Job 24:16-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 24:13-17

These verses describe another sort of sinners who therefore go unpunished, because they go undiscovered. They rebel against the light, Job 24:13. Some understand it figuratively: they sin against the light of nature, the light of God's law, and that of their own consciences; they profess to know God, but they rebel against the knowledge they have of him, and will not be guided and governed, commanded and controlled, by it. Others understand it literally: they have the day-light and choose the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 24:16

In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime ,.... Which some understand of adulterers last mentioned, who, having observed where beautiful women dwell, mark their houses, and the way to them, and the best way into them, and in the dark get in at windows, or by breaking open doors get to the persons they lust after; but as such steps would be neither safe nor prudent, so they are not necessary; such sort of persons get admittance in an easier... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 24:17

For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death ,.... It is as disagreeable, and as hateful, and as terrible to them as the grossest and thickest darkness can be to others. The word יחדו is to be rendered either "alike" or "altogether", and not "even", as in our version: "the morning is to them equally" or "together" F23 Pariter, Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; ; that is, to the murderer, robber, thief, adulterer, and housebreaker, "as the shadow of death"; alike disagreeable... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 24:16

In the dark they dig through houses - Thieves in Bengal very frequently dig through the mud wall and under the clay floors of houses, and, entering unperceived, plunder them while the inhabitants are asleep. Mr. Good's version of this paragraph I shall lay before the reader: - Job 24:15 ; For the dark too watcheth the eye of the adulterer; Exclaiming, No eye shall behold me. Then putteth he the muffler on his face; Job 24:16 ; He wormeth into houses amidst the darkness. In the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 24:1-22

Apparent anomalies in the Divine judgment. Job again points to the anomalous conditions of human life—goodness, which has its approval in every breast, and on which, by universal consent of belief, a Divine blessing rests, is nevertheless often overcast with the shadow of calamity; and, on the other hand, evil-doing, which merits only judgment, affliction, and correction, is often found to prosper. To it outward events seem to be favourable. Men sin without let or hindrance. Apparently,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 24:1-25

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 24:13-25

Job to Eliphaz: 5. Ancient rebels against the light. I. THEIR BLACK CHARACTER . 1 . They are hostile to the light. The light alluded to is the light of day. The wicked persons spoken of regard that light with aversion, as being unfavourable to the special forms of ungodliness they delight to practise. Distinguished from the previously mentioned sinners who transact their nefarious deeds openly and unblushingly beneath the clear firmament of heaven, these night-birds may be taken,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 24:13-25

Pictures of secret end unpunished evil-doers. I. THE MURDERER AND THE ADULTERER . ( Job 24:13-17 .) A class of the wicked different from the foregoing is now placed before us; rebels, revolters against the light, who refuse to know anything of the ways of light, and to abide in its paths. These are the "children of darkness," so emphatically contrasted in the New Testament with the "children of light" ( Romans 13:12 ; Ephesians 5:8 , etc.; 1 Thessalonians 5:5 ). Before... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 24:16

In the dark they dig through houses . In ancient times, burglary commonly took this form. Windows were few, and high up in the walls; doors were strongly fastened with bolts and bars. But the walls, being of clay, or rubble, or sun-dried brick, were weak and easily penetrable. This was especially the ease with party walls; and if burglars entered an unoccupied house, nothing was easier than to break through the slight partition which separated it from the house next door. The Greek word for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 24:17

For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death . They hate the morning light. It is associated in their minds with the idea of detection; for when it breaks in upon them unexpectedly in the midst of their ill deeds, detection commonly follows; and detection is a true "shadow of death," for it commonly means the gallows. If one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death; rather, for they know the terrors of the shadow of death ( see the Revised Version). It is a... read more

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