King James Version
Job 35
16 verses with commentary
Elihu's Third Speech: Does Your Sin Affect God?
Elihu spake moreover, and said,
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Elihu spake moreover, and said</strong>—This brief verse introduces Elihu's third speech (chapters 35-37). The name <em>Elihu</em> (אֱלִיהוּא) means 'He is my God' or 'My God is He,' theologically significant as this young sage attempts to vindicate God's justice. The term <em>va-ya'an</em> (וַיַּעַן), 'and he answered,' suggests Elihu responds to Job's previous arguments.<br><br>Elihu rep...
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**11. the ungodly--**namely, his professed friends, who persecuted him with unkind speeches.
**turned me over--**literally, "cast me headlong into the hands of the wicked."
Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?
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KJV Study Commentary
Elihu challenges Job: 'Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?' This misrepresents Job - he never claimed superiority to God, only innocence of charges. Straw man arguments don't address actual concerns.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
**XXXV.**
(2) **My righteousness is more than God’s.**—See Job 19:6, &c. Job had not in so many words said this, but what he had said was capable of being so represented, and perhaps seemed to involve it. (Comp. Job 9:22; Job 10:15.) Here, again, there was a misrepresentation of what Job had said. He certainly did not mean that he was none the better for being righteous; on the contrary, he had di...
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**12. I was at ease--**in past times (Job 1:1-3).
**by my neck--**as an animal does its prey (so Job 10:16).
**shaken--**violently; in contrast to his former "ease" (Psa 102:10). Set me up (again).
**mark--**(Job 7:20; La 3:12). God lets me always recover strength, so as to torment me ceaselessly.
For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? if: or, by it more than by my sin
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KJV Study Commentary
Elihu quotes Job's question: "For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?" The noun <em>sakan</em> (סָכַן, "advantage") means benefit or profit. The verb <em>ya'al</em> (יָעַל, "profit") asks about usefulness. Elihu accuses Job of asking what good righteousness does. This is another mischaracterization—Job questioned why righte...
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**13. his archers--**The image of Job 16:12 is continued. God, in making me His "mark," is accompanied by the three friends, whose words wound like sharp arrows.
**gall--**put for a vital part; so the liver (La 2:11).
I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. answer: Heb. return to thee words
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee</strong>—Elihu directly addresses Job and indirectly the three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar). The verb <em>shiv</em> (שִׁיב), 'to answer' or 'to respond,' indicates Elihu's confidence in providing what the others couldn't—satisfying explanation of Job's suffering. The phrase <em>reeka</em> (רֵעֶיךָ), 'your companions,' acknowledges the f...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **And thy companions.**—Elihu professes to answer Job’s friends as well as himself, but what he says (Job 35:5, &c.) is very much what Eliphaz had said before (Job 15:14, &c., Job 22:3, &c., and Bildad in Job 25). It is indeed true that God is too high to be affected by man’s righteousness or unrighteousness, but it does not follow therefore that He is indifferent, for then He would not be a r...
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14. The image is from storming a fortress by making breaches in the walls (2Ki 14:13).
**a giant--**a mighty warrior.
Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Look unto the heavens, and see</strong> (הַבֵּט שָׁמַיִם וּרְאֵה, habbet shamayim ur-eh)—The imperative <em>habbet</em> (הַבֵּט), from <em>nabat</em> (נָבַט), means 'to look intently' or 'to gaze upon.' <em>Shamayim</em> (שָׁמַיִם), 'heavens,' evokes cosmic scale and divine dwelling. <strong>Behold the clouds which are higher than thou</strong> (וְשׁוּר שְׁחָקִים גָּבְהוּ מִמֶּךָּ, ve-shur...
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**15. sewed--**denoting the tight fit of the mourning garment; it was a sack with armholes closely sewed to the body.
**horn--**image from horned cattle, which when excited tear the earth with their horns. The horn was the emblem of power (1Ki 22:11). Here, it is
**in the dust--**which as applied to Job denotes his humiliation from former greatness. To throw one's self in the dust was a sign o...
Read full commentary →If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?
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KJV Study Commentary
Elihu asks: "If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?" These rhetorical questions probe whether human sin harms God. The verb <em>pa'al</em> (פָּעַל, "doest") means to work or accomplish. Elihu argues that sin doesn't damage God's being—a true insight. God's perfection and self-sufficiency mean He doesn't suffer diminishment fr...
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**16. foul--**rather, "is red," that is, flushed and heated [Umbreit and Noyes].
