Job 15:17-35

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 15:17-35

Eliphaz, having reproved Job for his answers, here comes to maintain his own thesis, upon which he built his censure of Job. His opinion is that those who are wicked are certainly miserable, whence he would infer that those who are miserable are certainly wicked, and that therefore Job was so. Observe, I. His solemn preface to this discourse, in which he bespeaks Job's attention, which he had little reason to expect, he having given so little heed to and put so little value upon what Job had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:17

I will show thee, hear me ,.... Here Eliphaz proceeds to illustrate and make plain, to clear and defend, his former sentiment and proposition, and into which the rest of his friends came; that only wicked, and not righteous men, are afflicted of God, especially in such a manner as Job was; and he proposes to show things worthy of his regard, and not such vain and unprofitable things which Job had uttered; and, in order to stir up and engage his attention, he says what follows: and that ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:18

Which wise men have told from their fathers ,.... Men wise in the best sense, not to do evil, but to do good; not worldly wise men, but such who have wisdom, sound wisdom in the inward parts; who are wise to salvation, and who are partakers of divine and spiritual wisdom; and such men, as they would never tell an untruth, so they would never report a false or a foolish thing they had heard, nor any thing but upon a good testimony, what they have received from their fathers, who were also... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:19

Unto whom alone the earth was given ,.... Who were intrusted with the government of whole kingdoms and nations; and therefore not mean men, but persons of great consequence, and to be credited; being such as were appointed by God, and by him put into such an high office, for which they were qualified by him; and being observed to be such by men, were made choice of by them to take the government of them: this is not to be restrained to the land of Canaan, and to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:20

The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days ,.... Either to commit iniquity, which he is at great pains to do, and even to weariness; and, agreeably to the metaphor used, he conceives it in his heart, he travails with it in his mind, and he brings forth falsehood and a lie, what disappoints him, and which issues in death, eternal death, see Psalm 7:14 ; or to get wealth and riches, in obtaining of which he pierces himself through with many sorrows; and these being like thorns, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:21

A dreadful sound is in his ears ,.... Or "a voice", or "sound of fears" F20 קול פחדים "sonitus timorum", Pagninus, Montanus, Bolducius; to the same sense Codurcus, Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Cocceius, Schmidt, Schultens. , of what causes fears; and which are either imaginary; sometimes wicked men, fear when there is no cause or occasion for it; they fancy an enemy at their heels, and flee, when none pursues them; they are a "Magormissabib", or "terror on every side", a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:22

He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness ,.... When he lies down at night he despairs of ever seeing the light of the morning, through fear of an enemy, a robber, a murderer, or of one disaster or another, Deuteronomy 28:66 ; or when he is in any affliction and calamity, which is often signified by darkness, he cannot persuade himself that he shall ever be delivered out of it, and restored to his former condition again: and here Eliphaz seems to glance at Job, who had no hope... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:23

He wandereth abroad for bread ,.... Either as a plunderer and robber, he roves about to increase his worldly power and substance; or rather, being reduced to poverty, wanders about from place to place, from door to door, to beg his bread; which is a curse imprecated on the posterity of wicked men, Psalm 109:10 ; saying , where is it ? where is bread to be had? where shall I go for it? where lives a liberal man that will give it freely and generously? by this question it seems as if... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:24

Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid ,.... Either his present troubles shall frighten him, they being so very dismal, terrible, and distressing, and make him fear that others were coming on, more dreadful and formidable; or those troubles he fears will be his portion hereafter, these terrify him beyond measure, even that indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, that shall come upon every soul of man that doeth evil, Romans 2:8 ; they shall prevail against him as a king ready... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:25

For he stretched out his hand against God ,.... Being an hater of him, an enemy to him, yea, enmity itself against him; an enemy in his mind, which appears by his wicked works, which are so many acts of hostility against God; all sins are against God, his nature, his will, his law, and all his remonstrances, exhortations, cautions, and instructions; but some are more daring and impudent than others, or are committed in a more open, bold, and audacious manner, as were those committed by the... read more

Group of Brands