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Matthew Henry

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 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft ,.... Not tender as Josiah's was, 2 Kings 22:19 , or as the heart of every penitent is, when God makes it humble and contrite by his spirit and grace, or takes away the stony heart, and gives an heart of flesh; though Job had such an heart, and God made it so; but he means a weak, feeble, fearful heart, pressed and broken with afflictions, that could not endure and bear up under the mighty hand of God; but became as water, and melted like wax in the midst of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft - Prostrates my strength, deprives me of courage, so that I sink beneath my burden, and I am troubled at the thought of the Almighty, the self-sufficient and eternal Being. 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 23:13-17

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:14-17

The humbled and overwhelmed sufferer. The position of Job is one of confusion and unexplained mystery. He is in the hands of the Almighty. His punishment, as some affirm it to be, is very heavy. It at times seems to be greater than he can bear. Yet he is uncondemned within. He holds fast to his integrity. Like his friends, he interprets sufferings into punishments for sin. Yet he is not conscious of sin, certainly not of sin to such a degree as to merit such heavy judgment. He is confounded.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:15-16

Troubled at the presence of God. I. THIS IS NATURAL IN GREAT DISTRESS . The soul is plunged into grief; like Jacob, the desponding sufferer exclaims, "All these things are against me" ( Genesis 42:36 ). Then he comes to regard God as the Source of his misfortunes. God seems to be his Enemy, and any approach of God is regarded with apprehension, as bringing fresh trouble. We have to learn not to form our judgment of God in our darker moments. It is difficult to have any... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft ; of faint ' as in Le 26:36 and Deuteronomy 20:3 . He takes away my courage, and leaves me a prey to terror. And the Almighty troubleth me . The verb used (the hiph. form of בהל ) is a very strong one, and means "hath filled me with horror and consternation? read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 23:16

For God maketh my heart soft - That is, “faint.” He takes away my strength; compare the notes at Isaiah 7:4. This effect was produced on Job by the contemplation of the eternal plan and the power of God. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 23:16-17

Job 23:16-17. For God maketh my heart soft Or, tender; he hath bruised and broken, or melted it, so that I have no spirit, or courage, or strength in me: so this, or the like phrase, frequently signifies. There is a gracious softness of heart, like that of Josiah, whose heart was tender, and trembled at the word of God: but this is meant of an afflictive and painful softness, which apprehends every thing that is present to be pressing, and every thing that is future to be threatening. ... read more

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