Job 4:16

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 4:1-21

Eliphaz speaks (4:1-5:27)The first of the three friends to speak is Eliphaz, who is probably the oldest of the three. He is also the least severe in the accusations brought against Job (4:1-2). He begins by noting that in the past Job comforted others in their troubles, but now that he has troubles himself, his faith has failed. If Job truly honoured God and was upright in his ways, there would be no need for this despondency (3-6). The person who is innocent, argues Eliphaz, need not fear... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 4:16

Job 4:16. It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof, &c.— It stood still indeed, but I knew not its form: the appearance vanished from before mine eyes, but I heard a voice. Houbigant. Dr. Grey renders it, he stood, but I knew not his form, nor the image before mine eyes: there was a profound calm, and I heard a voice. It is supposed by this and many other commentators, that the word רוח ruach, rendered spirit, in this and the 15th verse, should be rendered a wind: then a... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 4:16

16. It stood still—At first the apparition glides before Eliphaz, then stands still, but with that shadowy indistinctness of form which creates such an impression of awe; a gentle murmur: not (English Version): there was silence; for in 1 Kings 19:12, the voice, as opposed to the previous storm, denotes a gentle, still murmur. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 4:1-22

B. The First Cycle of Speeches between Job and His Three Friends chs. 4-14The two soliloquies of Job (chs. 3 and 29-31) enclose three cycles of dialogue between Job and his three friends. Each cycle consists of speeches by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, in that order, interspersed with Job’s reply to each address. This pattern continues through the first two cycles of speeches (chs. 4-14 and 15-21) but breaks down in the third when Zophar failed to continue the dialogue."Now the discussion... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 4:1-27

1. Eliphaz’s first speech chs. 4-5Eliphaz’s first speech has a symmetrical introverted (chiastic) structure that emphasizes the central section."A Opening remark (Job 4:2) B Exhortation (Job 4:3-6) C God’s dealings with men (Job 4:7-11) D The revelation of truth (Job 4:12-21) C’ God’s dealings with men (Job 5:1-16) B’ Exhortation (Job 5:17-26)A’ Closing remark (Job 5:27)" [Note: Andersen, p. 111.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 4:12-21

Eliphaz’s vision 4:12-21Eliphaz’s authority was a vision (Job 4:12). It seems that his vision was not a revelation from God for the following reasons. He did not say that it was from the Lord. God normally identified revelations from Himself as such, to those who received them, when He used this method of revelation. Furthermore, the content of what Eliphaz received in the vision (Job 4:17-21) does not represent God as He has revealed Himself elsewhere in Scripture. Specifically, God appears... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 4:1-21

The First Speech of Eliphaz (Job 4, 5)Eliphaz is the principal and probably the oldest of the three friends: cp. Job 32:6. He is also the most considerate. But the complainings of Job in Job 3 had evidently deepened in him the bad impression which must have been created by Job’s sufferings, and being ignorant of the true cause of his trials he draws false conclusions from them. Whilst admitting that Job is fundamentally a pious man, Eliphaz infers that his sufferings must be the punishment of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Job 4:1-21

Job 4:1 If he had been a fool he would never have been dear to Job, nor would he have been one of the three amongst all Job's acquaintances who came to him from afar.... Eliphaz is partly a rhetorician, and, like all persons with that gift, he is frequently carried off his feet and ceases to touch the firm earth.... A certain want of connexion and pertinence is observable in him. A man who is made up of what he hears or reads always lacks unity and directness. Confronted by any difficulty or by... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Job 4:1-21

VII.THE THINGS ELIPHAZ HAD SEENJob 4:1-21; Job 5:1-27ELIPHAZ SPEAKSTHE ideas of sin and suffering against which the poem of Job was written come now dramatically into view. The belief of the three friends had always been that God, as righteous Governor of human life, gives felicity in proportion to obedience and appoints trouble in exact measure of disobedience. Job himself, indeed, must have held the same creed. We may imagine that while he was prosperous his friends had often spoken with him... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Job 4:1-21

CHAPTERS 4-5 The First Address of Eliphaz 1. He rebukes Job (Job 4:1-5 ) 2. The righteous are not cast off (Job 4:6-11 ) 3. An awe-inspiring vision (Job 4:12-21 ) 4. Experience and exhortation (Job 5:1-16 ) 5. Happy is the man whom God correcteth (Job 5:17-27 ) With this chapter the long and tedious controversy between Job and his three visitors begins. His pitiful lamentation brings forth the addresses of his friends. Eliphaz and Bildad speak thrice, each answered by Job, and Zophar... read more

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 4:1-21

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 4:16

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 4:16

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 4:1-22

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 4:1-27

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 4:12-21

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Job 4:1-21

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Job 4:1-21

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Job 4:1-21

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Job 4:1-21

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