Job 9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:15

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer ,.... This is not to be understood of the righteousness of his cause, that Job made no supposition of, but strongly asserted and determined to hold it fast as long as he lived; nor of his evangelic righteousness, the righteousness of faith he was acquainted with, even the righteousness of his living Redeemer, by which he knew he was, and should be, justified; and by which righteousness he could and did answer God, as every believer may,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:16

If I had called, and he had answered me ,.... Mr. Broughton reads the words, "if I cry, will he answer me?" as if Job had some doubt upon his mind whether God would vouchsafe to answer him, though he should make his supplication to him, as he proposed; seeing he had so sorely afflicted him, and still continued his hand upon him; or the words may be rendered, "though I have called, and he has answered" F17 אם קראתי ויענני "etiamsi clamavi et respondit mihi", Schmidt. , in times... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:17

For he breaketh me with a tempest ,.... Which rises suddenly, comes powerfully, and carries all before it irresistibly; hereby signifying the nature of his present sore afflictions, which came upon him at once, pressed him down, and utterly destroyed him, against which there was no standing: perhaps he may have some reference to the storm of wind that blew down the house, by which his children were destroyed. Schultens renders it, "a burning tempest" F19 בשערה "in turbine ardenti",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:18

He will not suffer me to take my breath ,.... Which some think refers to Job's disease, which was either an asthma, or a quinsy in his throat, which occasioned great difficulty in breathing: I should rather think the allusion is to the hot burning winds in those countries before mentioned, which sometimes blew so strongly as almost to take away a man's breath; so the above traveller F21 Travels. par. 1. B. 2. c. 34. p. 177. reports, that between Suez and Cairo (in Egypt) they had for a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:19

If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong ,.... Or think of it, or betake myself to that, and propose to carry my point by mere force, as some men do by dint of power and authority they are possessed of; alas! there is nothing to be done this way; I am a poor, weak, feeble creature in body, mind, and estate; I am not able to contend with so powerful an antagonist on any account, in any way: God is strong, he is the "most strong" F23 אמיץ "robustissimus est", V. L. , as some render... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:20

If I justify myself ,.... Seek for justification by his own righteousness, trust in himself that he was righteous, say that he was so, and pronounce himself a righteous man, what would it signify? mine own mouth shall condemn me ; the words of it being sinful, vain, idle, and frothy; and if a man is to be justified, and condemned by his words, he may be sure of the latter: indeed, "if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man", James 3:2 ; but let a man be as careful as he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:21

Though I were perfect ,.... Really and truly so, not conscious of any sin in thought, word, or deed; this is only a case supposed: yet would I not know my soul ; I would not own myself to be so before God; I would not insist upon such perfection in his presence, as what would justify me before him; since I am sensible the highest perfection of a creature is imperfection when compared with him: or the sense may be, should I say I were "perfect, I should not know my own soul"; I... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:22

This is one thing ,.... Or "one thing there is" F24 אחת היא "unum est", Munster, Mercerus, Schmidt. in the world, as Jarchi adds; or "one measure", as the Targum, to good and bad men; one event alike to the righteous, and to the wicked, Ecclesiastes 9:2 ; so that, as others render it, "it is all one" F25 "Perinde est", Cocceius. , whether a man righteous and perfect, or whether he is not, he is equally liable to be afflicted and distressed: and "this is one thing, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:23

If the scourge slay suddenly ,.... Not Satan, as Jarchi and Bar Tzemach; but any sore calamity which surrounds a man, lashes, cuts, and distresses him, as a whip or scourge; such as any of God's sore judgments, the sword, famine, pestilence, or evil beasts, which sometimes come suddenly, unawares, unthought of, and unexpected; and are sometimes only chastisements in love, the scourgings of a father, though generally in wrath and hot displeasure, and are an overflowing scourge, which carry... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:24

The earth is given into the hands of the wicked ,.... Either the wicked one, Satan, as Jarchi and Bar Tzemach, who is the god of this world; or some wicked tyrant, as Nimrod, or some other known by Job in his time, to whom he may have respect; or wicked men in general, who for the most part have the greatest share of the earth, and earthly things, and of power, dominion, and authority in it; and this they have of God, the powers that be are ordained by him, and therefore to be obeyed; and... read more

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