Job 21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:15

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? - compare for similar expressions, Exodus 5:2; Proverbs 30:9. The meaning here is, “What claim has the Almighty, or who is he, that we should be bound to obey and worship him? What authority has he over us? Why should we yield our will to his, and why submit to his claims?” This is the language of the human heart everywhere. Man seeks to deny the authority of God over him, and to feel that he has no claim to his service. He desires to be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:16

Lo, their good is not in their hand - Schultens, Rosenmuller, and Noyes, suppose, I think, correctly, that this is to be understood ironically, or as referring to what “they” had maintained. “Lo! you say, that their good is not in their hand! They do not enjoy prosperity, do they? They are soon overwhelmed with calamity, are they? How often have I seen it otherwise! How often is it a fact that they continue to enjoy prosperity, and live and die in peace!” The common interpretation, which Prof.... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:17

How oft is the candle of the wicked put out? - Margin, “lamp.” A light, or a lamp, was an image of prosperity. There is, probably, an allusion here to what had been maintained by Bildad, Job 18:5-6, that the light of the wicked would be extinguished, and their dwellings made dark; see the notes at those verses. Job replies to this by asking how often it occurred. He inquires whether it was a frequent thing. By this, he implies that it was not universal; that it was a less frequent occurrence... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:18

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 with people exactly according to their characters, and that the wicked are certainly subjected to calamities; but how often does this, in fact, occur? Is it a uniform law? Do they not, in fact, live in prosperity, and arrive at a good old age?” It is not uncommon in the Scriptures to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:19

God layeth up his iniquity for his children - Margin, that is, “the punishment of iniquity.” This is a reference evidently to the opinion which “they” had maintained. It may be rendered, “You say that God layeth up iniquity,” etc. They had affirmed that not only did God, as a great law, punish the wicked in this life, but that the consequences of their sins passed over to their posterity; or, if “they” were not punished, yet the calamity would certainly come on their descendants; see Job... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:20

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 to meet this, and to show that it is not always so.And he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty - Wrath is often represented as a cup which the wicked are compelled to drink. See the notes, Isaiah 51:17. read more

Albert Barnes

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

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 statement by Job of what “they” maintained. They held, that a man who was wicked, could have none of the comfort which he anticipated in his children, for he would himself be cut off in the midst of life, and taken away.When the number of his months is cut off in the midst? - When his “life” is cut off - the word “months” here being... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:22

Shall any teach God knowledge? - This commences the reply of Job to the sentiments of his friends to which he had just adverted. The substance of the reply is, that no one could prescribe to God how he should deal with people, and that it; was not a FACT that people were treated as they had supposed. Instead of its being true, as they maintained, that wicked people would all be cut down in some fearful and violent manner, as a punishment for their sins, Job goes on Job 21:23-26 to show that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:23

One dieth in his full strength - Margin, “very perfection,” or, “in the strength of his perfection.” The meaning is, that he dies in the very prime and vigor of life, surrounded with everything that can contribute to comfort. Of the truth of this position, no one can doubt; and the wonder is, that the friends of Job had not seen or admitted it.Being wholly at ease and quiet - That is, having everything to make them happy, so far as external circumstances are concerned. He is borne down by no... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:24

His breasts - Margin, “milk pails.” The marginal translation is much the most correct, and it is difficult to understand why so improbable a statement has been introduced into our common version. But there has been great variety in the translation. The Vulgate renders it, Viscera ejus plena sunt adipe - “his viscera are full of fat.” So the Septuagint, τὰ ἔγκατα ἀυτοῦ πλήρη στέατος ta engkata autou plērē steatos. The Syraic, “his sides;” Prof. Lee, “his bottles;” Noyes, “his sides;”... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:15

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:20

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:22

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:23

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 21:24

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