Job 33:14-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 33:14-18

Job had complained that God kept him wholly in the dark concerning the meaning of his dealings with him, and therefore concluded he dealt with him as his enemy. ?No,? says Elihu, ?he speaks to you, but you do not perceive him; so that the fault is yours, not his; and he is designing your real good even in those dispensations which you put this harsh construction upon.? Observe in general, 1. What a friend God is to our welfare: He speaketh to us once, yea, twice, Job 33:14. It is a token of... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 33:19-28

God has spoken once to sinners by their own consciences, to keep them from the paths of the destroyer, but they perceive it not; they are not aware that the checks their own hearts give them in a sinful way are from God, but they are imputed to melancholy or the preciseness of their education; and therefore God speaks twice; he speaks a second time, and tries another way to convince and reclaim sinners, and that is by providences, afflictive and merciful (in which he speaks twice), and by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:14

For God speaketh once, yea, twice ,.... Or, "but God speaketh" F9 כי "sed", Beza, Piscator. ; though he is not bound to give an account of his matters, and the reasons of his proceedings in a way of providence or grace; yet such is his condescension and goodness, that he makes use of various ways and means to make known his mind and will in his dispensations, if men were but attentive to them; he speaks once, in dreams and visions, as in Job 33:15 ; and twice, or a second time, by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:15

In a dream, in a vision of the night ,.... That is, God speaks to men in this way, and which in those times was his most usual way; see Job 4:12 ; sometimes he spake to a prophet, a person in public office, and made known his mind and will in this manner to him, that he might deliver it to others, Numbers 12:6 ; and sometimes directly and immediately to persons themselves, as he did to Abimelech and Laban, Genesis 20:3 ; when deep sleep lieth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:16

Then he openeth the ears of men ,.... Not the ears of his body, which remaining shut while things are presented to his mind in a dream or vision, but his internal ears; it is the same with opening the heart or understanding to attend to and receive the things delivered in this visionary way: and sealeth their instruction ; sends home the instruction given in this manner, and imprints it upon the mind, so that it is well remembered when awake, not only the dreams themselves, but the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:17

That he may withdraw a man from his purpose ,.... Or "work" F13 מעשה "opere", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, &c.; , his wicked work, as the Targum; either which he has begun upon, or which he designed to do. Thus Abimelech and Laban were restrained from their intentions by a divine admonition in a dream, the one from taking Abraham's wife, as he intended, and the other from doing harm to Jacob, which he designed: and hide pride from man ; by pardoning his sins, in which... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:18

He keepeth back his soul from the pit ,.... Or, "that he may keep back" F14 יחשך "ut prohibeat", Mercerus, Piscator. ; for this is another end and use of God's speaking unto men; it is to preserve them for the present from going down to the grave, the pit of corruption and destruction; so called because the bodies of men, being there laid, corrupt, and are entirely destroyed by worms, and turn to rottenness and dust; and to preserve them from the bottomless pit of everlasting ruin... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:19

He is chastened also with pain upon his bed ,.... This seems to be another way, in which God, according to his eternal purposes, speaks unto men, as the word "also" intimates; namely, by afflictions, and sometimes painful ones; which have a voice in them, and men of wisdom will hearken to it, Micah 6:9 . Pain here signifies not pain of the mind, or a wounded spirit, which is very afflicting, distressing, and intolerable; but pain of the body, as the next clause shows; and this endured on... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:20

So that his life abhorreth bread ,.... Through the force of pain he loses his appetite for food, and even a nausea of it takes place; he loathes it as the most abominable and filthy thing that can be thought of; even bread, so necessary to the support of human life, so strengthening to the heart of man, and what he every day stands in need of, and should pray for, and in health is never weary of; it may be put for all common and useful food: and his soul dainty meat ; the most rich and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:21

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen ,.... All being gone, none left to be seen, nothing but skin and bones; and this partly through the vehemence of strong pain, and partly through the nausea of food; not being able to take anything for nourishment and the support of the fluids, and so quite emaciated: and his bones that were not seen stick out : which before were covered with flesh and fat, so that they could not be seen; but now the flesh and fat being wasted, they... read more

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