Job 4:12

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 4:12-21

Eliphaz, having undertaken to convince Job of the sin and folly of his discontent and impatience, here vouches a vision he had been favoured with, which he relates to Job for his conviction. What comes immediately from God all men will pay a particular deference to, and Job, no doubt, as much as any. Some think Eliphaz had this vision now lately, since he came to Job, putting words into his mouth wherewith to reason with him; and it would have been well if he had kept to the purport of this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 4:12

Now a thing was secretly brought to me ,.... From reason and experience, Eliphaz proceeds to a vision and revelation he had from God, showing the purity and holiness of God, and the frailty, weakness, folly, and sinfulness of men, by which it appears that men cannot be just in the sight of God, and therefore it must be wrong in Job to insist upon his innocence and integrity. Some indeed have thought that this was a mere fiction of Eliphaz, and not a real vision; yea, some have gone so far as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 4:12

Now a thing was secretly brought to me - To give himself the more authority, he professes to have received a vision from God, by which he was taught the secret of the Divine dispensations in providence; and a confirmation of the doctrine which he was now stating to Job; and which he applied in a different way to what was designed in the Divine communication. Mine ear received a little thereof - Mr. Good translates, "And mine ear received a whisper along with it." The apparition was the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:1-21

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:12

Now a thing was secretly brought to me ; rather, a word (or, a message ) was brought to me stealthily. And mine ear received a little thereof ; rather, a whisper thereof (see the Revised Version, and comp. Job 26:14 , and the Vulgate, which gives susurrus ) . As the form of the vision was not distinct to Eliphaz's eyes ( Job 4:16 ), so neither were the words which were uttered distinct to his ears. He thinks himself able, however, to give the sense of them (see Job 4:17-21... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:12-16

An apparition. The visionary now tells the thrilling tale of his vision. He thinks that he will overawe Job with a message from one who was no mortal man. All the details and circumstances of the vision are graphically narrated, that the horror of it may add to the weight of its authority. I. THE REALITY OF THE APPARITION . There is every reason to believe that Eliphaz spoke in good faith. He does not appear before us as a deceiver, though he is certainly capable of making a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:12-21

Eliphaz proceeds to narrate a spiritual experience of a very strange and striking character. It was night, and he had fallen asleep, when suddenly he was, or seemed to himself to be, awake. A horrible fear came over him, and all his limbs trembled and quaked. Then a spirit seemed to pass before his face, while every hair on his body rose up and stiffened with horror. It did not simply pass across him, but stood still, in a formless form, which he could see but not clearly distinguish. There... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:12-21

Eliphaz to Job: 2. A message from the spirit-world. I. THE DEVOUT SEER . 1 . Reposing on his couch. A modern poet (Robert Buchanan, 'Book of Orm.,' 1.), depicting how "in the beginning, ere time grew," the beautiful Maker of all things drew around his face, which has ever since been invisible to mortal eye, the wondrous veil of the firmament, represents that face as closest pressed in the daytime, when the sky is clearest, adding that at nightfall, when the darkness deepens and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 4:12-21

The condemnation of man in presence of the Divine holiness. With a figure of great boldness and grandeur Eliphaz urges his words upon Job. He is trying to illustrate the great principle of the righteous retributions of the Divine government. In the visions of the night there appeared a spirit to pass before his face, and in the dead silence he heard a voice saying, "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker?" It cannot be. And the vision of Eliphaz finds... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 4:12

Now a thing - To confirm his views, Eliphaz appeals to a vision of a most remarkable character which he says he had had on some former occasion on the very point under consideration. The object of the vision was, to show that mortal man could not be more just than God, and that such was the purity of the Most High, that he put no confidence comparatively even in the angels. The design for which this is introduced here is, evidently, to reprove what he deemed the unfounded self-confidence of... read more

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