Job 23:17 NLT,NIV,ESV

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Job 23:17

Because, &c. See translation below. darkness. Hebrew. hashak . See note on Job 3:6 . darkness. Hebrew. 'ophel . See note on Job 3:6 . read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 23:17

17. Because I was not taken away by death from the evil to come (literally, "from before the face of the darkness," Isaiah 57:1). Alluding to the words of Eliphaz (Isaiah 57:1- :), "darkness," that is, calamity. cut off—rather, in the Arabic sense, brought to the land of silence; my sad complaint hushed in death [UMBREIT]. "Darkness" in the second clause, not the same Hebrew word as in the first, "cloud," "obscurity." Instead of "covering the cloud (of evil) from my face," He "covers" me with... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 23:1-25

2. Job’s third reply to Eliphaz chs. 23-24Job temporarily ignored Eliphaz’s groundless charges of sin and proceeded to reflect on the problem of God’s injustice."The first part of this speech is superb. The option placed before Job by Eliphaz has clarified his thinking. He has come to quite different conclusions, and he expresses them in a soliloquy, for he does not appear to be addressing either Eliphaz or God." [Note: Andersen, p. 207.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 23:13-17

Job’s frustration 23:13-24:17God’s irresistible power and inscrutable behavior made Job afraid (Job 23:13-17). Nevertheless he determined to confront God with His apparent injustice.Job could not understand why God did not always judge overt sin quickly (Job 24:1-12). Most people still have the same question. He mentioned three sins specifically: removing boundary landmarks and thereby appropriating someone else’s land, stealing flocks of sheep, and mistreating the weak. Job could not see why... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:1-17

Job’s Seventh Speech (Job 23, 24)Job makes but slight reference to the remarks of Eliphaz, but continues to brood over the mysteries of God’s dealings with himself (Job 23), and with mankind (Job 24). All seems to betoken a God that hideth Himself. Yet he is evidently calmer and more trustful in God’s justice than in earlier speeches.1-7. Job longs that he may find God and plead his cause before Him, confident that He wifl acquit him of guilt.2b. RM ’My hand is heavy upon my groaning,’ i.e. I... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Job 23:1-17

Job 23:3 'I remember one day in the early springtide,' Tolstoy writes in his Confessions, 'I was listening to the sounds of a forest, and thinking only of one thing, a thing of which I had thought for two years on end I was again seeking for a God.... I remembered that I had lived only when I believed in a God. As it was before, so was it now; I had but to know God, in order to live; I had but to forget Him, to cease believing in Him, and I died. What was the meaning of this despair and... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Job 23:1-17

XX.WHERE IS ELOAH?Job 23:1-17; Job 24:1-25Job SPEAKSTHE obscure couplet with which Job begins appears to involve some reference to his whole condition alike of body and mind."Again today, my plaint, my rebellion! The hand upon me is heavier than my groanings."I must speak of my trouble and you will count it rebellion. Yet, if I moan and sigh, my pain and weariness are more than excuse. The crisis of faith is with him, a protracted misery, and hope hangs trembling in the balance. The false... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Job 23:1-17

CHAPTERS 23-24 Job’s Reply 1. O that I knew where I may find Him (Job 23:1-8 ) 2. Trusting yet doubting (Job 23:10-17 ) 3. Hath God failed? (Job 24:1-12 ) 4. Job’s further testimony as to the wicked (Job 24:13-25 ) Job 23:1-9 . Job here does not disprove at once the false charges of Eliphaz. He can afford to wait till later, till their mouths are completely silenced. Then he speaks the final word. He acknowledgeth that he is still rebellious. His hand which is upon him is heavier than... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Job 23:17

23:17 Because I was not cut off before the {l} darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.(l) He shows the cause for his fear, which is, that he being in trouble sees no end, nor yet knows the cause. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:1-17

HE LONGS TO LAY HIS CASE BEFORE GOD (vv.1-9) What Eliphaz has said to Job was hardly worth an answer, so that Job practically ignores this and lays before his friends the actual distresses that occupied his mind and heart. They had had no answer for this before, and when he is finished they still have no answer. In spite of all that his friends have said, he tells them, "Even today my complaint is bitter" (v.2). Their much talk had not changed anything for him. He continued to groan in... read more