Job 42:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 42:1-6

The words of Job justifying himself were ended, Job 31:40. After that he said no more to that purport. The words of Job judging and condemning himself began, Job 40:4, 5. Here he goes on with words to the same purport. Though his patience had not its perfect work, his repentance for his impatience had. He is here thoroughly humbled for his folly and unadvised speaking, and it was forgiven him. Good men will see and own their faults at last, though it may be some difficulty to bring them to do... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 42:4

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak ,.... Not in the manner he had before, complaining of God and justifying himself, but in a way of humble entreaty of favours of him, of confession of sin before him, and of acknowledgment of his wisdom, goodness, and justice in all his dealings with him, which before he arraigned; I will demand of thee ; or rather "I will make petition to thee", as Mr. Broughton renders it; humbly ask a favour, and entreat a gracious answer; for to demand is not so... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:1-6

Job's answer and confession. It Consists of— I. THE HUMBLE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOD 'S POWER . (Verse 2.) God can do everything; and no "beginning," no germinating or budding thought, is hidden from him; he sees it alike in its origin, development, and end. Both the fearful forms of force in the animal life of nature, and the striking destinies of individual men, are constant proofs of the presence of him who governs the world in power and in justice. II. AS ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:1-6

Contrition. Job, chastened with severe afflictions, harassed by the biting words of incompetent teachers, and now by the Divine voice humbled into the very dust, makes his lowly confession unto Almighty God, and casts himself upon the Divine forbearance and mercy. The confession of this truly humble, lowly, contrite, and obedient heart embraces— I. A JUST APPREHENSION OF THE DIVINE POWER . The ability of God to work all in all—to do whatsoever he pleaseth. "Now I know that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:1-17

This concluding chapter divides into two parts. In the first part ( Job 42:1-6 ) Job makes his final submission, humbling himself in the dust before God. In the second (verses 7-17) the historical framework, in which the general dialogue is set, is resumed and brought to a close. God's approval of Job is declared, and his anger denounced against the three friends, who are required to expiate their guilt by a sacrifice, and only promised forgiveness if Job will intercede on their behalf... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:1-17

The conclusion of the drama. I. THE SETTLEMENT OF THE THIRD CONTROVERSY BETWEEN JEHOVAH AND JOB . ( Job 42:1-6 .) This controversy, it will be remembered, arose out of the intensity of Job's sufferings and the perplexity of Job's spirit, which caused him on the one hand to form too favourable an opinion of his own, and on the other hand too unfavourable an opinion of God's, righteousness; to misinterpret the facts of providence almost as egregiously as, though in an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:1-17

Commentators have generally recognized that this psalm is introductory and prefatory. Jerome says that many called it "the Preface of the Holy Ghost." Some of the Fathers did not even regard it as a psalm at all, but as a mere preface, and so reckoned the second psalm as the first (in many manuscripts of the New Testament, the reading is "first psalm" instead of "second psalm" in Acts 13:33 ). The composition is, as Hengstenberg observes, "a short compendium of tile main subject of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:4

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me , Job refers to God's words in Job 38:3 and Job 40:7 , and realizes the humbling effect which they had had on him. They made him feel how little he knew on the subject of God's works and ways, and how little competent he was to judge them. Hence he bursts into the confession- read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 42:4

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak - This is the language of humble, docile submission. On former occasions he had spoken confidently and boldly of God; he had called in question the equity of his dealings with him; he had demanded that he might be permitted to carry his cause before him, and argue it there himself; Notes, Job 13:3, and notes Job 13:20-22. Now he is wholly changed. His is the submissive language of a docile child, and he begs to be permitted to sit down before God, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 42:4

Job 42:4. Hear, I beseech thee Hear and accept my humble and penitent confession. I will demand of thee Hebrew, אשׁאלךְ , eshaleka, interrogabo te, I will inquire, ask, or make my petition to thee. I will no more dispute the matter with thee, but beg information from thee. The words which God had uttered to Job by way of challenge, Job returns to him in the way of submission. read more

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