Job 17:13-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 17:10-16

Job's friends had pretended to comfort him with the hopes of his return to a prosperous estate again; now he here shows, I. That it was their folly to talk so (Job 17:10): ?Return, and come now, be convinced that you are in an error, and let me persuade you to be of my mind; for I cannot find one wise man among you, that knows how to explain the difficulties of God's providence or how to apply the consolations of his promises.? Those do not go wisely about the work of comforting the afflicted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 17:13

If I wait, the grave is mine house ,.... Not that Job put an "if" upon, or made a doubt of waiting upon God in private or public; or of waiting for him, his gracious appearances to him, answers of prayer, performance of promises, and deliverance out of trouble; and especially of waiting his appointed time till his change came, and hoping and expecting eternal life and happiness; all which he determined to do, and did, see Job 13:15 ; but he says this with respect to the advice of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 17:14

I have said to corruption, thou art my father ,.... Not to the corruptible seed, of which he was begotten; nor to the corruption or purulent matter of his boils and ulcers, and the worms his flesh was now clothed with, Job 7:5 ; but to that corruption his body would turn to in the grave, lying long enough to see it, which Christ's body did not, Psalm 16:10 ; that is, "to the pit of corruption" F3 לשחת "foveam", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Drusius, &c.; , as it may... read more

John Gill

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

And where is now my hope ?.... Not the grace of hope, which was in his heart; and though it might sometimes be low in exercise, it could not be lost; it is an anchor, sure and steadfast, and is one of the graces that always abides, and never disappoints and makes ashamed; nor the object of hope, eternal glory and happiness in another world, that is laid up in heaven, and for which he was looking and waiting by faith; but his hope of outward happiness, and of being restored to his former... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 17:16

They shall go down to the bars of the pit ,.... He himself, and his friends, and the hopes they would have him entertain; these should all go down together to the grave, and there lie barred and locked up; these hopes, so as never to rise anymore, and the bodies of himself, and his friends, till loosed by him who has the keys of hell and death: or "the bars shall go down to the grave"; the members of his body, as Jarchi, which are the bars of it, as some in Bar Tzemach; the strength and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 17:13

The grave is mine house - Let my life be long or short, the grave at last will be my home. I expect soon to lie down in darkness - there is my end: I cannot reasonably hope for any thing else. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 17:14

I have said to corruption - I came from a corrupted stock, and I must go to corruption again. The Hebrew might be thus rendered: To the ditch I have called, Thou art my father. To the worm, Thou art my mother and my sister. I am in the nearest state of affinity to dissolution and corruption: I may well call them my nearest relations, as I shall soon be blended with them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 17:15

And where is now my hope? - In the circumstances in which I am found, of what use can hope be? Were I to form the expectation of future good, who could ever see it realized? Is it then any wonder that I should complain and bemoan my wretched lot? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 17:16

They shall go down to the bars of the pit - All that I have must descend into the depths of the grave. Thither are we all going; and there alone can I rest. בדי baddey , which we translate bars, signifies also branches, distended limbs, or claws, and may here refer either to a personification of the grave, a monster who seizes on human bodies, and keeps them fast in his deadly gripe; or to the different branching-off-alleys in subterranean cemeteries, or catacombs, in which niches are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 17:1-16

The general character of this chapter has been considered in the introductory section to Job 16:1-22 . It is occupied mainly with Job's complaints of his treatment by his friends, and his lamentations over his sufferings (verses 1-12). At the end he appeals to the grave, as the only hope or comfort left to him (verses 13-16). read more

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