Job 33:16 NIV

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 33:16

III. By secret Inspirations Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth, etc. - A dream or a vision simply considered is likely to do no good; it is the opening of the understanding, and the pouring in of the light, that make men wise to salvation. Serious alarms, holy purposes, penitential pangs for past sins, apprehension of death and judgment, discoveries of God's justice, of Christ's love, of the world's vanity, of heaven's excellence, etc., etc., etc., are often used by the Divine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:1-33

In this chapter Elihu, turning away from the "comforters," proceeds to address Job himself, offering to reason out the matter in dispute with him, in God's stead. After a brief exordium (verses 1-7), he takes exception which (he says) are unjust. He next brings forward his theory of God-inflicted sufferings being, in the main, chastisements proceeding from a loving purpose, intended to purify, to strengthen, to purge out faults, to "save from the pit," to improve, and to enlighten... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:8-33

Elihu's first discourse: the guilt of man in the sight of God. I. JOB 'S CONFIDENCE IN HAS INNOCENTS CENSURED . ( Job 33:8-11 .) Elihu gathers up in brief some of those sayings of Job which had shocked his ear and scandalized his spiritual conscience. Job had asserted his own purity, and had accused God of enmity against his person (compare Job's words, Job 9:21 ; Job 10:7 ; Job 16:17 ; Job 23:10 ; Job 27:5 , Job 27:6 ; Job 10:13 , seq.; Job 19:11 ; Job 30:21 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14-17

Divine voices. I. THE ADVENT OF THE DIVINE VOICES . Elihu reminds us of Eliphaz, yet with a difference. Both men believe in superhuman influences, in God-sent messages, But Eliphaz tells of a stately vision, an awful and overwhelming apparition; Elihu, on the other hand, is satisfied with dream-voices. God approaches man in various ways. The most awe-inspiring is not necessarily the most instructive. Dreams have been continually recognized among the channels of Divine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14-33

Elihu's first address to Job: 2. The philosophy of Divine instruction. I. THE METHODS OF DIVINE INSTRUCTION . 1 . Through the medium of dreams. The dreams, or visions, referred to were supernatural revelations in early times imparted to men, when the spirit, probably wrapt in meditation on Divine things, was cast into a deep sleep, such as fell on Adam at the creation of Eve ( Genesis 2:21 ). That nocturnal dreams usually find their psychological basis in the mental... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:16

Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction . At such times, Elihu holds, God gives men spiritual wisdom, instructs them, makes them understand his dealings with them and his purposes with respect to them. If Job is perplexed concerning the Almighty's ways with himself, and desires explanations, let him have his ear open to the Divine teaching on such occasions, and seriously lay it to heart. He will thus, it may be, find his perplexity diminished. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 33:16

Then he openeth the ears of men - Margin, as in Hebrew “revealeth,” or “uncovereth.” The idea is, that he then reveals to the ear of man important admonitions or counsels. He communicates valuable truth. We are not to understand this as saying that the sleeper actually hears God speak, but as the ear is the organ of hearing, it is employed here to denote that God then communicates His will to human beinigs. In what way he had access to the souls of people by dreams, it is impossible to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 33:16-17

Job 33:16-17. Then he openeth the ears of men When their minds are free from the business and cares of the day, he secretly whispers instruction upon their ears, and imprints it upon their minds, and that in such a manner that they do not let it slip, (as men usually do most things which they hear, either from God or men,) but retain and hold it fast, being fully assured of the truth and importance of it. That he may withdraw man from his purpose That is, from the execution of his... read more

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 33:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:1-33

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:8-33

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14-33

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:16

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 33:16

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 33:16-17

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