Job 27:23. Men Who shall see and observe these things; shall clap their hands at him In token of their joy, at the removal of such a public pest and tyrant; and by way of astonishment, as also in contempt and scorn; all which this action signifies in Scripture. And shall hiss him out of his place In token of detestation and derision. read more
27:1-31:40 JOB’S SUMMARYThe traditional teaching (27:1-23)According to the established pattern of the debate, Zophar should speak next, but when he does not, Job proceeds to summarize his own position. He restates that, in spite of his suffering and bitterness, he is innocent of the great wrongdoing of which they accuse him, and he assures them that he intends to remain innocent (27:1-6).Job knows as well as his friends do that the ungodly will, in the end, be punished and no final cry for... read more
23. clap . . . hands—for joy at his downfall (Lamentations 2:15; Nahum 3:19). hiss—deride (Nahum 3:19- :). Job alludes to Bildad's words (Nahum 3:19- :). read more
Job’s denial of his friends’ wisdom ch. 27Since Job 27:1 begins, "Then Job continued . . .," Job may have paused and waited for Zophar to respond. However, we have no third speech by him in the text. Evidently Job proceeded to elaborate further on Bildad’s "wisdom" but broadened his perspective and addressed all three friends. "You" in Job 27:5; Job 27:11-12 is plural in the Hebrew text.Job began by affirming his innocence (Job 27:1-6). For the first time he took an oath that his words were... read more
Job’s Eighth Speech (concluded)1-6. Job protests that he is innocent.Job 27:1-6 are an enlargement of what Job had previously said (Job 13:16) of his determination not to admit that he was being punished for his sins, since he felt that he was innocent of any great offence. This much is plain, but the rest of the chapter (Job 27:7-23) is puzzling; inasmuch as the sentiments expressed regarding the fate of the wicked seem opposed to Job’s views in the rest of the book when he enlarges on the... read more
Job 27:6 Human nature is a noble and beautiful thing; not a foul nor a base thing.... Have faith that God made you upright, though you have sought out many inventions; so you will strive daily to become more what your Maker meant and means you to be, and daily gives you also the power to be, and you will cling more and more to the nobleness and virtue that is in you, saying, 'My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go'. Ruskin in The Grown of Wild Olive. The great thing in the world... read more
XXII.THE OUTSKIRTS OF HIS WAYSJob 26:1-14; Job 27:1-23Job SPEAKSBEGINNING his reply Job is full of scorn and sarcasm."How hast thou helped one without power! How hast thou saved the strengthless arm! How hast thou counselled one void of knowledge, And plentifully declared the thing that is known!"Well indeed hast thou spoken, O man of singular intelligence. I am very weak, my arm is powerless. What reassurance, what generous help thou hast provided! I, doubtless, know nothing, and thou hast... read more
CHAPTER 27 Job’s Closing Words in Self-Vindication 1. My righteousness I hold fast (Job 27:1-6 ) 2. The contrast between himself and the wicked (Job 27:7-23 ) Job 27:1-6 . Zophar, the third friend, no longer speaks. Perhaps Job paused after his remarks in answer to Bildad and waited for Zophar’s criticism. Perhaps that young hot-head hid his inability of advancing another argument under an assumed disgust. Critics have assigned Job 27:7-10 and Job 27:13-23 to Zophar and claim that Job did... read more
HOLDING FAST HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS (vv.1-7) In Chapter 26 Job answered Bildad fully. Bildad's last argument was very brief, and after this Zophar had nothing at all to say. Job has already won the debate, though he fully, admits that he has not found the relief he is seeking. Now he spends five chapters in his self-defence, which will get him nowhere as regards the answer to his distressing condition, for his comparatively righteous life had nothing to do with the answer to his questions. He... read more
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Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 27:23
Men shall clap their hands at him - That is, they shall combine to drive him out of the world, and rejoice when he is gone. The same sentiment was also expressed by Bildad, Job 18:18 :“He shall be driven fromm light into darkness,And chased out of the world.”There can be no doubt, I think, that Job alludes to that sentiment, and that his object in quoting it is to show its incorrectness. He does not indeed go into a formal reply to it in the following chapters, but he seems to consider that he... read more