Job 17:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 17:1-9

Job's discourse is here somewhat broken and interrupted, and he passes suddenly from one thing to another, as is usual with men in trouble; but we may reduce what is here said to three heads:? I. The deplorable condition which poor Job was now in, which he describes, to aggravate the great unkindness of his friends to him and to justify his own complaints. Let us see what his case was. 1. He was a dying man, Job 17:1. He had said (Job 16:22), ?When a few years have come, I shall go that long... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 17:3

Lay down now ,.... A pledge that thou wilt provide a surety, appoint and admit one to plead for me, and that thou wilt hear my cause, and determine it; or "put now", or "put, I pray thee" F18 שימה נא "pone nunc", Montanus; "poae quaeso", Pagninus, Piscator, Mercerus, Cocceius, Schmidt; "sub cor tunm", Vatablus. , thy heart and mind to me and my case, to my petition and request, and grant it: put me in a surety with thee ; appoint, provide, and place a surety for me with thee,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 17:3

Lay down now - Deposit a pledge; stake your conduct against mine, and your life and soul on the issue; let the cause come before God, let him try it; and see whether any of you shall be justified by him, while I am condemned. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 17:1-16

The general character of this chapter has been considered in the introductory section to Job 16:1-22 . It is occupied mainly with Job's complaints of his treatment by his friends, and his lamentations over his sufferings (verses 1-12). At the end he appeals to the grave, as the only hope or comfort left to him (verses 13-16). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 17:1-16

Job to God: 3. The requiem of a dying man. I. ANTICIPATING HIS IMMEDIATE DISSOLUTION . With three pathetic sighs the patriarch bemoans his dying condition. 1 . The total collapse of his vital powers. Indicated by the shortness and offensiveness of his breath, announcing the approach of suffocation and decay. "My breath is corrupt." And to this at last must all come. The most vigorous physical health, as well as the feeblest, contains within it germs of putridity. Essentially,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 17:1-16

The just holds on his way. "The pencil of the Holy Ghost hath laboured more in describing the afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solomon," says Lord Bacon. "Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and adversity is not without comfort and hopes. We see in needleworks and embroideries it is more pleasing to have a lively work upon a sad and solemn ground than to have a dark and melancholy work upon a lightsome ground; judge, therefore, of the pleasure of the heart by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 17:3

Lay down now ; or, give now a pledge (see the Revised Version). The terms used in this verse are law terms. Job calls upon God to go into court with him, and, first of all, to deposit the caution-money which the court will require before it undertakes the investigation of the case. Next, he goes on to say, put me in a surety with thee ; or rather (as in the Revised Version), be surety for me with thyself ' which is either the same thing with giving a pledge, or a further legal... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 17:3

A pledge from God. Job is assured by faith that God will ultimately vindicate his innocence; but meanwhile his horrible disease is eating into his very life, so that he fears he may not live to see the end when all shall be made clear. Therefore he prays for a pledge of the future liberation from calumny and vindication of his character. In other experiences we crave a pledge of the fulfilment of our most choice hopes. Let us consider what pledges God offers to us, and their significance. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 17:3

Lay down now - This is evidently an address to God - a repetition of the wish which he had so often expressed, that he might be permitted to bring his cause directly before him; see Job 13:3. The whole passage here is obscure, because we are in a great measure ignorant of the ancient practices in courts of law, and of the ancient forms of trial. The general sense seems to be, that Job desires the Deity to enter into a judicial investigation, and to give him a “pledge” - or, as we should say, a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 17:3

Job 17:3. Lay down now Some earnest or pledge. Put me in a surety with thee Let me have an assurance that God will take the hearing and determining of the cause into his own hands, and I desire no more. Who is he that will strike hands with me? That is, agree and promise, or be surety to me, whereof striking or joining hands was the usual sign. But, probably, we ought rather to consider Job as addressing God in these words, and then we must understand them as containing an humble desire... read more

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