Job 23:13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 23:13-17

Some make Job to complain here that God dealt unjustly and unfairly with him in proceeding to punish him without the least relenting or relaxation, though he had such incontestable evidences to produce of his innocency. I am loth to think holy Job would charge the holy God with iniquity; but his complaint is indeed bitter and peevish, and he reasons himself into a sort of patience per force, which he cannot do without reflecting upon God as dealing hardly with him, but he must bear it because... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:13

But he is in one mind ,.... Either with respect to his commandments, every precept remains in full force, he never alters the thing that is gone out of his lips, or delivers out other commandments different from, or contrary to what he has given; and therefore Job thought it his duty to abide by them, and not decline from them; which is the sense of a Jewish commentator F3 Sophorno. , connecting the words with the preceding: Or with respect to his dispensations towards Job in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:13

But he is in one mind - The original is באחד והוא vehu beechad , and is literally, But he is in one: properly rendered by the Vulgate, Ipse enim solus est. But he is alone. And not badly rendered by Coverdale - It is he himself alone. He has no partner; his designs are his own, they are formed in his infinite wisdom, and none can turn his determinations aside. It is vain, therefore, for man to contend with his Maker. He designs my happiness, and you cannot prevent its accomplishment. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:1-17

Longing for the appearance of the delivering and justifying God. I. EXCLAMATION . ( Job 23:2-5 .) So bitter is his complaint, "his hand is heavy upon his groaning," i.e. he must force groan after groan out of himself. Oh that he knew where to find the judgment-seat of God, and that he might have the opportunity of pleading his cause! ( Job 23:3-5 ). He possesses still "faith and a good conscience," those best jewels of a Christian ( 1 Timothy 1:5 ), and can think of appearing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:3-13

The true support under deferred judgment. In the bitterness of his complaint and the heaviness of his stroke, Job makes known his desire to appeal directly to God. In the impossibility of this his faith is more and more severely tested; but he reposes in an assurance that the Divine eye is upon him, and he is confident of a just and even merciful sentence. So does conscious integrity uphold the tried and suffering believer, over whom for the present the shadows of suspicion gather, although... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:13

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? Once more we hear the voice of complaint. The happier tone of thought which extends from Job 23:6 to Job 23:12 grows out of a sanguine hope on Job's part that God will bring him before his tribunal, and judge his cause according to righteousness. Now he bethinks himself that hitherto God, notwithstanding his prayers, has refused to summon him to his judgment-seat, and begins to fear that there is no likelihood of his changing. "He is One," or ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:13

The unchanging God. "He is in one mind" with regard to— I. THE PLAN OF THE UNIVERSE . 1 . There is such a plan. "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world" ( Acts 15:18 ; Ephesians 1:11 ). 2 . This plan is so perfect that it never requires subsequent modification ( Job 36:4 ; Job 37:16 ; Psalms 104:24 ; Proverbs 3:19 ; Isaiah 40:13 ). 3 . This plan is efficiently carried out in its minutest detail ( Numbers 11:23 ; 2... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:13

The inflexibility of God. I. THE INFLEXIBILITY OF GOD IS ESSENTIAL TO HIS NATURE . He has not the reasons for changing that we have. 1 . He knows all things. Men decide from partial knowledge, and then fuller information leads them to change their minds. But God knows everything from the first. 2 . He is strong. Men are persuaded against their better judgment, or they weakly yield to temptation. But God is perfect in will and character. He cannot be urged to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:13-17

Job to Eliphaz: 3. A meditation on the Divine Being. I. LOFTY THOUGHTS CONCERNING GOD . 1 . The unity of the Divine nature. "For he is in one mind;" literally, "for he is in one" (verse 13). The interpretation which regards this as an allusion to the absolute majesty and undivided essence of the Deity, as in the sublime monotheistic confession of Israel ( Deuteronomy 6:4 ), though not accepted by all expositors, is yet pronounced by most to be perfectly admissible. How far... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 23:13

But he is in one mind - He is unchangeable. He has formed his plans, and no one can divert him from them. Of the truth of this sentiment there can be no dispute. The only difficulty in the case is to see why Job adverted to it here, and how it bears on the train of thought which he was pursuing. The idea seems to be, that God was now accomplishing his eternal purposes in respect to him; that he had formed a plan far back in eternal ages, and that that plan must be executed; that he was a... read more

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