2 Zophar assails Job for his empty words, and indirectly, the two friends, for their weak reply. Taciturnity is highly prized among Orientals (Pro 10:8, Pro 10:19).
3 lies - rather, "vain boasting" (Isa 16:6; Jer 48:30). The "men" is emphatic; men of sense; in antithesis to "vain boasting." mockest - upbraidest God by complaints, "shall no man make thee ashamed?"
4 doctrine - purposely used of Job's speeches, which sounded like lessons of doctrine (Deu 32:2; Pro 4:2). thine - addressed to God. Job had maintained his sincerity against his friends suspicions, not faultlessness.
6 to that which is! - Rather, "they are double to [man's] wisdom" [Michaelis]. So the Hebrew is rendered (Pro 2:7). God's ways, which you arraign, if you were shown their secret wisdom, would be seen vastly to exceed that of men, including yours (1Co 1:25). exacteth - Rather, "God consigns to oblivion in thy favor much of thy guilt."
7 Rather, "Penetrate to the perfections of the Almighty" (Job 9:10; Psa 139:6).
8 It - the "wisdom" of God (Job 11:6). The abruptness of the Hebrew is forcible: "The heights of heaven! What canst thou do" (as to attaining to them with thy gaze, Psa 139:8)? know - namely, of His perfections.
10 cut off - Rather, as in Job 9:11, "pass over," as a storm; namely, rush upon in anger. shut up - in prison, with a view to trial. gather together - the parties for judgment: hold a judicial assembly; to pass sentence on the prisoners.
11 (Psa 94:11). consider - so as to punish it. Rather, from the connection, Job 11:6, "He seeth wickedness also, which man does not perceive"; literally, "But no (other, save He) perceiveth it" [Umbreit]. God's "wisdom" (Job 11:6), detects sin where Job's human eye cannot reach (Job 11:8), so as to see any.
12 vain - hollow. would be - "wants to consider himself wise"; opposed to God's "wisdom" (see on Job 11:11); refuses to see sin, where God sees it (Rom 1:22). wild ass's colt - a proverb for untamed wildness (Job 39:5, Job 39:8; Jer 2:24; Gen 16:12; Hebrew, "a wild-ass man"). Man wishes to appear wisely obedient to his Lord, whereas he is, from his birth, unsubdued in spirit.
13 The apodosis to the "If" is at Job 11:15. The preparation of the heart is to be obtained (Pro 16:1) by stretching out the hands in prayer for it (Psa 10:17; 1Ch 29:18).
14 Rather, "if thou wilt put far away the iniquity in thine hand" (as Zaccheus did, Luk 19:8). The apodosis or conclusion is at Job 11:15, "then shalt thou," etc.
15 Zophar refers to Job's own words (Job 10:15), "yet will I not lift up my head," even though righteous. Zophar declares, if Job will follow his advice, he may "lift up his face." spot - (Deu 32:5). steadfast - literally, "run fast together," like metals which become firm and hard by fusion. The sinner on the contrary is wavering.
16 Just as when the stream runs dry (Job 6:17), the danger threatened by its wild waves is forgotten (Isa 65:16) [Umbreit].
17 age - days of life. the noon-day - namely, of thy former prosperity; which, in the poet's image, had gone on increasing, until it reached its height, as the sun rises higher and higher until it reaches the meridian (Pro 4:18). shine forth - rather, "though now in darkness, thou shall be as the morning"; or, "thy darkness (if any dark shade should arise on thee, it) shall be as the morning" (only the dullness of morning twilight, not nocturnal darkness) [Umbreit].
18 The experience of thy life will teach thee there is hope for man in every trial. dig - namely, wells; the chief necessity in the East. Better, "though now ashamed (Rom 5:5, opposed to the previous 'hope'), thou shalt then rest safely" [Gesenius];
19 (Psa 4:8; Pro 3:24; Isa 14:30); oriental images of prosperity. make suit - literally, "stroke thy face," "caress thee" (Pro 19:6).
20 A warning to Job, if he would not turn to God. The wicked - that is, obdurate sinners. eyes ... fail - that is, in vain look for relief (Deu 28:65). Zophar implies Job's only hope of relief is in a change of heart. they shall not escape - literally, "every refuge shall vanish from them." giving up of the ghost - Their hope shall leave them as the breath does the body (Pro 11:7).
