoughts which now oppress it.

I will open my lips and answer; I will not utter impertinent words, but solid answers, to Jobs arguments.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

20. refreshedliterally, “thatthere may be air to me” (1Sa16:23).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

I will speak, that I may be refreshed,…. That his mind might be made easy; the matter it was full of lay with much weight upon it, pressed him hard, and gave him pain; and therefore he determines to speak his mind, and disburden himself: so a minister of the word speaks sometimes to the refreshment of others, the Gospel being a word in season to weary souls, bread to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, even wine to them that are of an heavy heart; and especially it is refreshing when the love of God is shed abroad in the heart through it, and the presence of God is enjoyed under it; and sometimes he speaks to the refreshment of himself with others, Ro 15:32; and whether it be so, one or the other, yet a faithful minister eases his mind, discharges his conscience, and is clear from the blood of all, when he truly and fully declares the whole counsel of God, so far as he is acquainted with it:

I will open my lips and answer; speak freely and boldly what was upon his mind, and he had to say, and which he judged would be a sufficient answer to Job; the opening of his lips is a phrase used by him in allusion to the opening of a bottle, full of new wine, the metaphor before expressed by him.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

20. I will speak He carries on the metaphor in this verse; the bottle must be opened to save it from bursting.

Be refreshed The margin is more literal. In like manner, Young:

“Good sense will stagnate: Thoughts shut up want air.”

The spirit within constraineth him. The precursor of the apostle Paul in enthusiasm, sincerity, and tenaciousness of the truth, he cannot resist the divine constraint. His inner nature burns with the truths he waits to deliver; one, for instance the sinner’s justification through the mercy of God; “the quintessence of all his words,” thereby anticipating the apostle in the doctrine of justification by faith, even as the morn anticipates the day.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Job 32:20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.

Ver. 20. I will speak, that I may be refreshed ] Heb. that I may breathe: this many martyrs did, though to the loss of their precious lives; as those that came to the tribunals, and cried out, Christiani sumus, We are Christians, hang us, burn us, stone us, &c., Modo Iesum nostrum nanciscamur, so that we may get our Jesus. And when they were told that they were put to death, Non pro fide, sed pro obstinatione, not for their religion, but for their obstinace, Tertullian answered, Pro hac obstinatione fidei morimur, For this religious obstinace we gladly die. As for those that made not a good confession, but either denied or dissembled their religion, for political respects, what a deal of unrest found they in their consciences, till they had better declared themselves, or revoked their recantations; as Bilney, Bainham, Benbridge, Abbes, Sharp, besides Origen, and all those of old? Let a man speak boldly and freely in a good cause when called to it, and he shall be refreshed; for as every flower hath its sweet smell, so hath every good word and work its comfort.

I will open my lips and answer ] viz. Freely and fully, as Eph 6:19 , with great alacrity of spirit and vehemence of speech. Some kind of answer a man may make, though he open not his lips; as he did, who, being asked what man’s life was? presently turned his back, and went his way. Theodoret also, upon Mat 5:2 , observeth that our Saviour taught sometimes when yet he opened not his mouth; viz. by holy life and wondrous works.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

I will speak: Job 13:13, Job 13:19, Job 20:2, Job 21:3

be refreshed: Heb. breathe

I will open: Pro 8:6, Pro 8:7

Reciprocal: Psa 39:2 – my sorrow Isa 42:14 – long time 2Co 6:11 – our mouth

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge