Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 42:3
Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
3. who is he that hideth ] That is, that obscures counsel. The words of the Almighty (ch. Job 38:2) echo through Job’s mind, and he repeats them, speaking of himself. The rest of the verse expands the idea of “obscuring counsel,” or states its consequence. As one that obscured counsel Job had uttered that which he understood not. The reference is to his former judgments regarding God’s operations in the world, and the rashness of his own language.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? – This is repeated from Job 38:2. As used there these are the words of the Almighty, uttered as a reproof of Job for the manner in which he had undertaken to explain the dealings of God; see the notes at that verse. As repeated here by Job, they are an acknowledgment of the truth of what is there implied, that he had been guilty of hiding counsel in this manner, and the repetition here is a part of his confession. He acknowledges that he had entertained and expressed such views of God as were in fact clothing the whole subject in darkness instead of explaining it. The meaning is, Who indeed is it, as thou saidst, that undertakes to judge of great and profound purposes without knowledge? I am that presumptuous man? Ilgen.
Therefore have I uttered that I understood not – I have pronounced an opinion on subjects altogether too profound for my comprehension. This is the language of true humility and penitence, and shows that Job had at heart a profound veneration for God, however much he had been led away by the severity of his sufferings to give vent to improper expressions. It is no uncommon thing for even good people to be brought to see that they have spoken presumptuously of God, and have engaged, in discussions and ventured to pronounce opinions on matters pertaining to the divine administration, that were wholly beyond their comprehension.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Who is he that hideth counsel] These are the words of Job, and they are a repetition of what Jehovah said, Job 38:2: “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” Job now having heard the Almighty’s speech, and having received his reproof, echoes back his words: “Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge Alas, I am the man; I have uttered what I understood not; things too wonderful for me, that I knew not.
God had said, Job 38:3: “Gird up now thy loins like a man; I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.” In allusion to this, Job exclaims to his Maker, Job 42:4: “Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will ask of THEE, and declare THOU unto ME.” I acknowledge my ignorance; I confess my foolishness and presumption; I am ashamed of my conduct; I lament my imperfections; I implore thy mercy; and beg thee to show me thy will, that I may ever think, speak, and do, what is pleasing in thy sight.
Things too wonderful] I have spoken of thy judgments, which I did not comprehend.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Who is he? i.e. what am I, that I should dare to do so? Ah silly audacious wretch that I am, that I should be guilty of such madness!
That hideth counsel without knowledge; which words are repeated out of Job 38:2, where they are explained.
Therefore; because my mind was without knowledge, therefore my speech was ignorant and foolish. Or, being sensible of my ignorance and rashness, I think fit to make this humble and ingenuous confession.
Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not; I have spoken foolishly and unadvisedly of things far above my reach, even of Gods infinite and sovereign majesty, and of his deep and unsearchable counsels and providence.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. I am the man! Job in God’sown words (Job 38:2)expresses his deep and humble penitence. God’s word concerning ourguilt should be engraven on our hearts and form the groundwork of ourconfession. Most men in confessing sin palliate rather than confess.Job in omitting “by words” (Job38:2), goes even further than God’s accusation. Not merely mywords, but my whole thoughts and ways were “withoutknowledge.”
too wonderfulI rashlydenied that Thou hast any fixed plan in governing human affairs,merely because Thy plan was “too wonderful” for mycomprehension.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge?…. It may be understood, and supplied, as it is by Cocceius, “thou didst say”; as the Lord had said, or to this purpose, [See comments on Job 38:2]; to which Job here replies, I am the foolish man that has done it, I own it with sorrow, shame, and confusion: or it may be interpreted as condemning every other man that should act the like part. Schultens understands this as spoken by Job of God, and renders the words,
“who is this that seals up counsel, which cannot be known?”
the counsels, purposes, and decrees of God are sealed up by him, among his treasures, in the cabinet of his own breast, and are not to be unsealed and unlocked by creatures, but are impenetrable to them, past finding out by them, and not to be searched and pried into; and so the secret springs of Providence are not to be known, which Job had attempted, and for which he condemns himself;
therefore have I uttered that I understood not; concerning the providential dealings of God with men, afflicting the righteous, and suffering the wicked to prosper, particularly relating to his own afflictions; in which he arraigned the wisdom, justice, and goodness of God, as if things might have been better done than they were; but now he owns his ignorance and folly, as Asaph did in a like case, Ps 73:22;
things too wonderful for me, which I knew not; things out of his reach to search into, and beyond his capacity to comprehend; what he should have gazed upon with admiration, and there have stopped. The judgments of God are a great deep, not to be fathomed with the line of human understanding, of which it should be said with the apostle, “O the depth”, Ro 11:33, c. Job ought to have done as David did,
Ps 131:1 of which he was now convinced, and laments and confesses his folly.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
XLII.
