Job 7:19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 7:17-21

Job here reasons with God, I. Concerning his dealings with man in general (Job 7:17, 18): What is man, that thou shouldst magnify him? This may be looked upon either, 1. As a passionate reflection upon the proceedings of divine justice; as if the great God did diminish and disparage himself in contending with man. ?Great men think it below them to take cognizance of those who are much their inferiors so far as to reprove and correct their follies and indecencies; why then does God magnify man,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 7:19

How long wilt thou not depart from me ,.... From wrestling and contending with him, and afflicting of him; the Lord was too hard a combatant for job, and therefore he chose to be rid of him, and was impatient of it; or "look off from me" F21 תשעה ממני "respicis a me?" Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Schmidt, Michaelis; "avertis oculum a me?" Schultens. ; so Mr. Broughton renders it, "how long wilt thou not look from me?" this is to be understood not of a look of love,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 7:19

Till I swallow down my spittle? - This is a proverbial expression, and exists among the Arabs to the present day; the very language being nearly the same. It signifies the same as, Let me draw my breath; give me a moment's space; let me have even the twinkling of an eye. I am urged by my sufferings to continue my complaint; but my strength is exhausted, my mouth dry with speaking. Suspend my sufferings even for so short a space as is necessary to swallow my spittle, that my parched tongue... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 7:1-21

In this chapter Job first bewails his miserable fate, of which he expects no alleviation (verses 1-10); then claims an unlimited right of complaint (verse 11); and finally enters into direct expostulation with God—an expostulation which continues from verse 12 to the end of the chapter. At the close, he admits his sinfulness (verse 20), but asks impatiently why God does not pardon it instead of visiting it with such extreme vengeance (verse 21). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 7:17-21

Job to God: 1 . A remonstrance with Heaven. I. THE DIVINE CONDUCT DEPICTED . As that of: 1 . A Man-watcher. (Verse 20; cf. verse 12.) Concerning this Divine espionage may be noted: 2 . A Man-shooter. "Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee?" i.e. as a target to shoot at (cf. Job 6:4 ). Another outrageous impeachment of the Deity, implying that God, in afflicting Job, had been guilty of: 3 . A Man-oppressor. "Why hast thou made me an obstacle in thy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 7:19

How long wilt thou not depart from me? rather, Wilt thou not look away from me? (see the Revised Version). Job does not go so far as to ask that God should "depart from" him. He knows, doubtless, that that would be the extreme of calamity. But he would have God sometimes turn away his eyes from him, and not always regard him so intently. There is something of the same tone of complaint in the psalmist's utterance; "Thou art about my path, and about my bed, and spiest out all my ways" (... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Job 7:19

How long wilt thou not depart? - How long is this to continue? The same word occurs in Job 14:6. The word rendered “depart” שׁעה shâ‛âh means to look, to look around, and then to look away from anyone or anything. The idea here is, that God had fixed his eyes upon Job, and he asks with anxiety, how long this was to continue, and when he would turn his eyes away; compare the notes at Job 7:8. Schultens supposes that the metaphor here is taken from combatants, who never take their eyes from... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Job 7:19

Job 7:19. How long wilt thou not depart from me How long will it be ere thou withdraw thy afflicting hand from me? The Hebrew is literally, How long wilt thou not take thine eyes off me? “This,” says Dodd, “is a metaphor from combatants, who never take their eyes from off their antagonists. The figure is preserved in the next sentence, which represents a combatant seized by his adversary in such a manner as to prevent his swallowing his spittle or fetching his breath.” Till I swallow my... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Job 7:1-21

Job’s reply to Eliphaz (6:1-7:21)Eliphaz had rebuked Job for his impatient outburst. In reply Job acknowledges that God is the one who has sent this affliction, but he points out that if Eliphaz knew how great this suffering was he would understand why Job spoke rashly (6:1-4). An animal cries out only with good reason (for example, if it is hungry for food). Job likewise cries out only with good reason. His tormenting thoughts and Eliphaz’s useless words are to him like food that makes him... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Job 7:19

Job 7:19. How long wilt thou not depart from me?— Literally, How long wilt thou not take thine eyes off me? This is a metaphor borrowed from combatants, who never take their eyes off from their antagonists. The figure is preserved in the next sentence, which represents a combatant seized by his adversary in such a manner as to prevent his swallowing his spittle, or fetching his breath. Till I swallow my spittle, is an Arabic proverb at present in use, signifying a very short time. See Schultens... read more

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