Job 42:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:5

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear . Hitherto, i.e; I have had nothing but hearsay knowledge of thee; I have not known thee in any true sense; but now —now that thou hast revealed thyself— mine eye seeth thee; my spiritual eye is opened, and 1 begin to see thee in thy true might, thy true greatness, thy true inscrutableness. Now I recognize the distance which separates us, and feel how unreasonable it is that I should contend with thee, argue with thee, assume myself to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:5

The soul's experience of God. This is a grand experience for Job to attain to. It is worth all the agony and mystery of his bitter affliction. Suddenly the black clouds break open and the glorious vision of God appears beyond them. Job now contrasts his new, direct seeing of God with his former hearsay knowledge. I. A HEARSAY KNOWLEDGE OF GOD . This is what Job possessed in the old days. Not that he was without any religious experience in those prosperous times. But the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:5-6

Hearsay and vision. I. HEARSAY IS NOT VISION . Hearsay may be distinguished from vision two ways. 1 . In respect of its nature. Hearsay, as the term signifies in common speech, is information received at second hand, by report, in contrast to that derived from personal observation and experience, which it is usual to describe as seeing. When applied to our knowledge of Divine things* the former may be understood as signifying all that instruction which comes to us from without,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:6

Wherefore I abhor myself ; or, I loathe my words (see the Revised Version). And repent in dust and ashes. Job was still sitting on the ash-heap on which he had thrown himself when his disease first smote him ( Job 2:8 ). He had thrown himself on it in grief and de, pair; he will remain seated on it in compunction and penitence. His self-humiliation is now complete. He does not retract what he has said concerning his essential integrity, but he admits that his words have been... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 42:2

I know that thou canst do everything - This is said by Job in view of what had been declared by the Almighty in the previous chapters. It is an acknowledgment that God was omnipotent, and that man ought to be submissive, under the putting forth of his infinite power. One great object of the address of the Almighty was to convince Job of his majesty, and that object was fully accomplished.And that no thought - No purpose or plan of thine. God was able to execute all his designs.Can be withholden... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 42:3

Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? - This is repeated from Job 38:2. As used there these are the words of the Almighty, uttered as a reproof of Job for the manner in which he had undertaken to explain the dealings of God; see the notes at that verse. As repeated here by Job, they are an acknowledgment of the truth of what is there implied, that “he” had been guilty of hiding counsel in this manner, and the repetition here is a part of his confession. He acknowledges that he “had”... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 42:4

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak - This is the language of humble, docile submission. On former occasions he had spoken confidently and boldly of God; he had called in question the equity of his dealings with him; he had demanded that he might be permitted to carry his cause before him, and argue it there himself; Notes, Job 13:3, and notes Job 13:20-22. Now he is wholly changed. His is the submissive language of a docile child, and he begs to be permitted to sit down before God, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 42:5

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear - Referring to the indistinct views which we have of anything by merely hearing of it, compared with the clear apprehension which is furnished by sight. Job had had such views of God as one may obtain by being told of him; he now had such views as are furnished by the sight. The meaning is, that his views of God before were dark and obscure.But now mine eye seeth thee - We are not to suppose that Job means to say that he actually “saw” God, but... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 42:6

Wherefore I abhor myself - I see that I am a sinner to be loathed and abhorred. Job, though he did not claim to be perfect, had yet unquestionably been unduly exalted with the conception of his own righteousness, and in the zeal of his argument, and under the excitement of his feelings when reproached by his friends, had indulged in indefensible language respecting his own integrity. He now saw the error and folly of this, and desired to take the lowest place of humiliation. Compared with a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 42:2

Job 42:2. I know thou canst do every thing Job here subscribes to God’s unlimited power, knowledge, and dominion, to prove which was the scope of God’s discourse out of the whirlwind. And his judgment being convinced of these, his conscience also was convinced of his own folly in speaking so irreverently concerning him. No thought can be withholden from thee No thought of ours can be withholden from thy knowledge. And there is no thought of thine which thou canst be hindered from bringing... read more

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