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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 22:5-14

Eliphaz and his companions had condemned Job, in general, as a wicked man and a hypocrite; but none of them had descended to particulars, nor drawn up any articles of impeachment against him, until Eliphaz did so here, where he positively and expressly charges him with many high crimes and misdemeanours, which, if he had really been guilty of them, might well have justified them in their harsh censures of him. ?Come,? says Eliphaz, ?we have been too long beating about the bush, too tender of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 22:8

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth ,.... A large share and portion of it, which Job could not hinder him from the enjoyment of, because mightier than he, or otherwise he would have done it; or Job was content he should have what he had, and gave him more than what of right belonged to him; for when any cause came before him as a judge, or civil magistrate, between a rich man, and a poorer man, relating to a field, or piece of land he always gave the cause to the rich and mighty... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 22:8

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth - זרוע איש ish zeroa , the man of arm. Finger, hand, and arm, are all emblems of strength and power. The man of arm is not only the strong man, but the man of power and influence, the man of rapine and plunder. The honorable man - Literally, the man whose face is accepted, the respectable man, the man of wealth. Thou wert an enemy to the poor and needy, but thou didst favor and flatter the rich and great. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-30

Eliphaz returns to the attack, but with observations that are at first strangely pointless and irrelevant, e.g. on the unprofitableness of man to God (verses l, 2), and on the slight importance of Job's case (verse 3). After this weak prelude, however, there is more vigour in his assault. In verses 4-9 he directly charges Job with a number of specified sins, and in verses 10, 11 declares his sufferings to be the consequence of them. He then proceeds to accuse him of denying God's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:1-30

Censorious and uncharitable reasoning. Eliphaz again takes up the word. He does not contest Job's position, that life presents many examples of the prosperity of the godless, and of the calamities of the godly, but he still maintains that only grievous sins, such as he proceeds to specify — oppression, hard-heartedness, injustice to his neighbours—could be the cause of his misfortunes and miseries (verses 2-10). He then proceeds to give an earnest warning against further indulgence in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:2-11

The impartiality of the Divine judgment. Eliphaz knows of no tense for suffering but sin. Doubtless sin—transgression of Divine laws—does lie deeply buried in the causes of human suffering. This is the fruitful seed from which widespread harvests of suffering grow. But it is not within the power of man to fix on the actual offender. Suffering occurs in a thousand instances where not the sufferer but another is the offender. To charge home, therefore, upon every sufferer the cause of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:5-20

Eliphaz to Job: 2. A false accusation. I. A CHARGE OF FLAGRANT IMMORALITY . 1 . Generally preferred. (Verse 5.) All sin may be justly characterized as great, being committed against a great God, a great Law, great light, great love, great obligations, and great penalties; and every man's iniquities may be styled "without an end," i.e. numberless, since David says of his, "They are more than the hairs of mine head" ( Psalms 40:12 ); but Eliphaz designs to represent Job's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 22:8

But as for the mighty man, he had the earth ; literally, as for the man of arm ; i.e. the man strong of arm. Job's retainers are probably meant, whom Eliphaz supposes to have been allowed by Job to oppress the poor, and have their own way in the world. This charge was doubtless as baseless as the others (comp. Job 29:16 , Job 29:17 ). And the honourable man dwelt in it; of the accepted man— "the favoured man," i.e. those of whom Job approved and whom he favoured. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 22:8

But as for the mighty man - Hebrew as in the margin, “man of arm.” The “arm,” in the Scriptures, is the symbol of power; Psalms 10:15, “Break thou the arm of the wicked;” Ezekiel 30:21. “I have broken the arm of Pharaoh;” Psalms 89:13, “Thou hast a mighty arm;” Psalms 97:1, “His holy arm hath gotten him the victory.” The reason of this is, that the sword and spear were principally used in war, and success depended on the force with which they were wielded by the arm. There can be no doubt that... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 22:8

Job 22:8. The mighty man had the earth That is, he had the firm possession, or free enjoyment of it. Which is meant, either, 1st, of Job, of whom he speaks invidiously in the third person: as if he had said, The mighty man Job possessed, enlarged, and enjoyed his estate, without any compassion to the poor. Or, 2d, of other rich and potent men, who had the earth or land by Job’s kindness and courtesy. The rich were always welcome to him; his house was open to them; his land was before them,... read more

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