Job 13:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 13:1-12

Job here warmly expresses his resentment of the unkindness of his friends. I. He comes up with them as one that understood the matter in dispute as well as they, and did not need to be taught by them, Job 13:1, 2. They compelled him, as the Corinthians did Paul, to commend himself and his own knowledge, yet not in a way of self-applause, but of self-justification. All he had before said his eye had seen confirmed by many instances, and his ear had heard seconded by many authorities, and he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 13:3

Surely I would speak to the Almighty ,.... Or "therefore I would speak" F12 אולם "ideo, propterea", Pineda. , since he knew as much as his friends, and they knew no more than he, if so much, he would have no more to do with them, they should not be his judges; nor would he be determined by them, but would appeal to God, and plead his own cause before him, by whom he doubted not he should be candidly heard; he knew that he was the Judge of all the earth, and would do right; and that... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 13:3

Surely I would speak to the Almighty - אולם ulam , O that: - I wish I could speak to the Almighty! I desire to reason with God - He speaks here to reference to the proceedings in a court of justice. Ye pretend to be advocates for God, but ye are forgers of lies: O that God himself would appear! Before him I could soon prove my innocence of the evils with which ye charge me. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:1-12

Correction of the friends. I. TRANSITION IN JOB 'S ADDRESS . ( Job 13:1-3 .). He pauses for a moment before entering on a new course of thought. He asserts that his experience has not been without fruit. The eye , the ear , the mouth ( Job 12:11 ), are the physical symbols of living and actual experience. So St. John: "That which we have heard ,… seen with our eyes looked upon, and our bands have handled" ( 1 John 1:1 ). And in no particular is their knowledge, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:1-16

Job to Zophar: 4. A wounded soul at bay. I. THE VOICE OF FIERCE RECRIMINATION . Transfixing on the spear-point of his remorseless logic the men who had mocked at his misery, and converted his very piety into a laughing-stock, with infinite scorn Job holds them up a spectacle to angels and to men, charging them with at least three most detestable offences. 1 . Ignoring of facts. They had favoured him with their views of how God conducted the affairs of the universe, citing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:1-22

Man's injustice and the justice of God. Job proceeds to turn the tables upon these self-complacent friends, who are so disposed to moralize and find illustrations of their conceptions of the Divine righteousness at his expense. His friends, however, really do him a service; not, indeed, by manifesting the sympathy he craves, but by throwing him upon his own resources—still better, by throwing him upon his God. The tonic of opposition is sometimes far more needed in mental suffering than is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:3

Surely I would speak to the Almighty . It is not Job's wish to argue his ease with his three friends, but to reason it out with God. His friends, however, interfere with this design, check it, thwart it, prevent him from carrying it out. He must therefore first speak a few words to them. And I desire to reason with God . Compare God's own invitation to his people, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord" ( Isaiah 1:18 ), and again, "Put me in remembrance, let us plead... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 13:3-13

The second section of Job's argument is prefaced, like the first ( Job 12:2-5 ), with a complaint with respect to the conduct of his opponents. He taxes them with the fabrication of lies (verse 4), with want of skill as physicians of souls (verse 4), with vindicating God by reasonings in which they do not themselves believe (verses 7, 8), and consequently with really mocking him (verse 9). Having warned them that they are more likely to offend God than to please him by such arguments as... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 13:3

Surely I would speak to the Almighty - I would desire to carry my cause directly up to God, and spread out my reasons before him. This Job often professed to desire; see Job 9:34-35. He felt that God would appreciate the arguments which he would urge, and would do justice to them. His friends he felt were censorious and severe. They neither did justice to his feelings, nor to his motives. They perverted his words and arguments; and instead of consoling him, they only aggravated his trials, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 13:3

Job 13:3. Surely I would speak to the Almighty I had rather debate the matter with God than with you. I am not afraid of presenting my person and cause before him, who is a witness of my integrity, and would not deal so unmercifully with me as you do. read more

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