But Job answered ,.... In a very sharp and biting manner; one would wonder that a man in such circumstances should have so much keenness of spirit, and deal in so much irony, and be master of so much satire, and be able to laugh at his antagonist in the manner he does: and said ; as follows. read more
But Job answered and said, How hast thou helped him that is without power? Assuming Bildad's benevolent intentions towards himself, Job asks, how he can suppose that what he has said will in any way be helpful to a person in so helpless a condition? He had told Job nothing that Job had not repeatedly allowed. How savest thou the arm that hath no strengtht? It could not invigorate Job's arm, any more than it could cheer his heart, to be told that man was a worm, or that he was wholly... read more
Job to Bildad: another sermon on the foregoing text. I. THE PREFACE TO THE SERMON ; OR , THE DISCOURSE OF BILDAD CRITICIZED . In Job's estimation it was: 1 . Wholly unserviceable. With stinging irony Job, according to our view, represents it as having been extremely helpful to him in his feebleness, as having imparted strength to his powerless arm and wisdom to his ignorant mind (verses 2, 3); meaning, of course, the opposite—that in these respects the brief but... read more
Praises of the Eternal I. REPARTEE AND REPROOF . ( Job 26:2-4 .) The tone seems to be ironical: "How well hast thou helped feebleness, supported the arm of him that has no strength, counselled unwisdom, and in fulness given utterance to good sense! To whom hast thou offered words, and whose breath went forth from thee? By whose inspiration?" possibly pointing to the borrowed character of Bildad's speech. Words may be good in themselves, yet not pleasant or profitable if not spoken... read more
Job 26:1. But Job answered and said Job, finding his friends quite driven from their strong hold, and reduced to give up the argument, now begins to triumph, Job 26:2-3. He tells them, if the business was to celebrate the power and wisdom of the Almighty, he could produce as many shining instances of it as they could; but, at the same time, he intimates that their behaviour was mean, after so great a parade of wisdom as they had exhibited, to shelter themselves at last behind the power of... read more
Bildad speaks and Job replies (25:1-26:14)It seems either that Job’s friends have no answer to what he says or that they are tired of arguing with him and see no point in continuing the debate. Bildad has only a brief speech, to which Job replies, and Zophar does not speak at all.In an effort to bring Job to repentance, Bildad impresses upon him the greatness of the God with whom Job argues. His kingdom is all-powerful, his armies of angelic beings more than can be counted (25:1-3). In... read more
answered = replied [to Bildad]. See note on Job 4:1 . read more
JOB 26JOB'S NINTH SPEECH:JOB'S EVALUATION OF HIS FRIENDS' "CONSOLATIONS"Job 26:1-4"Then Job answered, and said,How hast thou helped him who is without power!How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!How hast thou counseled him that hath no wisdom,And plentifully declared sound knowledge!To whom hast thou uttered words?And whose spirit came forth from thee?"Our interpretation of this passage is that it is an ironic and sarcastic rejection by Job of his friends' inability to bring him any... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 26:1-4
One would not have thought that Job, when he was in so much pain and misery, could banter his friend as he does here and make himself merry with the impertinency of his discourse. Bildad thought that he had made a fine speech, that the matter was so weighty, and the language so fine, that he had gained the reputation both of an oracle and of an orator; but Job peevishly enough shows that his performance was not so valuable as he thought it and ridicules him for it. He shows, I. That there was... read more