**shadow of death--**that is, darkening through many tears (La 5:17). Job here refers to Zophar's implied charge (Job 11:14). Nearly the same words occur as to Jesus Christ (Is 53:9). So Job 16:10 above answers to the description of Jesus Christ (Psa 22:13; Is 50:6, and Job 16:4 to Psa 22:7). He alone realized what ...
Read full commentary →If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>If thou be righteous, what givest thou him?</strong> (אִם־צָדַקְתָּ מַה־תִּתֶּן־לוֹ, im-tsadaqta mah-titten-lo)—The verb <em>tsadaq</em> (צָדַק) means 'to be righteous' or 'to be in the right.' Elihu's rhetorical question challenges Job's implicit claim that his righteousness obligates God to respond favorably. <strong>Or what receiveth he of thine hand?</strong> (אוֹ מַה־מִיָּדְךָ יִקָּח,...
Read full commentary →Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art</strong> (לְאִישׁ־כָּמוֹךָ רִשְׁעֶךָ, le-ish-kamocha rish'ekha)—<em>Rasha</em> (רֶשַׁע) denotes 'wickedness' or 'guilt.' Elihu argues that human sin affects fellow humans, not God. <strong>And thy righteousness may profit the son of man</strong> (וּלְבֶן־אָדָם צִדְקָתֶךָ, ul-ven-adam tsidqatekha)—<em>Tsedaqah</em> (צְדָקָה), 'righteousness,' benefi...
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**18. my blood--**that is, my undeserved suffering. He compares himself to one murdered, whose blood the earth refuses to drink up until he is avenged (Ge 4:10, 11; Eze 24:1, 8; Is 26:21). The Arabs say that the dew of heaven will not descend on a spot watered with innocent blood (compare 2Sa 1:21).
**no place--**no resting-place. "May my cry never stop!" May it go abroad! "Earth" in this verse ...
Read full commentary →By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>By reason of the multitude of oppressions</strong> (מֵרֹב עֲשׁוּקִים, me-rov ashuqim)—<em>Rov</em> (רֹב) means 'abundance' or 'multitude'; <em>osheq</em> (עֹשֶׁק) denotes 'oppression' or 'extortion.' Elihu describes widespread injustice driving victims to cry out. <strong>They make the oppressed to cry</strong> (יַזְעִיקוּ, yaz'iqu)—from <em>za'aq</em> (זָעַק), 'to cry out' or 'call for he...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **By reason of the multitude of oppressions.**—The argument seems to be that among men there may be oppression, but not with an almighty and just Judge. The right course, therefore, is to wait. “Men may, indeed, complain because of the oppression of an earthly tyrant; but how canst *thou *say thou beholdest Him not?” (See Job 9:9.)
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**19. Also now--**Even now, when I am so greatly misunderstood on earth, God in heaven is sensible of my innocence.
**record--**Hebrew, "in the high places"; Hebrew, "my witness." Amidst all his impatience, Job still trusts in God.
But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
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KJV Study Commentary
Elihu asks: 'But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night.' This poetic phrase suggests God provides comfort in darkness. The 'songs in the night' metaphor captures joy persisting through suffering.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **But none saith.**—Some render this, “But he who giveth songs in the night saith not, Where is God my Maker,” *i.e., *the selfish and luxurious oppressor, who spendeth the night in feasting and revelry. This is an intelligible meaning. On the other hand, though the phrase, “who giveth songs in the night,” has become proverbial, and, with the meaning assigned to it, is very beautiful, it may ...
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**20. Hebrew, "are my scorners"; more forcibly, "my mockers--**my friends!" A heart-cutting paradox [Umbreit]. God alone remains to whom he can look for attestation of his innocence; plaintively with tearful eye, he supplicates for this.
Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?</strong> Elihu (Job 32-37) here describes God's unique instruction of humanity. The Hebrew מְאַלְּפֵנוּ מִבַּהֲמוֹת אָרֶץ (<em>me'allephenu mibhemot aretz</em>) means "who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth." The verb <em>alaph</em> (אָלַף) means to teach, train, or instruct. God has ...
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(11) **Who teacheth us.**—Or it may be, *Who teacheth us by, and maketh us wise by, &c. *Then the sense will be that the oppression is so severe that the victims of it forget that God can give songs in the night, and that He has favoured men more than the beasts of the field, and that, as not one sparrow can fall to the ground without Him, so He has even numbered the hairs of those who are of more...
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**21. one--**rather, "He" (God). "Oh, that He would plead for a man (namely, me) against God." Job quaintly says, "God must support me against God; for He makes me to suffer, and He alone knows me to be innocent" [Umbreit]. So God helped Jacob in wrestling against Himself (compare Job 23:6; Ge 32:25). God in Jesus Christ does plead with God for man (Ro 8:26, 27).
