Job 15:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 15:1-16

Eliphaz here falls very foul upon Job, because he contradicted what he and his colleagues had said, and did not acquiesce in it and applaud it, as they expected. Proud people are apt thus to take it very much amiss if they may not have leave to dictate and give law to all about them, and to censure those as ignorant and obstinate, and all that is naught, who cannot in every thing say as they say. Several great crimes Eliphaz here charges Job with, only because he would not own himself a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 15:16

How much more abominable and filthy is man ,.... In his natural, corrupt, and unregenerate estate; man, as a creature, was not abominable, but becoming sinful he is; he is so in himself, cast out to the loathing of his person, being full of wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, yea, like a dead corrupted carcass, for he is dead in trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1 ; and he appears to be corrupt by the abominable works done by him, as all the works of the flesh are; yea, he is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 15:16

How much more abominable and filthy is man - As in the preceding verse it is said, he putteth no trust in his saints, it has appeared both to translators and commentators that the original words, כי אף aph ki , should be rendered how much Less, not how much More: How much less would he put confidence in man, who is filthy and abominable in his natures and profligate in his practice, as he drinks down iniquity like water? A man who is under the power of sinful propensities commits sin as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 15:1-16

Eliphaz to Job: Resumption of the second controversy: 1. An overwhelming indictment. I. OLD ACCUSATIONS REPEATED . 1 . Unprofitable talk. The replies given by Job in the preceding colloquy Eliphaz characterizes as 2 . Manifest impiety. Eliphaz had already ( Job 4:6 ) insinuated that Job was devoid of true religion; here he regards the insinuation as substantiated by the conduct of Job himself in three particulars. 3 . Astounding presumption. Stung by Job's ridicule... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 15:1-19

Perversity and impenitence rebuked. In the next six chapters the controversy between Job and his friends takes a new and embittered turn. They muster their forces to put down the daring speaker, who as they deem has challenged the justice of God. They seek to humiliate him as a late-born, itinerant, and passionate man, who has incurred fresh guilt by his impious questionings and blasphemies. Eliphaz gives a terrible representation of the general truth that the wicked man, living for himself... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 15:1-35

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 15:14-16

Human sinfuless. Eliphaz accuses Job of his attempt to justify himself, and speaks with great apparent acerbity of spirit. His words are cutting and cruel. He secretly declares Job to be sinful in proportion to his sufferings. He branches into generalities, and affirms the general human sinfulness with the quiet accusation, "All men are sinful; therefore thou art. Sorrow is the punishment of the wicked; therefore thy suffering is proof of thy guilt." Eliphaz's view is imperfect, and needs to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 15:14-16

God's holiness and man's sin. Eliphaz takes up Job's words ( Job 14:1-4 ), but turns them against their author. Job had spoken of inherited frailty as a ground for pity; Eliphaz seizes on it as an accusation of guilt. How dare this puny, imperfect creature, man, boast of his innocence in the sight of the holy God? I. GOD 'S HOLINESS IS INCOMPARABLE . This is an idea which we take for granted. Yet it was not found in most heathen religions. Monotheism is commonly reckoned as the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 15:16

How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water? rather, How much less one that is abominable and impure , a man that drinketh in iniquity , etc.? It cannot be doubted that Job is individually pointed at. Not mankind generally, but a particular man, is intended; and the particular man can be none other than Job. Thus we see how the progress of the controversy has tended to exasperate the disputants, and change the "comforters" from smooth-tongued... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 15:16

How much more abominable and filthy is man - How much more than the angels, and than the heavens. In Job 4:19, the image is somewhat different. There it is, how can man be the object of the divine confidence since he lives in a house of clay, and is so frail? Here the image is more striking and forcible. The word rendered filthy (אלח 'âlach) means, in Arabic, to be sour, as milk, and then to be corrupt, in a moral sense; Psalms 14:3; Psalms 53:4. Here it means that man is defiled and polluted,... read more

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