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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 26:5-14

The truth received a great deal of light from the dispute between Job and his friends concerning those points about which they differed; but now they are upon a subject in which they were all agreed, the infinite glory and power of God. How does truth triumph, and how brightly does it shine, when there appears no other strife between the contenders than which shall speak most highly and honourably of God and be most copious in showing forth his praise! It were well if all disputes about... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 26:9

He holdeth back the face of his throne ,.... His throne is the heaven of heavens; the face of it, or what is before it, is the starry and airy heavens; this face of his throne is sometimes held back, or covered with clouds, that so his throne is so far from being visible, that even the face of it, or the outside or external appearance of it, is not to be seen, as follows: and spreadeth his cloud upon it ; and both he and his throne are invisible; clouds and darkness are round about... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 26:9

He holdeth back the face of his throne - Though all these are most elegant effects of an omniscient and almighty power, yet the great Agent is not personally discoverable; he dwelleth in light unapproachable, and in mercy hides himself from the view of his creatures. The words, however may refer to those obscurations of the face of heaven, and the hiding of the body of the sun, when the atmosphere is laden with dense vapours, and the rain begins to be poured down on the earth. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 26:1-14

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 26:1-14

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 26:5-14

Job now turns from controversy to the realities of the case, and begins with a full acknowledgment of God's greatness, might, and inscrutableness. As Bildad seemed to have supposed that he needed enlightenment on these points ( Job 26:2-4 ), Job may have thought it right to make once more a plain profession of his belief (comp. Job 9:4-18 ; Job 12:9-25 , etc.). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 26:6-14

The Divine ways but partially revealed. Bildad had given Job no comfort. And Job at first (verses 1-3) retorts upon him a reproof for his unhelpful words. He then bursts into an impressive representation of the wonderful works of God to whom Bildad had referred. The works of God in the heavens, the earth, and the deep sea are great and manifold; so are his works amongst the creatures of his power, of whom the serpent alone is mentioned. But the hidden hand of God Job confesses, and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 26:9

He holdeth back the face of his throne ; rather, he covereth up. He makes the clouds to gather in the vault of heaven, above which is his throne, and in this way conceals it and covers it up. And spreadeth his cloud upon it; or, over it, so blotting it out from sight. Behind the more obvious meaning lies one which is deeper and more spiritual. God withdraws himself from sight, gathers clouds and darkness around him to be the habitation of his seat, hides from men the principles of his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 26:9

He holdeth back the face of his throne - That is, he does not exhibit it - he covers it with clouds. The idea seems to be, that God sometimes comes forth and manifests himself to mankind, but that he comes encompassed with clouds, so that his throne cannot be seen. So in Psalms 18:11, “He made darkness his secret place, his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.” God is often represented as encompassed with clouds, or as accompanied with tempests.And spreadeth... read more

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