Bible Commentary

For what pleasure [hath] he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? For what pleasure hath he … – That is, what happiness shall he have in his family? This, it seems to me, is designed to be a reference to their sentiments, or a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:21”

His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. His eyes shall see his destruction – That is, his own eyes shall see his destruction, or the calamities that shall come upon him. That is, You maintain that, or this is the position which you defend. Job designs … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:20”

God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]. 19 21. A conceivable objection, and its answer by Job. The verses read, 19. God (say ye) layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it; 20. Let his own … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:19”

They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. They are as stubble before the wind – According to the interpretation proposed of the previous verse, this may be read as a question, How often is it that the wicked are made like stubble? You say that God deals … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:18”

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and [how oft] cometh their destruction upon them! [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger. 17 21. The negative side of his theme is now illustrated by Job. In Job 21:7-16 he shewed that the wicked enjoy great, life-long prosperity; now he shews that they are … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:17”

Lo, their good [is] not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 16. Finally Job adverts to the mystery: this prosperity of theirs does not depend upon themselves, it is not of their own making; it comes from another, from God. God prospers the wicked, and Job had elsewhere said … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:16”

What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? – compare for similar expressions, Exo 5:2; Pro 30:9. The meaning here is, What claim has the Almighty, or who is he, that we should be … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:15”

Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 14, 15. All this joy and prosperity they enjoyed though they had bidden God depart from them and renounced His service. Therefore they say ] Rather, though (lit. and) they said. Their godlessness was not merely that of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:14”

They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 13. in wealth ] i. e. weal, prosperity. The word has not here its modern meaning of riches, but its older, more general sense: “in all time of our tribulation, in all time of our wealth good Lord deliver us.” … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:13”

They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 12. And they themselves pass their days in gladness, surrounded with all the charms of life. They take the timbrel ] Rather, they sing to, i. e. to the accompaniment of, the timbrel and the lute; lit. they lift up the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 21:12”