Job 21

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 21:30

These conclusions are now set forth. They are, that the wicked is reserved for (or rather, spared in ) the day of destruction, and that they shall be brought forth to (rather, removed out of the way in ) the day of wrath . This, according to Job, was the popular sentiment of his time; and, no doubt, there is in all ages a large mass of fleeting opinion to the same effect. Striking examples of wickedness in high places draw attention, and provoke indignation, and are much talked... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 21:30

The reservation of the Divine judgment. The expositions of these verses are various, and all true homiletics must be based on true exposition. But there is no diversity of opinion amongst expositors as to the final judgment of the wicked. Whatever, therefore, may be the aspect in which it is viewed by the argument of this chapter, it cannot be too loudly declared that judgment upon the wicked is reserved. That a final day of adjudication will come has its aspect of warning to the wrong-doer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 21:31

Who shall declare his way to his face? rather, Who shall denounce? i.e. Who will be bold enough to tell the rich and powerful man that he is wicked? that his "way," or course of life, is altogether wrong? And who shall repay him what he hath done? Still less will any one be found who will take upon him to attack such a one, to prosecute him in courts or otherwise bring him to condign punishment. Thus, being castigated neither by God nor man, he enjoys complete impunity. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 21:32

Yet shall he be brought to the grave ; rather, he moreover is borne (in pomp) to the grave . Even in death the advantage is still with the wicked man. He is borne in procession to the grave—a mausoleum or a family vault—by a long train of mourners, who weep and lament for him, and pay him funeral honours. The poor virtuous man, on the other hand, is hastily thrust under the soil. And shall remain in in the tomb ; or shall keep watch over his tomb. The allusion is probably to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 21:33

The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him . In his mausoleum, by the side of the running stream, the very clods of the valley, wherein his tomb is placed, shall be sweet and pleasant to him—death thus losing half its terrors. And all men shall draw after him . Some explain this of the lengthy funeral procession which follows his corpse to the grave, and take the next clause of the multitude, not forming part of the procession, who gather together at the tomb beforehand, waiting to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 21:34

How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood? Your position, that the godly always prosper, while the wicked are afflicted and brought low, being an absolutely false one, your attempts to console and comfort me are wholly vain and futile. Why continue them? Most commentators consider the second colloquy here to end, and a pause to occur, before Eliphaz resumes the argument. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 21:34

Vain comfort. The three bungling comforters are wasting their efforts, because they are not speaking the truth. Their misapprehension and misrepresentation vitiate all their good intentions. I. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THOSE WHOM WE WOULD HELP . 1 . By mixing with them . Job's friends took the first step. They travelled from their remote homes across the desert and came to see him. We can only help the miserable if we first go among them and see them with our own eyes.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:2

Hear diligently - Hebrew “Hearing hear” - that is, hear attentively. What he was about to say was worthy of their solemn consideration.And let this be your consolations - That is, “You came to me for the professed purpose of giving “me” consolation. In that you have wholly failed. You have done nothing to sustain or comfort me; but all that you have said has only tended to exasperate me, and to increase my sorrow. If you will now hear me attentively, I will take that as a consolation, and it... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:3

Suffer me that I may speak - Allow me to speak without interruption, or bear with me while I freely express my sentiments - it is all that I now ask.And after that I have spoken, mock on - Resume your reproaches, if you will, when I am done. I ask only the privilege of expressing my thoughts on a very important point, and when that is done, I will allow you to resume your remarks as you have done before, and you may utter your sentiments without interruption. Or it may be, that Job utters this... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:4

As for me, is my complaint to man? - There is some difficulty in the interpretation of this verse, and considerable variety of explanation may be seen among expositors. The “object” of the verse is plain. It is to state a reason why they should hear him with patience and without interruption. The meaning of this part of the verse probably is, that his principal difficulty was not with his friends, but with God. It was not so much what they had said, that gave him trouble, as it was what God had... read more

Group of Brands