Job 36:7-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 36:5-14

Elihu, being to speak on God's behalf, and particularly to ascribe righteousness to his Maker, here shows that the disposals of divine Providence are all, not only according to the eternal counsels of his will, but according to the eternal rules of equity. God acts as a righteous governor, for, I. He does not think it below him to take notice of the meanest of his subjects, nor does poverty or obscurity set any at a distance from his favour. If men are mighty, they are apt to look with a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 36:7

He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous ,.... His eyes of providence are upon them to supply their temporal wants, and to protect and defend them from their enemies, and they are never off of them; his eyes of love, grace, and mercy, are upon them; he always viewed them as righteous in his Son, and through his righteousness imputed; and looked upon them with delight and pleasure, and always so views them; they are engraven on his heart and on his hands, and are ever before him, and in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 36:8

And if they be bound in fetters ,.... Not the wicked, as the Targum, but the righteous spoken of in Job 36:7 , with which this is closely connected; and this is not to be understood of righteous kings on the throne in particular, or their special favourites, but of the righteous in general; and not in a literal sense, of their bonds and imprisonment for religion and righteousness sake, which is sometimes their lot; but in a figurative sense, of afflictions, as chastenings and corrections... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 36:9

Then he showeth them their work ,.... Either what they ought to do, so the Tigurine version; and which they have not done, their sins of omission; when they have been negligent either of the duty of prayer in private and public, or of attendance on the ordinances of the house of God; then he sends an affliction, and by it, as in a glass, presents to their view the omissions they have been guilty of: or else the work which they have done, and should not have done, their sins of commission:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 36:10

He openeth also their ear to discipline ,.... Or "to correction" F15 למוסר "ad correptionem", Montanus; "ad correctionem", Beza, Michaelis, Schultens. ; to the rod of correction; to hear the voice of it and him that has appointed it; its reproving voice for sin, its directing voice to duty, and its commanding voice to return from iniquity, as in the next clause. Or "to instruction" F16 "Ad eruditionem", Cocceius. ; God's corrections of his people being instructions to them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 36:11

If they obey and serve him ,.... That is, God, to whom so many things are ascribed in the preceding verses; and who only is to be obeyed and served in a religious way, with the obedience of faith and love, in all his commands and ordinances. But here not so much obedience to his word, his law or Gospel, as to his rod is intended: "if they hear", &c.; F17 אם ישמעו ויעכדו "si audierint et fecerint", Codurcus. ; hear the rod and him that has appointed it; hearken to his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 36:7

He withdraweth not his eyes - Exactly similar to those words of David, Psalm 34:15 ; : "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous." But with kings are they on the throne - I think the words should be read thus: - "But with kings upon the throne shall he place them; and they shall be exalted for ever." The word וישיבם vaiyeshibem , he will establish or place them, should be added to the first clause, as I have done; and then the sense becomes much clearer. Instead of da fo לנצח ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 36:8

And if they be bound in fetters - These are means which God uses, not of punishment, but of correction. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 36:9

He showeth them their work - He shows them the exceeding sinfulness of sin. That they have exceeded - יתגברו yithgabbaru , "that they have strengthened themselves," and did not trust in the living God; and therefore they would not help themselves when trouble came. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 36:10

He openeth also their ear - He gives them to understand the reason why they are thus corrected, and commands them to return from those iniquities which have induced him to visit them with afflictions and distresses. read more

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