Job 23:8-12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 23:8-12

Here, I. Job complains that he cannot understand the meaning of God's providences concerning him, but is quite at a loss about them (Job 23:8, 9): I go forward, but he is not there, etc. Eliphaz had bid him acquaint himself with God. ?So I would, with all my heart,? says Job, ?If I knew how to get acquainted with him.? He had himself a great desire to appear before God, and get a hearing of his case, but the Judge was not to be found. Look which way he would, he could see no sign of God's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:8

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there ,.... Job here returns to what he had said before, Job 23:3 ; as Jarchi observes, where he expresses his earnest desire after God, that he might know where he was, and come up to his seat; here he relates the various ways he took to find him, and his fruitless search of him. Cocceius thinks, by these phrases "forward" and "backward", are meant times future and past; and that the sense is, that Job looked into the future times of the Messiah,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:9

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him ,.... The northern part of the world, where his seat is, or the circle of the earth, says Bar Tzemach, and who has stretched out the north over the empty place, Job 26:7 . Jarchi's note is, when he created it, he did not make it the place of his throne: God works everywhere in a way of providence, but in some places more eminently than in others; the northern part of the world is observed to be more inhabited than the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:10

But he knoweth the way that I take ,.... This he seems to say in a way of solace to himself, comforting and contenting himself, that though he could not find God, nor knew where he was, or what way he took, nor the reasons of his ways and dispensations with the children of men, and with himself, yet God knew where he was, and what way he took; by which he means either the way he took, being directed to it for his acceptance with God, his justification before him, and eternal salvation; which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:11

My foot hath held his steps ,.... Trod in the steps he has walked in; he followed God closely, imitated him in acts of holiness and righteousness, of mercy, kindness, and beneficence; and he continued therein; as he set his foot in the steps of God, which were to him for an example, he persisted therein; as he followed on to know him, so to imitate him, and walk worthy of him: his way have I kept ; the way he prescribed him, and directed him to walk in, the way of his commandments, which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:12

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips ,.... From any of the commandments his lips had uttered; meaning not the ten commandments given to Israel, which perhaps as yet were not given, or had not come to the knowledge of Job; some speak of the seven commandments, given to the sons of Noah; See Gill on Genesis 9:4 . It seems to design any and every commandment that God had given to Noah or Abraham, or any of the patriarchs, before the times of Job, and which he had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:8

Behold, I go forward - These two verses paint in vivid colors the distress and anxiety of a soul in search of the favor of God. No means are left untried, no place unexplored, in order to find the object of his research. This is a true description of the conduct of a genuine penitent. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:9

On the left hand, where he doth work - In these two verses Job mentions the four cardinal points of the heavens: the East, by the word קדם kedem , which signifies before; the West, by אחור achor , which signifies after, or the back part; the North, by שמאל semol , which signifies the left; and the South, by ימין yamin , which signifies the right. Such is the situation of the world to a man who faces the east; see Genesis 13:9 , Genesis 13:11 ; Genesis 28:14 . And from... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:10

But he knoweth the way that I take - He approves of my conduct; my ways please him. He tries me: but, like gold, I shall lose nothing in the fire; I shall come forth more pure and luminous. If that which is reputed to be gold is exposed to the action of a strong fire, if it be genuine, it will lose nothing of its quality, nor of its weight. If it went into the fire gold, it will come out gold; the strongest fire will neither alter nor destroy it. So Job: he went into this furnace of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:11

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept - I have carefully marked his providential dealings; and in his way - his pure and undefiled religion - have I walked. I have not only been generally but particularly religious: I have attended carefully to the weightier matters of the law, and have not forgotten its slightest injunctions. Coverdale is curious: - Nevertheles my fete kepe his path, his hye strete have I holden, and not gone out of it. The hye strete is highway, the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 23:8-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 23:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:10

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 23:11

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