**as a man--**literally, "the So...
Read full commentary →There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>There they cry, but none giveth answer</strong> (שָׁם יִצְעֲקוּ וְלֹא יַעֲנֶה, <em>sham yitz'aqu velo ya'aneh</em>)—The verb <em>tsa'aq</em> (צָעַק, "to cry out") indicates distress calls. The negative <em>lo ya'aneh</em> ("none answers") reflects divine silence. The phrase <strong>because of the pride of evil men</strong> (מִפְּנֵי גְּאוֹן רָעִים, <em>mippene ge'on ra'im</em>) gives the r...
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**22. few--**literally, "years of number," that is, few, opposed to numberless (Ge 34:30).
Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Surely God will not hear vanity</strong> (אַךְ־שָׁוְא לֹא־יִשְׁמַע אֵל, <em>akh-shav' lo-yishma El</em>)—The noun <em>shav</em> (שָׁוְא, vanity, emptiness, falsehood) describes worthless prayers. God doesn't hear (<em>shama</em>, שָׁמַע) empty religiosity. The phrase <strong>neither will the Almighty regard it</strong> (וְשַׁדַּי לֹא יְשׁוּרֶנָּה, <em>ve-Shaddai lo yeshurenah</em>) uses <e...
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(13) **God will not hear vanity.**—Some understand this as part of the cry in Job 35:12 : “Seeing it is all in vain, God doth not hear, neither doth the Almighty regard it.”
Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him</strong> (אַף כִּי־תֹאמַר לֹא תְשׁוּרֶנּוּ, <em>aph ki-tomar lo teshurennu</em>)—The phrase refers to Job's complaint of God's hiddenness (Job 9:11, 13:24, 23:8-9). The verb <em>shuwr</em> (שׁוּר, "to see, perceive") indicates Job feels God is invisible, absent. The phrase <strong>yet judgment is before him</strong> (דִּין לְפָנָיו, <em>din lepha...
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(14) **Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him.**—Rather, *Dost not behold Him.*
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 17 Job 17:1-16. Job's Answer Continued.
**1. breath ... corrupt--**result of elephantiasis. But Umbreit, "my strength (spirit) is spent."
**extinct--**Life is compared to an expiring light. "The light of my day is extinguished."
**graves--**plural, to heighten the force.
But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: he hath: that is, God hath he knoweth: that is, Job knoweth
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger</strong> (וְעַתָּה כִּי־אַיִן פָּקַד אַפּוֹ, <em>ve'attah ki-ayin paqad appo</em>)—The text is difficult (ancient versions vary). The verb <em>paqad</em> (פָּקַד) means "to visit, attend to, punish." The noun <em>aph</em> (אַף, anger, wrath) indicates divine judgment. Elihu seems to say God hasn't yet fully visited in wrath as Job...
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(15) **But now, because it is** **not so, **is very obscure. The Authorised Version refers the first clause to God and the second to Job. Perhaps we may render, *But now, what His anger has visited upon thee is as nothing *(compared with thy deserts); *yea, He hath not regarded the great abundance *(of thy sin), *i.e.*, hath not visited it with anger. *Therefore doth Job, *&c. Others render it, “B...
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2. Umbreit, more emphatically, "had I only not to endure mockery, in the midst of their contentions I (mine eye) would remain quiet."
**eye continue--**Hebrew, "tarry all night"; a figure taken from sleep at night, to express undisturbed rest; opposed to (Job 16:20), when the eye of Job is represented as pouring out tears to God without rest.
Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.
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KJV Study Commentary
<strong>Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain</strong> (וְאִיּוֹב הֶבֶל יִפְצֶה־פִּיהוּ, <em>ve-Iyyov hevel yiphtseh-pihu</em>)—The noun <em>hevel</em> (הֶבֶל, vanity, breath, emptiness) is Ecclesiastes' key word—all is vanity. The verb <em>patsah</em> (פָּצָה, "to open wide") suggests excessive speech. The phrase <strong>he multiplieth words without knowledge</strong> (בִּבְלִי־דַעַת מִלִּין ...
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**3. Lay down now--**namely, a pledge or security; that is, be my surety; do Thou attest my innocence, since my friends only mock me (Job 17:2). Both litigating parties had to lay down a sum as security before the trial.
**put me in a surety--**Provide a surety for me (in the trial) with Thee. A presage of the "surety" (He 7:22), or "one Mediator between God and man" (see on Job 16:21).
**stri...
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