Job 23:8-14 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:9

On the left hand, where he doth work - In these two verses Job mentions the four cardinal points of the heavens: the East, by the word קדם kedem , which signifies before; the West, by אחור achor , which signifies after, or the back part; the North, by שמאל semol , which signifies the left; and the South, by ימין yamin , which signifies the right. Such is the situation of the world to a man who faces the east; see Genesis 13:9 , Genesis 13:11 ; Genesis 28:14 . And from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:10

But he knoweth the way that I take - He approves of my conduct; my ways please him. He tries me: but, like gold, I shall lose nothing in the fire; I shall come forth more pure and luminous. If that which is reputed to be gold is exposed to the action of a strong fire, if it be genuine, it will lose nothing of its quality, nor of its weight. If it went into the fire gold, it will come out gold; the strongest fire will neither alter nor destroy it. So Job: he went into this furnace of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:11

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept - I have carefully marked his providential dealings; and in his way - his pure and undefiled religion - have I walked. I have not only been generally but particularly religious: I have attended carefully to the weightier matters of the law, and have not forgotten its slightest injunctions. Coverdale is curious: - Nevertheles my fete kepe his path, his hye strete have I holden, and not gone out of it. The hye strete is highway, the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:12

The commandment of his lips - The written law that proceeded from his own mouth. I have esteemed the words of his mouth - Mr. Good has given a better version of the original: In my bosom have I stored up the words of his mouth. The Asiatics carry every thing precious or valuable in their bosom, their handkerchiefs, jewels, purses, etc. Job, therefore, intimates that the words of God's mouth were to him a most precious treasure. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:13

But he is in one mind - The original is באחד והוא vehu beechad , and is literally, But he is in one: properly rendered by the Vulgate, Ipse enim solus est. But he is alone. And not badly rendered by Coverdale - It is he himself alone. He has no partner; his designs are his own, they are formed in his infinite wisdom, and none can turn his determinations aside. It is vain, therefore, for man to contend with his Maker. He designs my happiness, and you cannot prevent its accomplishment. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:14

For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me - Coverdale translates: - He rewardeth me into my bosome, and many other thinges mo doth he, as he maye by his power. חקי chukki may as well be translated bosom here as in Job 23:12 ; but probably it may mean a portion, lot, sufficiency: For he hath appointed me my lot; and like these there are multitudes with him. He diversifies human affairs: scarcely any two men have the same lot; nor has the same person the same portion at all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:1-17

Longing for the appearance of the delivering and justifying God. I. EXCLAMATION . ( Job 23:2-5 .) So bitter is his complaint, "his hand is heavy upon his groaning," i.e. he must force groan after groan out of himself. Oh that he knew where to find the judgment-seat of God, and that he might have the opportunity of pleading his cause! ( Job 23:3-5 ). He possesses still "faith and a good conscience," those best jewels of a Christian ( 1 Timothy 1:5 ), and can think of appearing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:3-13

The true support under deferred judgment. In the bitterness of his complaint and the heaviness of his stroke, Job makes known his desire to appeal directly to God. In the impossibility of this his faith is more and more severely tested; but he reposes in an assurance that the Divine eye is upon him, and he is confident of a just and even merciful sentence. So does conscious integrity uphold the tried and suffering believer, over whom for the present the shadows of suspicion gather, although... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:8

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there ; that is, "He is not there to my perceptions ." I may believe it, but I have no sensible proof of it, and I cannot demonstrate it. And backward, but I cannot perceive him . In describing locality, the Hebrews, Arabs, and Orientals generally always imagined themselves to be looking eastward, facing the rising sun. Hence the same word is used for" in front," "forwards," and "the east;" for "behind," "backwards," and "the west;" for "the left hand"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:8-9

Here Job returns to the complaint of verse 3. He cannot "find" God. God hides himself. It is in vain that he searches on every side. There is no manifestation, no open vision. Nothing, however, leads him to doubt God's existence, or even his presence where he is unperceived. "Job's conviction of God's absolute presence comes out most strongly when he feels that he cannot discern him" (Cook). read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:1-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:3-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:8-9

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