Job 22:2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 22:1-4

Eliphaz here insinuates that, because Job complained so much of his afflictions, he thought God was unjust in afflicting him; but it was a strained innuendo. Job was far from thinking so. What Eliphaz says here is therefore unjustly applied to Job, but in itself it is very true and good, I. That when God does us good it is not because he is indebted to us; if he were, there might be some colour to say, when he afflicts us, ?He does not deal fairly with us.? But whoever pretends that he has by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 22:2

Can a man be profitable unto God ?.... Eliphaz imagined that Job thought so, by his insisting so much on his integrity, and complaining of his afflictions; and that God was beholden to him for his holiness and righteousness, and that instead of afflicting him, should have heaped honours and happiness upon him; whereas there is not anything a man can do, or does, by which God can be profiled; which is a very great truth, though misapplied to Job through a wrong construction of his words and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 22:2

Can a man be profitable unto God - God does not afflict thee because thou hast deprived him of any excellency. A man may be profitable to a man, but no man can profit his Maker. He has no interest in thy conduct; he does not punish thee because thou hast offended and deprived him of some good. Thy iniquities are against justice, and justice requires thy punishment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-2

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, Can a man be profitable unto God? Job had said nothing upon this point; but perhaps Eliphaz thinks his complaints and expostulations to imply a higher value in man, and a greater claim to consideration at God's hands, than can rightly be challenged. Certainly God does not depend on man for profit or advantage of any kind. Neither our wisdom nor our goodness "extendeth to him." As he that is wise may be profitable unto himself; rather, truly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-4

Eliphaz to Job: the third colloquy: the second controversy: 1 . A fallacious syllogism. I. A SOUND PREMISS . That God's government of mankind is entirely disinterested, his judicial retributions not being affected by considerations of personal benefit or hurt arising from the conduct of his creatures. 1. Not by expectation of advantage. (Verses 2, 3.) Here is: 2 . Not by fear of damage. (Verse 4.) Eliphaz appears to mean that God has as little reason to dread loss from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-30

Eliphaz returns to the attack, but with observations that are at first strangely pointless and irrelevant, e.g. on the unprofitableness of man to God (verses l, 2), and on the slight importance of Job's case (verse 3). After this weak prelude, however, there is more vigour in his assault. In verses 4-9 he directly charges Job with a number of specified sins, and in verses 10, 11 declares his sufferings to be the consequence of them. He then proceeds to accuse him of denying God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-30

Censorious and uncharitable reasoning. Eliphaz again takes up the word. He does not contest Job's position, that life presents many examples of the prosperity of the godless, and of the calamities of the godly, but he still maintains that only grievous sins, such as he proceeds to specify — oppression, hard-heartedness, injustice to his neighbours—could be the cause of his misfortunes and miseries (verses 2-10). He then proceeds to give an earnest warning against further indulgence in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:2

Whether man can be profitable to God. Here is a question to which Eliphaz only expects a negative answer. Let us look at the grounds of the question, its difficulties, and the possible solution of it. I. THE GROUNDS OF THE QUESTION . With many persons such a question never occurs. They do not dream of becoming profitable to God, nor do they wish to be of real service to him. Their only desire is that they may be profitable to them. Even in religion their great idea is to save... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:2-11

The impartiality of the Divine judgment. Eliphaz knows of no tense for suffering but sin. Doubtless sin—transgression of Divine laws—does lie deeply buried in the causes of human suffering. This is the fruitful seed from which widespread harvests of suffering grow. But it is not within the power of man to fix on the actual offender. Suffering occurs in a thousand instances where not the sufferer but another is the offender. To charge home, therefore, upon every sufferer the cause of his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 22:2

Can a man be profitable unto God? - Can a man confer any favor on God, so as to lay him under obligation? Eliphaz supposes that Job sets up a “claim” to the favor of God, because he was of service to him, or because God had something to fear if he was cut off. He maintains, therefore, that a man can confer no favor on God, so as to lay him under obligation. God is independent and supreme. He has nothing to gain if man is righteous - he has nothing to apprehend if he is punished. He is not... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 22:1-4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 22:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 22:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-30

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:2-11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 22:2

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