2 Zophar assails Job for his empty words, and indirectly, the two friends, for their weak reply. Taciturnity is highly prized among Orientals (Pro 10:8, Pro 10:19).
3 lies - rather, "vain boasting" (Isa 16:6; Jer 48:30). The "men" is emphatic; men of sense; in antithesis to "vain boasting."
mockest - upbraidest God by complaints, "shall no man make thee ashamed?"
4 doctrine - purposely used of Job's speeches, which sounded like lessons of doctrine (Deu 32:2; Pro 4:2).
thine - addressed to God. Job had maintained his sincerity against his friends suspicions, not faultlessness.
6 to that which is! - Rather, "they are double to [man's] wisdom" [Michaelis]. So the Hebrew is rendered (Pro 2:7). God's ways, which you arraign, if you were shown their secret wisdom, would be seen vastly to exceed that of men, including yours (1Co 1:25).
exacteth - Rather, "God consigns to oblivion in thy favor much of thy guilt."
7 Rather, "Penetrate to the perfections of the Almighty" (Job 9:10; Psa 139:6).
8 It - the "wisdom" of God (Job 11:6). The abruptness of the Hebrew is forcible: "The heights of heaven! What canst thou do" (as to attaining to them with thy gaze, Psa 139:8)?
know - namely, of His perfections.
10 cut off - Rather, as in Job 9:11, "pass over," as a storm; namely, rush upon in anger.
shut up - in prison, with a view to trial.
gather together - the parties for judgment: hold a judicial assembly; to pass sentence on the prisoners.
11 (Psa 94:11).
consider - so as to punish it. Rather, from the connection, Job 11:6, "He seeth wickedness also, which man does not perceive"; literally, "But no (other, save He) perceiveth it" [Umbreit]. God's "wisdom" (Job 11:6), detects sin where Job's human eye cannot reach (Job 11:8), so as to see any.
12 vain - hollow.
would be - "wants to consider himself wise"; opposed to God's "wisdom" (see on Job 11:11); refuses to see sin, where God sees it (Rom 1:22).
wild ass's colt - a proverb for untamed wildness (Job 39:5, Job 39:8; Jer 2:24; Gen 16:12; Hebrew, "a wild-ass man"). Man wishes to appear wisely obedient to his Lord, whereas he is, from his birth, unsubdued in spirit.
13 The apodosis to the "If" is at Job 11:15. The preparation of the heart is to be obtained (Pro 16:1) by stretching out the hands in prayer for it (Psa 10:17; 1Ch 29:18).
14 Rather, "if thou wilt put far away the iniquity in thine hand" (as Zaccheus did, Luk 19:8). The apodosis or conclusion is at Job 11:15, "then shalt thou," etc.
15 Zophar refers to Job's own words (Job 10:15), "yet will I not lift up my head," even though righteous. Zophar declares, if Job will follow his advice, he may "lift up his face."
spot - (Deu 32:5).
steadfast - literally, "run fast together," like metals which become firm and hard by fusion. The sinner on the contrary is wavering.
16 Just as when the stream runs dry (Job 6:17), the danger threatened by its wild waves is forgotten (Isa 65:16) [Umbreit].
17 age - days of life.
the noon-day - namely, of thy former prosperity; which, in the poet's image, had gone on increasing, until it reached its height, as the sun rises higher and higher until it reaches the meridian (Pro 4:18).
shine forth - rather, "though now in darkness, thou shall be as the morning"; or, "thy darkness (if any dark shade should arise on thee, it) shall be as the morning" (only the dullness of morning twilight, not nocturnal darkness) [Umbreit].
18 The experience of thy life will teach thee there is hope for man in every trial.
dig - namely, wells; the chief necessity in the East. Better, "though now ashamed (Rom 5:5, opposed to the previous 'hope'), thou shalt then rest safely" [Gesenius];
19 (Psa 4:8; Pro 3:24; Isa 14:30); oriental images of prosperity.
make suit - literally, "stroke thy face," "caress thee" (Pro 19:6).
20 A warning to Job, if he would not turn to God.
The wicked - that is, obdurate sinners.
eyes ... fail - that is, in vain look for relief (Deu 28:65). Zophar implies Job's only hope of relief is in a change of heart.
they shall not escape - literally, "every refuge shall vanish from them."
giving up of the ghost - Their hope shall leave them as the breath does the body (Pro 11:7).