Job 20:1-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 20:1-9

Here, I. Zophar begins very passionately, and seems to be in a great heat at what Job had said. Being resolved to condemn Job for a bad man, he was much displeased that he talked so like a good man, and, as it should seem, broke in upon him, and began abruptly (Job 20:2): Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer. He takes no notice of what Job had said to move their pity, or to evidence his own integrity, but fastens upon the reproof he gave them in the close of his discourse, counts that a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:1

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite ,.... Notwithstanding the sad distressed condition Job was in, an account of which is given in the preceding chapter, enough to pierce a heart of stone, notwithstanding his earnest request to his friends to have pity on him, and notwithstanding the noble confession of his faith he had made, which showed him to be a good man, and the excellent advice he gave his friends to cease persecuting him, for their own good, as well as for his peace; yet, regardless... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:2

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer ,.... Or "to return" F1 ישיבוני "reducunt me, q. d. in scenam"; Cocceius, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Drusius. and appear upon the stage again, and enter the lists once more with his antagonist; he suggests as if he had intended to have said no more in this controversy, but observing what Job had said last, could not forbear replying: "therefore" because he had represented him and his friends as cruel persecutors of him, as men... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:3

I have heard the check of my reproach ,.... He took it that Job had reproached him and his friends, by representing them as hardhearted men, and persecuting him wrongly in a violent manner; and he had observed the "check" or reproof given for it, by bidding them beware of the sword, and lest the punishment of it should be inflicted on them; and if that should not be the case, yet there was a righteous judgment they could not escape. Now Zophar heard this, but could not hear it with patience;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:4

Knowest thou not this of old ,.... Or "from eternity" F7 מני עד "ab aeterno", Junius & Tremellius, Drusius, Codurcus, Schmidt, Michaelis. , from the beginning of time, ever since the world was; as if he should say, if you are the knowing man you pretend to be, you must know this I am about to observe; and if you do not know it, you must be an ignorant man, since it is an ancient truth, confirmed by all experience from the creation; not that Job could know it so early, he was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:5

That the triumphing of the wicked is short ,.... Their outward prosperity and felicity, of which they make their boast, and in which they glory and triumph for a while; at first Job's friends set out with this notion, that the wicked never flourished and prospered, but it always went ill with them in Providence; but being beat out of that, they own they may be for a small time in flourishing and prosperous circumstances, but it is but for a small time; which may be true in many instances,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:6

Though his excellency mount up to the heavens ,.... Though, in worldly grandeur and glory, he should arrive to such a pitch as the Assyrian monarch was ambitious of, as to ascend into heaven, exalt his throne above the stars of God, and be like the Most High; or be comparable to such a tree, by which the greatness of Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom is expressed, the height whereof reached unto heaven, Isaiah 14:12 ; and his head reach unto the clouds ; being lifted up with pride, because of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:7

Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung ,.... Not only in this world, but in the world to come, both in his outward substance here, and in his body in the grave, and in his soul to all eternity, and that in the most shameful and disgraceful manner; he shall perish in his own corruption, and like his own dung inevitably, which is never returned to its place again: dead bodies were reckoned by the ancients as dung, and the carcasses of men are rather to be cast out than dung F9 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 20:2

Therefore do my thoughts - It has already been observed that Zophar was the most inveterate of all Job's enemies, for we really must cease to call them friends. He sets no bounds to his invective, and outrages every rule of charity. A man of such a bitter spirit must have been, in general, very unhappy. With him Job is, by insinuation, every thing that is base, vile, and hypocritical. Mr. Good translates this verse thus: "Whither would my tumult transport me? And how far my agitation within... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 20:3

I have heard the check of my reproach - Some suppose that Zophar quotes the words of Job, and that some words should be supplied to indicate this meaning; e.g., "I have heard (sayest thou) the check or charge of my reproach?" Or it may refer to what Job says of Zophar and his companions, Job 19:2 , Job 19:3 ; : How long will ye vex may soul - these ten times have ye reproached me. Zophar therefore assumes his old ground, and retracts nothing of what he had said. Like many of his own... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 20:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 20:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 20:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 20:3

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