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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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Job 4:15

(15) A spirit passed before my face.—It is vain to argue from this passage that spiritual essences are capable of being seen by the bodily eye, because, first of all, the language is highly figurative and poetical, and because, secondly, every one understands that a spiritual manifestation can be made only to the spirit. The notion, therefore, of seeing a spirit is absurd in itself, because it involves the idea of seeing the invisible; but it is conceivable that the perceptions of the inner... 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

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Job 4:16

4:16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image [was] before mine eyes, [there was] {k} silence, and I heard a voice, [saying],(k) When all things were quiet or when the fear was relieved as God appeared to Elijah, 1 Kings 19:12. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Job 4:1-21

ELIPHAZ: COMMENDATION TWISTED INTO REBUKE (vv.1-6) The three friends of Job could only think of God's justice in reference to Job's sufferings, and had no idea of God's love. Eliphaz no doubt thought he would help Job by his remarkable knowledge and ability in speaking, but his diagnosis of Job's ailment was totally wrong. He begins gently and kindly, "If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking? (v.12). Then he rightly reminds Job that... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Job 4:1-21

FIRST SERIES OF THE DEBATE The first series of the debate may be outlined as follows: 1. With Eliphaz (chaps. 4-7) a. Speech of Eliphaz (chaps. 4-5) b. Reply of (chaps. 6-7) 2. With Bildad (chaps. 8-10) a. Speech of Bildad (chap. 8) b. Reply of Job (chaps. 9-10) 3. With Zophar (chaps. 11-14) a. Speech of Zophar (chap. 11) b. Reply of Job (chaps. 12-14) It is thought the debate may have occupied several days, by which supposition some of the difficulties of the book are removed. In the... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Job 4:1-21

The Argument of Eliphaz. I. Job 4:0 We must remember that the three comforters who came to Job in the hour of his great grief probably never heard such a speech as that which Job poured forth when after seven days and seven nights he opened his mouth, and cursed his day. Who could reply to such a speech? It may be that Eliphaz was the oldest and the chief of the comforters who came to the suffering patriarch, and therefore he began the conversation. The best comment upon his speech, as indeed... read more

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