Job 4:13-19

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 4:13

In thoughts from the visions of the night ,.... While Eliphaz was thinking of and meditating upon divine things, or while he was revolving in his mind some night visions he had, before this was made unto him, see Daniel 2:29 ; in meditation the Lord is often pleased to make known more of his mind and will to his people; and this is one way in which he was wont to do it in former times, in a vision either in the day, as sometimes, or in the night, as at others, and as here, see Numbers... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 4:14

Fear came upon me, and trembling ,.... Not only a dread of mind, but trembling of body; which was often the case even with good men, whenever there was any unusual appearance of God unto them by a voice, or by any representation, or by an angel; as with Abraham in the vision of the pieces, and with Moses on Mount Sinai, and with Daniel in some of his visions, and with Zechariah, when an angel appeared and brought him the tidings of a son to be born to him; which arises from the frailty and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 4:15

Then a spirit passed before my face ,.... Which some interpret of a wind F17 רוח "ventus", Vatablus, Cocceius, Schmidt, Broughton. , a blustering wind, that blew strong in his face; and so the Targum renders it, a stormy wind, such an one as Elijah perceived when the Lord spoke to him, though he was not in that, 1 Kings 19:11 ; or such a whirlwind, out of which the Lord spake to Job, Job 38:1 ; or rather, as Jarchi, an angel, an immaterial spirit, one of Jehovah's ministering... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 4:16

It stood still ,.... That is, the spirit, or the angel in a visible form; it was before going to and fro, but now it stood still right against Eliphaz, as if it had something to say to him, and so preparing him to attend to it; which he might do the better, it standing before him while speaking to him, that he might have the opportunity of taking more notice of it: but , notwithstanding this advantageous position of it: I could not discern the form thereof ; what it was, whether... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 4:17

Shall mortal man be more just than God ?.... Poor, weak, frail, dying man, and so sinful, as his mortality shows, which is the effect of sin; how should such a man be more righteous than God? who is so originally and essentially of himself, completely, perfectly, yea, infinitely righteous in his nature, and in his works, both of providence and grace; in chastising his people, punishing the wicked, and bestowing favours upon his friends, even in their election, redemption, justification,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 4:18

Behold, he put no trust in his servants ,.... Some think the divine oracle or revelation ends in Job 4:17 , and that here Eliphaz makes some use and improvement of it, and addresses Job, and argues with him upon it, with a view to his case and circumstances; but rather the account of what the oracle said, or was delivered by revelation, is continued to the end of the chapter, there being nothing unworthy of God, either in the matter or manner of it: and here Eliphaz himself is addressed,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 4:19

How much less on them that dwell in houses of clay ,.... Meaning men, but not as dwelling in houses, in a proper sense, made of clay dried by the sun, as were common in the eastern countries; nor in mean cottages, as distinguished from cedar, and ceiled houses, in which great personages dwelt, for this respects men in common; nor as being in the houses of the grave, as the Targum, Jarchi, and others, which are no other than dust, dirt, and clay; for this regards not the dead, but the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 4:13

From the visions of the night - " It is in vain," says Mr. Good, "to search through ancient or modern poetry for a description that has any pretensions to rival that upon which we are now entering. Midnight-solitude - the deep sleep of all around - the dreadful chill and horripilation or erection of the hair over the whole body - the shivering, not of the muscles only, but of the bones themselves - the gliding approach of the spectre - the abruptness of his pause - his undefined and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 4:17

Shall mortal man - אנוש enosh ; Greek βροτος poor, weak, dying man. Be more just than God? - Or, יצדק מאלוה האנוש haenosh meeloah yitsdak ; shall poor, weak, sinful man be justified before God? Shall a man - גבר gaber , shall even the strong and mighty man, be pure before his Maker? Is any man, considered merely in and of himself, either holy in his conduct, or pure in his heart? No. He must be justified by the mercy of God, through an atoning sacrifice; he must be... read more

Group of Brands