Job 33:19-22

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 33:19

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:22

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave ,.... Not the soul, strictly and properly speaking, for that does not, nor is it laid in the grave at death, but returns to God that gave it; rather the body, for which it is sometimes put, and of which what is here said is true, see Psalm 16:10 ; or the person of the sick man, whose disease being so threatening, all hope is gone, and he is given up by his physicians and friends, and seemingly is at the grave's mouth, and that is ready for him, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 33:19

IV. By Afflictions He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, etc. - Afflictions are a fourth means which God makes use of to awaken and convert sinners. In the hand of God these were the cause of the salvation of David, as himself testifies: Before I was afflicted, I went astray, Psalm 119:67 , Psalm 119:71 , Psalm 119:75 . The multitude of his bones - By such diseases, especially those of a rheumatic kind, when to the patient's apprehension every bone is diseased, broken, or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 33:20

His life abhorreth bread - These expressions strongly and naturally point out that general nausea, or loathing which sick persons feel in almost every species of disorder. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 33:21

His flesh is consumed away - As in atrophy, marasmus, and consumptive complaints in general. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 33:22

His soul draweth near unto the grave - נפש nephesh , soul, is here taken for the immortal spirit, as it is distinguished from חיה chaiyah , the animal life. The former draws near to the pit, שחת shachath , corruption; perhaps he meant dissipation, considering it merely as the breath. The latter draws near לממתים lamemithim , to the dead; i.e., to those who are already buried. Mr. Good translates it the Destinies; and supposes the same is meant among the Hebrews by the... 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

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