Job 33:14-15 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:15

In a dream, in a vision of the sight . So God spoke to Abimelech ( Genesis 20:3-7 ), to Jacob ( Genesis 31:11 ), to Laban ( Genesis 31:24 ), to Joseph ( Genesis 38:5 , Genesis 38:9 ), to the Pharaoh whom Joseph served ( Genesis 41:1-7 ), to Solomon ( 1 Kings 3:5 ), to Daniel ( Daniel 2:19 ), to Nebuchadnezzar ( Daniel 2:28 ; Daniel 4:5-18 ), and to many others. Sometimes men recognized such visions as Divine communications; but sometimes, probably quite as often, they... 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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 33:15

In a dream - This was one of the methods by which the will of God was made known in the early periods of the world; see the notes at Job 4:12-17. And for a fuller account of this method of communicating the divine will, see the introduction to Isaiah, Section 7 (2).In a vision of the night - Notes, Job 4:13; compare the introduction to Isaiah, Section 7 (4).When deep sleep falleth upon men - This may be designed to intimate more distinctly that it was from God. It was not the effect of... 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

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 33:15

Job 33:15. In a dream, in a vision, or, in a vision of the night This he mentions as one usual way of God’s revealing his mind and will to men in those days, before God’s word was committed to writing; (Genesis 20:6; Genesis 41:1; Genesis 41:28;) when deep sleep falleth upon men When men’s outward senses are bound up, and their minds are free from all distracting cares and business of the world, and wholly at leisure to receive divine impressions; in slumberings upon the bed This is... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 33:1-33

Elihu accuses Job (33:1-33)Turning now to Job, Elihu gives the assurance that he speaks with sincerity and with respect for the God who created him (33:1-4). He also speaks as one who is on a level of equality with Job (5-7).To begin with Elihu recalls Job’s claim to be innocent and Job’s accusation that God has treated him as if he were guilty (8-11). Elihu is shocked that a person could make such an accusation against God, and boldly rebukes Job (12-13). He suggests that if Job were quiet for... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 33:14-18

Job 33:14-18. For God speaketh once, &c.— When God hath spoken once, verily he will not repeat it. Houb. Elihu, blaming Job for some intemperate expressions that he had used, and for the manner of his offence, which he thought liable to great exception, Job 33:9-11 observes, that while he pleaded his innocence so much, and called so earnestly upon God to bring him to his trial, he did not well consider the infinite distance betwixt God and man; that his own unerring wisdom was the sole... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 33:14

14. Translate, "Yet, man regardeth it not"; or rather, as UMBREIT, "Yea, twice (He repeats the warning)—if man gives no heed" to the first warning. Elihu implies that God's reason for sending affliction is because, when God has communicated His will in various ways, man in prosperity has not heeded it; God therefore must try what affliction will effect (John 15:2; Psalms 62:11; Isaiah 28:10; Isaiah 28:13). read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Job 33:15

15. slumberings—light is opposed to "deep sleep." Elihu has in view Eliphaz ( :-), and also Job himself ( :-). "Dreams" in sleep, and "visions" of actual apparitions, were among the ways whereby God then spake to man (Genesis 20:3). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Job 33:1-33

Elihu’s first response to Job ch. 33This whole speech is an attempt to explain to Job why God was not responding to him. Elihu was very wordy, which he admitted in Job 32:18. In summary, he told Job that God was not silent, as Job had charged, but that He was speaking through dreams and sickness to Job. Rather than using suffering to punish Job for his sins, God was using it to prevent him from dying. Elihu said God was being merciful to Job. The three counselors had said the purpose of... read more