Job 21:11-16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 21:7-16

All Job's three friends, in their last discourses, had been very copious in describing the miserable condition of a wicked man in this world. ?It is true,? says Job, ?remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always; for we have many instances of the great and long prosperity of those that are openly and avowedly wicked; though they are hardened in their wickedness by their prosperity, yet they are still suffered to prosper.? I. He here describes their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:11

They send forth their little ones like a flock ,.... Of sheep, which are creatures very increasing, and become very numerous, Psalm 144:13 ; to which a large increase of families may be compared, Psalm 107:41 , for this is not to be interpreted of their kine sending or bringing forth such numbers as to be like a flock of sheep; but of the families of wicked men being increased in like manner; and the sending them forth to be understood either of the birth of their children being sent out... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:12

They take the timbrel and harp ,.... Not the children, but the parents of them; these took these instruments of music into their hands, and played upon them while their children danced; thus merrily they spent their time: or, as Jarchi and Aben Ezra, they lift up the voice with the tabret and harp; that is, while they played on these with their hands, they sung songs with their mouths; they used both vocal and instrumental music together, to make the greater harmony, and give the greater... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:13

They spend their days in wealth ,.... Or "in good" F16 בטוב "in bono", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, &c.; ; not in the performance of good works, or in the exercise of that which is spiritually good; or in seeking after spiritual good things, or eternal happiness; but in earthly good, in the enjoyment of the temporal good things of this life, and which to enjoy in a moderate and becoming manner is not criminal, but commendable; but these men, and such as they, seek... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:14

Therefore they say unto God ,.... While in health and life, amidst all their outward prosperity, and because of it; for worldly riches have this tendency, to make men proud and insolent, and not only to behave ill to their fellow creatures, and to slight and despise them; but even to forsake God, and lightly esteem their Creator and benefactor; yea, even to kick against him, and oppose him, to set their mouths against him, and speak very contemptuously and blasphemously of him, as in the... read more

John Gill

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

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him ?.... "Who is he" F20 מה "quis est?" V. L. ? as some render it; or what is there in him, in his nature, in his excellencies and perfections, that should oblige us to serve him? One would think the attribute of "Almighty", they own and acknowledge, is sufficient to engage to it, since he is the lawgiver that is able to save and to destroy, even to destroy with an everlasting destruction, both body and soul in hell, who obey him not; but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:16

Lo, their good is not in their hand ,.... Though it is in their possession for the present, it is not in the power of their hands to keep, nor to carry it with them when they die; God, that gave it, can take it away when he pleases; and therefore it might be profitable to them to serve him and pray unto him: or "their good is not by their hand"; they do not obtain their happiness by their works, as in the Tigurine version; and to the same sense Mr. Broughton, "lo, their wealth cometh... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 21:11

They send forth their little ones - It is not very clear whether this refers to the young of the flocks or to their children. The first clause may mean the former, the next clause the latter; while the young of their cattle are in flocks, their numerous children are healthy and vigorous, and dance for joy. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 21:12

They take the timbrel and harp - ישאו yisu , they rise up or lift themselves up, probably alluding to the rural exercise of dancing. תף toph , which we translate timbrel, means a sort of drum, such as the tom-tom of the Asiatics. כנור kinnor may mean something of the harp kind. עוגב ugab , organ, means nothing like the instrument now called the organ, though thus translated both by the Septuagint and Vulgate; it probably means the syrinx, composed of several unequal pipes,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 21:13

They spend their days in wealth - There is a various reading here of some importance. In the text we have יבלו yeballu , they grow old, or wear out as with old age, terent vetustate; and in the margin, יכלו yechallu , they consume; and the Masora states that this is one of the eleven words which are written with ב beth and must be read with כ caph . Several editions have the former word in the text, and the latter in the margin; the former being what is called the kethib, the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 21:7-16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:14

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 21:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 21:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 21:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 21:13

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