Job 11:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 11:1-6

It is sad to see what intemperate passions even wise and good men are sometimes betrayed into by the heat of disputation, of which Zophar here is an instance. Eliphaz began with a very modest preface, Job 4:2. Bildad was a little more rough upon Job, Job 8:2. But Zophar falls upon him without mercy, and gives him very bad language: Should a man full of talk be justified? And should thy lies make men hold their peace? Isa. this the way to comfort Job? No, nor to convince him neither. Does this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 11:2

Should not the multitude of words be answered ?.... Zophar insinuates, that Job was a mere babbler, a talkative man, that had words, but no matter; said a great deal, but there was nothing in what he said; that his words were but wind, yea, in effect that he was a fool, who is commonly full of words, and is known by the multitude of them; and whereas he might think to bear down all before him in this way, and to discourage persons from giving him an answer; this Zophar suggests should not be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 11:2

Should not the multitude of words be answered? - Some translate, "To multiply words profiteth nothing." And should a man full of talk be justified - שפתים איש ish sephathayim , "a man of lips," a proper appellation for a great talker: he is "a man of lips," i.e., his lips are the only active parts of his system. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:1-6

Zophar to Job: 1. The opinions of a dogmatist. I. ZOPHAR 'S OPINIONS CONCERNING JOB . A severe but wholly unfounded indictment. 1 . Loquacity. Job's previous orations, so full of lofty sentiment and fervent emotion, he characterizes as "a multitude of words," and Job himself as "a man full of talk [literally, 'a man of lips']." Prolixity in speech, though not a violation of God's Law, is certainly a breach of good taste. Words should never be employed except to represent... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:1-6

Self-complacency condemned. Even the lowly and humble are liable to over-estimate their own goodness, and the more so if roused to self-justification. All imperfect human judgments, given as Job's were, under the influence of deep feeling, are liable to be coloured, to be overdrawn and extravagant. Job's long speech in his own justification is likened by Zophar to a torrent. Zophar, like his companions, may judge Job harshly, wherein lies his error and theirs; but his words have a vein of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:1-20

Zophar, the Naamathite, the third of Job's comforters ( Job 2:11 ), and probably the youngest of them, now at last takes the word, and delivers an angry and violent speech. He begins by accusing Job of having spoken at undue length, and at the same time, boastfully and mockingly (verses 2-4). He then expresses a wish that God would take Job at his word, and really answer him, since he is sure that the result would be to show that Job had been punished much less than he. deserved to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:1-20

Humble yourselves beneath the mighty hand of God. Zophar, the youngest of the friends, now comes forward once more to beat down the complaint of Job with the old arguments and commonplaces. To support his words, he does not appeal to a vision like Eliphaz, nor rely on the wisdom of the ancients like Bildad, but depends on his own understanding and zealous though narrow instinct for God. His whole speech is an example of the beauty and, at the same time, the defect of religious zeal. In... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:2

Should not the multitude of words be answered? A "multitude of words" is often reproved in Scripture, and taken as a sign of either folly ( Ecclesiastes 5:8 ) or sin ( Proverbs 10:19 ). Job had certainly been somewhat unduly verbose, and laid himself open to the taunt hero launched against him; but neither had brevity been studied by his other friends in their previous answers ( Job 4:1-21 ; Job 5:1-27 ; Job 8:1-22 .), nor is it greatly studied by Zophar here. And should a man... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 11:2

The provocation of a reply. Zophar will not take the trouble to be courteous. He rudely addresses Job as a "man full of talk." He has been irritated by the "multitude of words" that Job has poured forth. The very volume of the patriarch's discourse provokes the man of the world to make a reply. I. THE OVERFLOW OF FEELING FINDS VENT IN A MULTITUDE OF WORDS . Speech is not all calculated and purposeful. Sometimes it is aimless and reckless. It is not always directed to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 11:2

Should not the multitude of words be answered? - As if all that Job had said had been mere words; or as if he was remarkable for mere garrulity.And should a man full of talk be justified - Margin, as in Hebrew “of lips.” The phrase is evidently a Hebraism, to denote a great talker - a man of mere lips, or empty sound. Zophar asks whether such a man could be justified or vindicated. It will be recollected that taciturnity was with the Orientals a much greater virtue than with us, and that it was... read more

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