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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 33:14-18

Job had complained that God kept him wholly in the dark concerning the meaning of his dealings with him, and therefore concluded he dealt with him as his enemy. ?No,? says Elihu, ?he speaks to you, but you do not perceive him; so that the fault is yours, not his; and he is designing your real good even in those dispensations which you put this harsh construction upon.? Observe in general, 1. What a friend God is to our welfare: He speaketh to us once, yea, twice, Job 33:14. It is a token of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:14

For God speaketh once, yea, twice ,.... Or, "but God speaketh" F9 כי "sed", Beza, Piscator. ; though he is not bound to give an account of his matters, and the reasons of his proceedings in a way of providence or grace; yet such is his condescension and goodness, that he makes use of various ways and means to make known his mind and will in his dispensations, if men were but attentive to them; he speaks once, in dreams and visions, as in Job 33:15 ; and twice, or a second time, by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 33:14

For God speaketh once - Though he will not be summoned to the bar of his creatures, nor condescend to detail the reasons of his conduct, which they could not comprehend, yet he so acts, in the main, that the operation of his hand and the designs of his counsel may sufficiently appear, provided men had their eyes open upon his ways, and their hearts open to receive his influence. Elihu, having made the general statement that God would not come to the bar of his creatures to give account of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:1-33

In this chapter Elihu, turning away from the "comforters," proceeds to address Job himself, offering to reason out the matter in dispute with him, in God's stead. After a brief exordium (verses 1-7), he takes exception which (he says) are unjust. He next brings forward his theory of God-inflicted sufferings being, in the main, chastisements proceeding from a loving purpose, intended to purify, to strengthen, to purge out faults, to "save from the pit," to improve, and to enlighten... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:8-33

Elihu's first discourse: the guilt of man in the sight of God. I. JOB 'S CONFIDENCE IN HAS INNOCENTS CENSURED . ( Job 33:8-11 .) Elihu gathers up in brief some of those sayings of Job which had shocked his ear and scandalized his spiritual conscience. Job had asserted his own purity, and had accused God of enmity against his person (compare Job's words, Job 9:21 ; Job 10:7 ; Job 16:17 ; Job 23:10 ; Job 27:5 , Job 27:6 ; Job 10:13 , seq.; Job 19:11 ; Job 30:21 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14

For God speaketh once, yea twice . God has his own ways of speaking to man, which are not those that Job has been expecting. He speaks silently and secretly, not in thunders and lightnings, as at Sinai ( Exodus 19:16-20 ), not by extraordinary theophanies, but nevertheless quite as effectually. Yet man perceiveth it not. Man often does net recognize God's action in this silent teaching of his. Man wants something more startling, more sensational. In our Lord's time, the Jews demanded "a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14-17

Divine voices. I. THE ADVENT OF THE DIVINE VOICES . Elihu reminds us of Eliphaz, yet with a difference. Both men believe in superhuman influences, in God-sent messages, But Eliphaz tells of a stately vision, an awful and overwhelming apparition; Elihu, on the other hand, is satisfied with dream-voices. God approaches man in various ways. The most awe-inspiring is not necessarily the most instructive. Dreams have been continually recognized among the channels of Divine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14-33

Elihu's first address to Job: 2. The philosophy of Divine instruction. I. THE METHODS OF DIVINE INSTRUCTION . 1 . Through the medium of dreams. The dreams, or visions, referred to were supernatural revelations in early times imparted to men, when the spirit, probably wrapt in meditation on Divine things, was cast into a deep sleep, such as fell on Adam at the creation of Eve ( Genesis 2:21 ). That nocturnal dreams usually find their psychological basis in the mental... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 33:14

For God speaketh once - The object of what is here said is, to show the reason why God brings affliction upon people, or to explain the principles of his government which Elihu supposed had been sadly misunder stood by Job and his friends. The reason why he brings affliction, Elihu says, is because all other means of reclaiming and restraining people fail. He communicates his will to them; he speaks to them again and again in dreams and visions; he warns them of the error of their course Job... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 33:14

Job 33:14. For Or, as כי , chi, should be rather rendered, nevertheless God speaketh Namely, unto men, by way of instruction or admonition, as appears from the following verses. Although he doth not give men an account of his matters, yet he doth that for them which is much better, and more necessary and important: though he be so high, yet he condescends to teach and admonish them in various ways, that he may withdraw them from such courses as are mischievous and sinful, and bring them... read more

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