It shall be accomplished before his time . "It [ i.e. the recompense] shall be accomplished [or, 'paid in full '] before its time [ i.e. before payment is due]." A vague threat, probably intended to signify that death will come upon the wicked man prematurely, before he has lived out halt the days of his natural life. And his branch shall not be green ; i.e. he shall wither and fade, like a tree not planted by the waterside ( Psalms 1:3 ). read more
Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity - The sense is, “Let him not trust in vanity. He will be deceived. Vanity will be his recompense.” The idea is, that a man should not confide in that which will furnish no support. He should not rely on his wealth and rank; his houses and lands; his servants, his armies, or his power, if he is wicked, for all this is vain. He needs some better reliance, and that can be found only in a righteous life. The word vanity here means that which is... read more
It shall be accomplished before his time - Margin, “cut off.” The image here is that of a tree, which had been suggested in Job 15:30. Here it is followed up by various illustrations drawn from the flower, the fruit, etc., all of which are designed to denote the same thing - that a wicked man will not be permanently prosperous; he will not live and flourish as he would if he were righteous. He will be like a tree that is cut down before its proper time, or that casts its flowers and fruits and... read more
Job 15:31. Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity That is, in the vain and deceitful things of this world, such as power, riches, honour, &c., of which, and of the loss of them, he had been discoursing largely; and now he subjoins a general caution to all men to take heed of running into the same error and mischief with the fore-mentioned persons: and, withal, he secretly intimates what, he judged, had been Job’s great sin, and the cause of his ruin, namely, his carnal confidence... read more
Job 15:32-33. It shall be accomplished Namely, that which was last mentioned, that vanity should be his recompense: before his time When, by the course of nature, and common providence, he might have continued and flourished much longer. And his branch His glory and prosperity, or his children; shall not be green Shall not continue to flourish as heretofore. He shall shake off his unripe grapes The wicked man, who, by his sins, is the author of his own ruin, shall be deprived of his... read more
15:1-21:34 SECOND ROUND OF ARGUMENTEliphaz speaks (15:1-35)The three friends are offended that their collective wisdom has not humbled Job as they had hoped. They are angered that Job continues to argue with God. Therefore, in this the second round of argument they emphasize the terrors of God’s judgment, hoping that this might bring Job to repentance.Eliphaz, the least aggressive of the three, leads off again, though clearly even he is angered and offended at Job’s speech. Job claims to be a... read more
Job 15:31. Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity— Let him not trust in prosperity; it is a mere illusion; for it will turn out nothing but vanity: Heath: who renders the next verse, For his branch shall not flourish; it shall be cut off before its time. read more
31. Rather, "let him not trust in vanity or he will be deceived," c. vanity—that which is unsubstantial. Sin is its own punishment (Proverbs 1:31 Jeremiah 2:19). read more
32. Literally, "it (the tree to which he is compared, :-, or else his life) shall not be filled up in its time"; that is, "he shall be ended before his time." shall not be green—image from a withered tree; the childless extinction of the wicked. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Job 15:31
Trusting in vanity. I. THE HABIT OF TRUSTING IN VANITY . The vanity spoken of is any empty ground of trust, like an island of floating weeds on which careless people build their homes, but which will be shattered, with all that is on it, in the first storm. 1 . A delusion. We may be persuaded to accept what is not true. Our belief does not give any reality to the delusion; we are then trusting in vanity. 2 . Self. We are all too ready to think our own resources... read more