Job 9:21-35

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:28

I am afraid of all my sorrows ,.... That they would return upon him, and surround him, and overwhelm him, so that he should not be able to stand up against them, or under them; that they would increase and continue with him, and so he should never be released from them: I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent : a sudden apostrophe to God as near him; the meaning is not, that he was confident that God would not justify him but condemn him in a spiritual sense; Job did not despair of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:29

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? If he was that wicked person, that hypocrite, Bildad and his other friends took him to be, it was in vain for him to make his supplications to God, as they advised him; so Gersom gives the sense of the words; since God hears not sinners, such as live in sin, regard iniquity in their hearts, and practise it in their lives, at least secretly, as it was suggested Job did; if he was such an one, it must be all lost labour to pray to God to show favour... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:30

If I wash myself with snow water ,.... As it came from heaven, or flowed from the mountains covered with snow, as Lebanon, see Jeremiah 18:14 ; or was kept in vessels for such use, as being judged the best for such a purpose; so it was used by the ancients F14 "Discubuimus, pueris aquam nivalem in manus infundentibus", Petronius in Satyr. , as being what whitens the skin, and strengthens the parts by contracting the pores, and hindering perspiration; it signifies, in a figurative... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:31

Yet shall thou plunge me in the ditch ,.... In the filthy ditch of sin, the pit wherein is no water, the horrible pit, the mire and clay, in which all unregenerate men are, and to which hypocrites return, as the swine to its wallowing in the mire; and in which impurity self-righteous persons are, and are sooner or later made to appear, notwithstanding all their outward righteousness, holiness, purity, and perfection they boast of; and though Job was neither of these, not an unregenerate man,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:32

For he is not a man, as I am ,.... For though the parts and members of an human body are sometimes ascribed to him, yet these are to be understood by an anthropopathy, speaking after the manner of men, there being something in him, which in a figurative sense answers to these; otherwise we are not to conceive of any corporeal shape in him, or that there is any likeness to which he is to be compared: he is a spirit infinite, immortal, immense, invisible, pure and holy, just and true, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:33

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us ,.... Or "one that reproves" F17 מוכיח "arguens", Montanus, Bolducius, Drusius; "redarguens", Vatablus, Mercerus. ; who upon hearing a cause reproves him that is found guilty, or is blameworthy, or has done injury to another; but there is no such person to be found, among angels or men, capable of this, supposing, as if Job should say, I should appear to be the injured person; or there is no "umpire" or "arbitrator" F18 "Arbiter", Junius... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:34

Let him take his rod away from me ,.... Not his government over him, of which the rod or sceptre is an ensign, Job did not want to be freed from that; but, his rod of affliction, or stroke, as the Targum, the stroke of his hand, which, though a fatherly chastisement, lay heavy upon him, and depressed his spirits; so that he could not, while it was on him, reason so freely about things as he thought he could if it was removed, and for which he here prays: and let not his fear terrify me ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 9:35

Then would I speak, and not fear him ,.... With a servile fear, though with reverence and godly fear; meaning either at the throne of grace, having liberty of access, boldness of spirit, and freedom of speech through Christ the Mediator, and in the view of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; for when the rod of his law and the terror of his justice are removed, and his grace and favour in Christ shown, a believer can speak boldly and freely to God, and not be afraid before him: but... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 9:21

Though I were perfect - Had I the fullest conviction that, in every thought, word, and deed, I were blameless before him, yet I would not plead this; nor would I think it any security for a life of ease and prosperity, or any proof that my days should be prolonged. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 9:22

This is one thing - My own observation shows, that in the course of providence the righteous and the wicked have an equal lot; for when any sudden calamity comes, the innocent and the guilty fall alike. There may be a few exceptions, but they are very extraordinary, and very rare. read more

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