Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 34:7
What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up scorning like water?
7. Elihu cannot restrain his abhorrence of Job’s sentiments. By scorning is meant impiety and scepticism. On the figure comp. ch. Job 15:16.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? – A similar image occurs in Job 15:16. The idea is, that he was full of reproachful speeches respecting God; of the language of irreverence and rebellion. He indulged in it as freely as a man drinks water; gathers up and imbibes all the language of reproach that he can find, and indulges in it as if it were perfectly harmless.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. Drinketh up scorning like water?] This is a repetition of the charge made against Job by Eliphaz, Job 15:16. It is a proverbial expression, and seems to be formed, as a metaphor, from a camel drinking, who takes in a large draught of water, even the most turbid, on its setting out on a journey in a caravan, that it may serve it for a long time. Job deals largely in scorning; he fills his heart with it.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. Abundantly and greedily; who doth so oft and so easily break forth into scornful and contemptuous expressions, not only against his friends, but in some sort even against God himself, whom he foolishly and insolently chargeth with dealing rigorously with him. The words may be thus read,
What man, being like Job, would drink up?..? That a wicked or foolish man should do thus is not strange; but that a man of such piety, gravity, wisdom, and authority as Job should be guilty of such a sin, this is wonderful.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7. (Job15:16). Image from the camel.
scorningagainst God(Job 15:4).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
What man [is] like Job,…. This is said as wondering at the part he acted, that a man so wise and good as Job was esteemed to be should behave in such a manner as he did;
[who] drinketh up scorning like water? For a foolish and wicked man to do so is not strange nor uncommon; but for a man of such sense and grace as Job was to do this was astonishing; to have no more regard to his character than to expose himself to the scorn and ridicule of men: for a man to become a laughing stock to profane and wicked men for his religion and piety, it is no disgrace, but an honour to him; but by unbecoming words and gestures to make himself justly jeered and scoffed at is great indiscretion. Or it may be understood actively of his dealing very freely and frequently in scoffs and jeers, which he poured out very liberally and plentifully, and seemingly with as much delight as a man drinks water when thirsty; see Job 11:3.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) Who drinketh up scorning?The same word had been applied to Job by Zophar (Job. 11:3), And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? and the same reproach by Eliphaz (Job. 15:16).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Drinketh up scorning like water He uses against Job one of the figures of Eliphaz, (see note on Job 15:16,) in which “iniquity” is the subject instead of “scorning,” as here.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 34:7 What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up scorning like water?
Ver. 7. What man is like Job? ] This Elihu speaketh by way of angry admiration, as if he would make Job a very nonsuch, a matchless offender; and that he much wondered with what face he could speak in that sort, Exclamatio admirativa (Pisc.). What, such a man as Job do thus? Oh, shameful! what? upbraid and reproach Almighty God? who would ever have expected such words from such a mouth? Is the man in his right mind, wot you, that he thus maketh himself a common laughing stock and by word, and yet maketh nothing of anything, but doth with as great facility and readiness swallow up men’s scoffs and taunts, as if he were drinking cold water, and no more is he troubled at them? Why, but is this Job? and is it possible that he should have so far lost all fear of God, and shame of the world, that he should set his mouth against heaven, as if he would spit in God’s face, and not care though he drink up scorning and affronts like water, quasi maledictis aleretur, ut venenis capreae, as if he were much taken and tickled with them? True it is, that Nemo pluris aestimavit virtutem, as Seneca saith, No man setteth a better price upon virtue than he who will rather part with his good name than part with his honesty. But it is also as true, that to neglect altogether what others think and say of us, non solum arrogantis est, sed et dissoluti, is the part not of a proud only, but of a forlorn person, saith the orator.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man = strong man. Hebrew. geber. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Job 15:16, Deu 29:19, Pro 1:22, Pro 4:17
Reciprocal: Job 11:3 – mockest Job 36:21 – this Pro 14:9 – Fools Pro 19:28 – the Mal 3:13 – Your
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 34:7-9. Who drinketh up scorning like water That is, abundantly and greedily: who doth so break forth into scornful expressions, not only against his friends, but, in some sort, even against God himself. The Hebrew may be interpreted, What man, being like Job, would drink up scorning? &c. That a wicked or foolish man should act thus, is not strange; but that a man of such piety, gravity, wisdom, and authority, as Job, should be guilty of such a sin, this is wonderful. Which walketh with wicked men Although I dare not say he is a wicked man, yet in this matter he speaks and acts like one of the wicked. For he hath said Not absolutely, and in express terms, but by consequence, It profiteth a man nothing. &c.
That though a man study to please God, he shall not be profited by it. For he said that good men were no less, nay, sometimes more miserable here than the wicked, Job 9:22; Job 30:26. And that, for his part, he was no gainer, as to this life, by his piety, but a loser, and that God showed him no more kindness and compassion than he usually did to the vilest of men.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
34:7 What man [is] like Job, [who] drinketh up {f} scorning like water?
(f) Which is compelled to receive your reproach and scorns of many for his foolish words.