Job 4:7-9 KJV

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:6-8

Affliction. I. THE SOURCE OF IT . 1 . Negatively. 2 . Positively. II. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF IT . 1 . Universal. It is the portion, not of one man, or a few, or even of many, but of the race. It forms a portion of the birthright of humanity. 2 . Certain. It is absolutely unavoidable. As surely as the sparks ascend, so surely will those sinful passions rage that entail suffering and misery. 3 . Perpetual. Meeting man upon the threshold of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:7

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? The heart of the matter is now approached. Job is called upon to "remember" the long-established moral axiom, that only evil-doing brings down upon men calamities, and that therefore, where calamities fall, them must be precedent wickedness. If he does not admit this, he-is challenged to bring forward examples, or even a single example, of suffering innocence. If he does admit it, he is left to apply the axiom to himself . Or where... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:7-11

The consequences of evil-doing. The New Testament teaching is, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." It is precisely as the present verses. "They that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same." So does the testimony of the ages warn evil-doers. This rule is inevitable; it is just; it is natural; it is admonitory. I. THIS ORDER IS INEVITABLE . He who has ordained the laws of nature, fixed, calm, indestructible, has also ordained that the doer of evil shall... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:8

Even as I have seen ; rather, according as I have seen —so far, that is, as my observation goes (see the Revised Version, which is supported by Professor Lee and Canon Cook). They that plough iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same (comp. Proverbs 22:8 ; Hosea 8:7 ; Hosea 10:13 ; Galatians 6:7 , Galatians 6:8 ). The words translated "iniquity" and "wickedness" express in the original both moral and physical evil. Men sew the one and reap the other. Eliphaz extends this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:8

A true principle falsely applied. We have now reached the kernel of the controversy with which Job and his friends are to be engaged. While—as the prologue shows—the primary purpose of the Book of Job is to refute Satan's low, sneering insinuation implied in the words, "Doth Job serve God for nought?" and to prove that God can and does inspire disinterested devotion, the long discussion among the friends is concerned with the problem of suffering, and the old orthodox notion that it was just... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:9

By the blast of God they perish ; rather, by the breath of God , as in Job 37:10 . The word used ( גִשְׁמָה ) means always, as Professor Lee observes," a slight or gentle breathing." The slightest breath of God's displeasure is enough to destroy those against whom it is directed. And by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed . Here "blast" would be better than "breath," for רוח is a stronger word than נשׁמה . Similarly, רוח is a stronger word than יאבדו . The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 4:7

Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? - The object of this question is manifestly to show to Job the inconsistency of the feelings which he had evinced. He claimed to be a righteous man. He had instructed and counselled many others. He had professed confidence in God, and in the integrity of his own ways. It was to have been expected that one with such pretensions would have evinced resignation in the time of trial, and would have been sustained by the recollection of his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 4:8

Even as I have seen - Eliphaz appeals to his own observation, that people who had led wicked lives were suddenly cut off. Instances of this kind he might doubtless have observed - as all may have done. But his inference was too broad when he concluded that all the wicked are punished in this manner. It is true that wicked people are thus cut off and perish; but it is not true that all the wicked are thus punished in this life, nor that any of the righteous are not visited with similar... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 4:9

By the blast of God - That is, by the judgment of God. The figure is taken from the hot and fiery wind, which, sweeping over a field of grain, dries it up and destroys it. In like manner Eliphaz says the wicked perish before God.And by the breath of his nostrils - By his anger. The Scripture often speaks of breathing out indignation and wrath; Acts 9:1; Psalms 27:12; 2 Samuel 22:16; Psalms 18:15; Psalms 33:6; notes at Isaiah 11:4; notes at Isaiah 30:28; notes at Isaiah 33:11. The figure was... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 4:7

Job 4:7. Remember, I pray thee Consult thy own experience, observation, or reading, and produce one example. Who ever perished That is, was so utterly undone as thou art, so miserably afflicted by such unparalleled and various judgments from God and men, all conspiring against thee; being innocent Who had not, by his wickedness, provoked so merciful a God to do what is so unusual, and contrary to his gracious nature. Therefore thou art guilty of some great, though secret crimes, and thy... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:6-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:7-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 4:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 4:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 4:9

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 4:7

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