Bible Commentary

And Job spoke, and said, And Job spake – Margin, as in Hebrew, answered. The Hebrew word used here anah to answer, is often employed when one commences a discourse, even though no question had preceded. It is somewhat in the sense of replying to a subject, or of speaking in a case where a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 3:2”

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. 1. cursed his day ] The day of his birth. Reverent minds have always found difficulty in accommodating themselves to the religious boldness of the Book of Job. A curious instance of this is given in the Catena of Greek interpreters on Job, where one … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 3:1”

So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him: for they saw that [his] grief was very great. 13. none spake a word ] Being overwhelmed by the affecting sight before them; as the Author adds: they saw that the grief, i. e. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 2:13”

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 12. knew him not ] He was so altered and disfigured by the disease. As Job perhaps lay outside the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 2:12”

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 11. for they had … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 2:11”

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. 10. one of the foolish women ] The fear of the Lord is the beginning … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 2:10”

Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. 9. Then said his wife ] The incident related of Job’s wife is not introduced for her sake, but for the purpose of exhibiting through it the condition of Job’s mind, around which the drama turns. The author did … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 2:9”

And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. 8. and he sat down among the ashes ] Rather, as he sat among. By the “ashes” is possibly meant (as the Sept. already understands, which translates ) the Mzbalah, the place outside the Arabic towns where the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 2:8”

So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. 7. with sore boils ] It is generally agreed that the disease of Job was the leprosy called Elephantiasis, so named because the swollen limbs and the black and corrugated … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 2:7”

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he [is] in thine hand; but save his life. Behold, he is in thine hand – He is at thy disposal; see Job 1:12, Margin. But save his life – Margin, only. This was to be the only limitation. It would seem that he had the power to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Job 2:6”