Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 38:3
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
3. for I will demand ] Rather, and I will. Jehovah now invites Job to prepare for that contention with Him which he had so often desired, Job 9:35, Job 13:10 seq.; and as Job had said, “Then call thou and I will answer, or let me speak and answer thou me” (ch. Job 13:22), Jehovah, as becomes Him, chooses the former half of the alternative, it may be that when He has “called” Job will be less ready than he thought to “answer” (ch. Job 40:3-5).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Gird up now thy loins like a man – To gird up the loins, is a phrase which has allusion to the mode of dress in ancient times. The loose flowing robe which was commonly worn, was fastened with a girdle when men ran, or labored, or engaged in conflict; see the notes at Mat 5:38-41. The idea here is, Make thyself as strong and vigorous as possible; be prepared to put forth the highest effort. God was about to put him to a task which would require all his ability – that of explaining the facts which were constantly occurring in the universe. The whole passage is ironical. Job had undertaken to tell what he knew of the divine administration, and God now calls upon him to show his claims to the office of such an expositor. So wise a man as he was, who could pronounce on the hidden counsels of the Most High with so much confidence, could assuredly explain those things which pertained to the visible creation. The phrase like a man means boldly, courageously; compare the notes at 1Co 16:13.
I will demand of thee, and answer thou me – Margin, as in Hebrew, make me known. The meaning is, I will submit some questions or subjects of inquiry to you for solution. Since you have spoken with so much confidence of my government, I will propose some inquiries as a test of your knowledge.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Gird up now thy loins] I will not confound thee with my terrors; dismiss all fearful apprehensions from thy mind; now act like a man, kegeber, like a hero: stand and vindicate thyself. For I will demand of thee – I will ask thee a series of questions more easy of solution than those which thou hast affected to discuss already; and then thou shalt have the opportunity of answering for thyself.
The most impressive and convincing manner of arguing is allowed to be that by interrogation, which the Almighty here adopts. The best orations delivered by the ancients were formed after this manner. That celebrated oration of Cicero against Catiline, which is allowed to be his masterpiece, begins with a multitude of short questions, closely pressed upon each other. See the end of the chapter. See Clarke on Job 38:41.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Gird up now thy loins; as warriors then did for the battle. Prepare thyself for the combat with me, which thou hast oft desired. I accept of thy challenge, Job 13:22, and elsewhere.
I will demand of thee; or, I will ask thee questions; which he doth in the following verses.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. a manhero, readyfor battle (1Co 16:13), as hehad wished (Job 9:35; Job 13:22;Job 31:37). The robe, usuallyworn flowing, was girt up by a girdle when men ran, labored, orfought (1Pe 1:13).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Gird up now thy loins like a man,…. Like a man of valour that girds on his harness for battle: Job is bid to prepare for the controversy the Lord was entering into with him; and bring forth his strong reasons and most powerful arguments in his own defence. The allusion is to the custom in the eastern countries, where they wore long garments, to gird them about their loins, when they engaged in work or war. Job had blustered what he would do, and now he is dared to it; see Job 23:4;
for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me; put questions to him, to which he required a direct and positive answer. Jehovah takes the part of the opponent in this dispute, and gives that of the respondent to Job; since Job himself had put it to his option which to take,
Job 13:22.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. Gird up now thy loins See note, Job 12:20. Job, who controverts the purposes of the Most High, from the nature of the case assumes an equal or co-extensive knowledge with Deity an assumption now to be tested by a series of questions which shall still further demonstrate his absolute ignorance of the physical world, and logically show his utter incompetency to sit in judgment upon the simplest questions of the moral world. He is, therefore, called upon to “gird up his loins.” for he will need all his resources for the task before him.
Like a man A recognition of the true nobleness of the manhood of normal man. 1Co 16:13. Poverty and distress, and even the loathsomeness of disease, sully it not “a man’s a man for a’ that.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Ver. 3. Gird up now thy loins like a man ] As men did use to do when they went to fight, 1Ki 20:11 . Stand to thy ward, and see to thyself; for I mean to assail thee and to try thy manhood. Plato hath observed, that the best fencers are the worst soldiers. Many can brave it beforehand, as that Thrasonical Gaal did, Jdg 9:29 , who yet cannot look their enemy in the face with blood in their cheeks.
For I will demand of thee, and answer thou me
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man. Hebrew. geber. App-14.
answer thou Me = cause Me to know.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Gird: Job 40:7, Exo 12:11, 1Ki 18:46, Jer 1:17, 1Pe 1:13
for: Job 13:15, Job 13:22, Job 23:3-7, Job 31:35-37
answer thou me: Heb. make me know
Reciprocal: Job 42:4 – I will Pro 31:17 – girdeth Isa 41:1 – let the people Isa 41:21 – Produce Rom 9:20 – who art
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 38:3. Gird up now thy loins If thou hast the courage to argue the case with me, as thou hast often desired, make thyself ready for the debate. For I will demand of thee Hebrew, , eshelecha, I will ask thee questions; which he does in the following verses; and answer thou me , hodigneeni, make me know, or, inform me, concerning the things about which I inquire of thee. Give answers to my questions.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I {c} will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
(c) Because he wished to dispute with God, Job 23:3, God reasons with him, to declare his rashness.