Bible Commentaries

answered = responded. See note on Job 4:1.

how. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6. This is the one great question of the book.

man = mortal man. Hebrew. "enosh. App-14.

GOD. Hebrew El. App-4.

will = desire to.

who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6. Compare 2 Chronicles 36:13. Isaiah 48:4.

they know. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6.

waves of the sea. The celebrated Mugah Codex (the earliest quoted in the Massorah itself), App-30, reads "cloud": i.e. thick cloud.

Arcturus. Hebrew. "ash. A name still connected with "the Great Bear" (the more ancient name being "the greater sheepfold": Arab, al naish, the assembled (as in a fold). See Job 38:31, Job 38:32, and App-12.

Orion. Hebrew. kesil. Compare Job 38:31. Amos 5:8. A strong one, or the coming prince. See App-12.

Pleiades. Hebrew. kimah = the congregation of the judge. See Job 38:31, Job 38:32. Amos 5:8, and App-12. A constellation in the neck of Taurus.

chambers of the south: i.e. the [hidden] recesses, or the invisible spaces; on the latitude of Job's residence.

Lo. Figure of speech. Asterismos. App-6.

Behold. Figure of speech. Asterismos. App-6.

GOD. Hebrew. Eloah. App-4.

withdraw = avert.

helpers = confederates.

not answer = not [dare to] answer.

breath. Hebrew. ruach. App-9.

my soul = myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.

life. Hebrew. chayai.

the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha, App-44.

covereth: i.e. so that they cannot discern between right and wrong.

post = runner, or courier. Compare Esther 3:13, Esther 3:15.

swift ships = ships of ebeh. Hence vessels of bulrush (eb); vessels of desire ("abeh), i.e. desiring to reach their haven; vessels of enmity ("eybah), i.e. pirate vessels; or vessels of the Nile ("abai, Abyssinian for Nile). Others, vessels of Joppa. Perhaps the last is best.

complaint = complaining.

why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6.

never so clean = clean with soap.

abhor. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia.

Neither is there. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "Oh that there were".

any Daysman = any umpire, arbiter, or mediator. In Job's case He was found in Elihu; in ours, in Christ.

His fear = the fear that He causes.

terrify = startle, or scare. Compare Job 13:21; Job 33:7.

Then would I = Fain would I.