(3) Who is he that hideth counsel?It is quite obvious that the right way of understanding these verses is, as in Isa. 63:1-6, after the manner of a dialogue, in which Job and the Lord alternately reply. Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? were the words with which God Himself joined the debate in Job. 38:2; and therefore, unless we assign them to Him here also, we must regard them as quoted by Job, and applied reflectively to himself; but it is far better to consider them as part of a dialogue.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Who is he without knowledge He repeats God’s reproof, (Job 38:2,) as if he would say, I am the man the man of folly, arrogance, and sin, who measured himself with the Most High, and blasphemously arraigned his ways and dispensations. Or else, such is his confusion when overwhelmed with shame and contrition, that he fails in the expression of coherent thought. He repeats with variation, (to wit, the change of , darkeneth, into , hideth, and the omission of bemillin, “with words,”) and perhaps automatically, the first words the voice of God uttered after the storm. The reader may be reminded of the confusion of Elihu at the commencement of his first address. See Job 32:6 and p. 198. Schultens calls this reply of Job “graceful and weighty,” ( venusta ac gravis,) and regards it as an acknowledgment which honours God by the use of his own language in such a manner as to turn the divine reproof into a confession on Job’s part of ignorance, and even intentional perverseness, which seems to be implied in , a word which he (Schultens) regards as more reverential. For a similar repetition, implying condemnation, see Num 16:3; Num 16:7, in which Moses repeats the words of the sons of Levi, “too much upon you.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Job 42:3. Who is he that hideth counsel, &c. Who is he that pretends to disclose the wisdom which is incomprehensible? Surely I spoke what I did not understand; wonders beyond my reach, which I could not know. Heath. The recollection of Job in this and the two following verses is inimitably fine, and begins the catastrophe of the poem, which is truly worthy of what precedes. The interrogatory clauses, in the beginning of this and the next verses, are repetitions of what Jehovah had said; the latter of this verse, and the 5th and 6th verses, are Job’s conclusions.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Job 42:3 Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Ver. 3. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? ] Quis iste est, inquis. Who is he, saith thou, Job 38:2 , that hideth counsel, &c., so Tremellius rendereth it. Is ego ipse sum, I am the very man that have done it, nempe ego (Tigurin.), and now would as gladly undo it again, by a humble confessing and disclaiming mine own folly therein, and by applying those words of thine to myself, with a holy indignation; for therein thou hast fully met with me, , 1Pe 2:24 .
Therefore have I uttered that I understood not
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Who is he . . . ? Supply the obvious Ellipsis (App-6) thus: “[Thou askedst] ‘Who is this? ‘ “&c.; which Jehovah did ask in Job 38:1-3.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Who: Job 38:2
things: Psa 40:5, Psa 131:1, Psa 139:6, Pro 30:2-4
Reciprocal: Job 6:26 – reprove Job 6:30 – iniquity Job 13:1 – Lo Job 13:22 – General Job 15:6 – thine own Job 31:37 – declare Job 34:35 – General Job 37:19 – we Psa 77:10 – This is Psa 139:4 – there is not Pro 25:2 – the glory Pro 30:18 – too Jer 30:21 – engaged Jer 49:19 – appoint me the time
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Job 42:3. Who is he that hideth counsel? What am I, that I should be guilty of such madness? Therefore have I uttered that I understood not Because my mind was without knowledge, therefore my speech was ignorant and foolish; things which I knew not I have spoken foolishly and unadvisedly of things far above my reach. The recollection of Job, says Dr. Dodd, in this and the two following verses, is inimitably fine, and begins the catastrophe of the book, which is truly worthy of what precedes. The interrogatory clause in the beginning of this verse is a repetition of what Jehovah had said; the latter part of this verse, and the fourth and fifth verses, are Jobs conclusions.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
42:3 Who [is] he that hideth counsel without {b} knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, {c} which I knew not.
(b) Is there any but I? for this God laid to his charge, Job 38:2.
(c) I confess in this my ignorance, and that I spoke of what I did not know.