Job 29:24 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 29:18-25

That which crowned Job's prosperity was the pleasing prospect he had of the continuance of it. Though he knew, in general, that he was liable to trouble, and therefore was not secure (Job 3:26; I was not in safety, neither had I rest), yet he had no particular occasion for fear, but as much reason as ever any man had to count upon the lengthening out of his tranquility. I. See here what his thoughts were in his prosperity (Job 29:18): Then I said, I shall die in my nest. Having made himself a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 29:24

If I laughed on them, they believed it not ,.... Not that he at any time laughed at them, by way of derision; but when in a cheerful frame of mind, or in a merry mood, he used freedom and familiarity, and jested with them; but they could not believe that he did jest, or was in jest, he being a man always of such gravity and seriousness, that they concluded the smile on his countenance, and the pleasant turn of his expression, had a serious meaning in them; or such familiarity with them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 29:24

I laughed on them, they believed it not - Similar to that expression in the Gospel, Luke 24:41 ; : And while they believed not for joy, and wondered, he said - . Our version is sufficiently perspicuous, and gives the true sense of the original, only it should be read in the indicative and not in the subjunctive mood: I laughed on them - they believed it not. We have a similar phrase: The news was too good to be true. The light of my countenance - This evidence of my benevolence and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:1-25

From these deep musings upon the nature of true wisdom, and the contrast between the ingenuity and cleverness of man and the infinite knowledge of God, Job turns to another contrast, which he pursues through two chapters ( Job 29:1-25 ; Job 30:1-31 .)—the contrast between what he was and what he is—between his condition in the period of his prosperity and that to which he has been reduced by his afflictions. The present chapter is concerned only with the former period; and gives a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:1-25

Job's second parable: 1. Regretful memories of bygone days. I. DAYS OF RELIGIOUS HAPPINESS . In tender elegiActs strains Job resumes his monologue of sorrow, casting a pathetic glance upon "the times of yore," already faded in the far past and gone beyond recall; not the days of his youth (Authorized Version), hut the autumn season of his mature manhood, when, like a field that the Lord had blessed ( Genesis 27:27 ), groaning beneath the exuberance of its harvest fruits, he was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:1-25

Wistful retrospect of past happy days. I. PICTURES OF MEMORY ; HAPPINESS FOUNDED ON THE FRIENDSHIP OF GOD . ( Job 29:1-10 .) 1 . Friendship with God the source of happiness. ( Job 29:1-5 .) This is beautifully indicated in figurative expressions. He thinks of the days when God's light beamed upon his brow, by God's light he walked through the darkness; the days of his ripe and mellow age (rather than of his "youth"), when the secret, i.e. the intimacy, of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:1-25

A mournful reflection upon a happy past. Job had lived in honour and great respect. He was "the greatest of all the men of the East." The Divine testimony concerning him was, "There is none like him in the earth." Job's was an enviable condition, and his own words indicate how sensible he was of it. In his mournful utterance, made as he looks back upon a dead past, we see wherein consisted his happiness; and we learn what arc the elemental conditions of the highest felicity in human life—at... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:24

If I laughed on them, they believed it not ; rather, if I smiled on them. If, as a mark of favour, I smiled on any, they thought it such graciousness and condescension that they could scarcely believe it possible. And the light of my countenance they cast not down . They never put me out of countenance, or made me sad and gloomy, by opposing my views and ranging themselves against me. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 29:24

If I laughed on them they believed it not - There is considerable variety in the interpretation of this member of the verse. Dr. Good renders it, “I smiled upon them, and they were gay.” Herder, If I laughed at them, they were not offended.” Coverdale,” When I laughed, they knew well it was not earnest.” Schultens, “I will laugh at them, they are not secure.” But Rosenmuller, Jun. et Trem., Noyes and Umbreit, accord with the sense given in our common translation. The Hebrew literally is,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 29:24

Job 29:24. If I laughed on them That is, carried myself familiarly and pleasantly with them; they believed it not It was so acceptable to them to see me well pleased with them, and cheerful among them, that they could scarcely believe their eyes and ears which testified that it was so. And the light of my countenance they cast not down My familiarity with them did not produce presumption in them to say or do any thing that might grieve me, or make my countenance to fall. They were very... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 29:18-25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 29:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 29:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:1-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:1-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:1-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:1-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 29:24

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 29:24

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 29:24

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