Job

Job 33

33 verses · Wisdom · Old Testament

1“However, Job, please hear my speech, and listen to all my words. 2See now, I have opened my mouth. My tongue has spoken in my mouth. 3My words will utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they will speak sincerely. 4The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. 5If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up. 6Behold, I am toward God even as you are. I am also formed out of the clay. 7Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my pressure be heavy on you.
8“Surely you have spoken in my hearing, I have heard the voice of your words, saying, 9‘I am clean, without disobedience. I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. 10Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me for his enemy. 11He puts my feet in the stocks. He marks all my paths.’
12“Behold, I will answer you. In this you are not just, for God is greater than man.
13Why do you strive against him, because he doesn’t give account of any of his matters? 14For God speaks once, yes twice, though man pays no attention. 15In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, in slumbering on the bed; 16Then he opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, 17that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
19He is chastened also with pain on his bed, with continual strife in his bones, 20so that his life abhors bread, and his soul dainty food. 21His flesh is so consumed away that it can’t be seen. His bones that were not seen stick out. 22Yes, his soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the destroyers.
23“If there is beside him an angel, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man what is right for him; 24then God is gracious to him, and says, ‘Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.’ 25His flesh will be fresher than a child’s. He returns to the days of his youth. 26He prays to God, and he is favorable to him, so that he sees his face with joy. He restores to man his righteousness. 27He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me. 28He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
29“Behold, God does all these things, twice, yes three times, with a man, 30to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living. 31Mark well, Job, and listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will speak. 32If you have anything to say, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. 33If not, listen to me. Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom.”

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What others are saying

5 commentators · 102 notes on this chapter

Matthew HenryEnglish Puritan / Nonconformist · 1708–17145

Writes as a pastor rather than a critic. Expect devotional and practical application over historical or linguistic analysis, read through a Reformed covenantal frame — and expect the Old Testament to be read forward toward Christ throughout.

Why this voice is here: The most widely read English commentary for three centuries. Included as a baseline: where Henry and a modern voice diverge, the divergence itself is usually the interesting part.

v. 1–7

Several arguments Elihu here uses to persuade Job not only to give him a patient hearing, but to believe that he designed him a good office, and to take it kindly, and be willing to receive the instructions he was now about to give him. Let Job consider, 1…

v. 8–13

In these verses, I. Elihu particularly charges Job with some indecent expressions that had dropped from him, reflecting upon the justice and goodness of God in his dealings with him. He does not ground the charge upon report, but was himself an ear-witness of…

v. 14–18

Job had complained that God kept him wholly in the dark concerning the meaning of his dealings with him, and therefore concluded he dealt with him as his enemy. "No," says Elihu, "he speaks to you, but you do not perceive him; so that the fault is yours, not…

John GillParticular Baptist / High Calvinist · 1746–176333

The most exhaustive and the most doctrinally committed here. Expect high — even supralapsarian — Calvinism applied consistently, and unusually heavy use of rabbinic and Talmudic sources for Jewish context. Where a passage bears on election or the will, Gill will read it in one direction, and knowing that in advance is the point.

Why this voice is here: The strongest Calvinist reading available in the public domain, and the best on Jewish background. Read alongside Clarke, not instead of him — between them you get both sides of the argument.

v. 1

Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches,.... In the preceding chapter, Elihu directed his discourse to the three friends of Job chiefly, here to Job himself, and that by name; which none of his friends in all their discourses ever used; and in an humble…

v. 2

Behold, now I have opened my mouth,.... Begun to speak in order to give vent to the fulness of matter within him, which made him, like bottles of new wine, ready to burst; and since he had opened his lips, that he might speak and be refreshed, he desires Job…

v. 3

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart,.... Not that the uprightness of his heart, or his own personal integrity, should be the subject of his discourse; but what he should say would be in or out of the uprightness of his heart, with all sincerity…

Adam ClarkeMethodist / Wesleyan-Arminian · 1810–182627

The linguist of this set. Expect Hebrew and Greek word study, oriental custom, and geography — and an Arminian reading of grace and free will where Gill or Henry would read election. Note one real divergence: Clarke denied the eternal sonship of Christ, a position most of the tradition rejects, so read him closely on the person of Christ.

Why this voice is here: Where you want to know what a word actually says, Clarke is the one who will tell you — with the caveat above on Christ’s sonship.

v. 3

My words shall be of the uprightness - As God has given me his Spirit, from that Spirit alone will I speak; therefore all my words shall be of uprightness, knowledge, and truth. Knowledge clearly - דעת ברור daath barur, pure science. I shall lay down no false…

v. 4–5

The Spirit of God hath made me - Another plain allusion to the account of the creation of man, Gen 2:7, as the words נשמת nishmath, the breath or breathing of God, and תחיני techaiyeni, hath given me life, prove: "He breathed into his nostrils the breath of…

v. 6

I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay - Mr. Good, and before him none other that I have seen, has most probably hit the true meaning: - "Behold, I am thy fellow. I too was formed by God out of the clay." The word כפיך…

Keil & DelitzschGerman Lutheran, conservative-critical · 1861–18758

The technical one, and Old Testament only. Expect Hebrew grammar, textual argument, and direct engagement with nineteenth-century critical scholarship — closer to a scholarly apparatus than a devotional read. Where a modern critic claims a text is late or composite, this is where the conservative counter-argument was made.

Why this voice is here: Old Testament only, and heavy going — but the place to look when someone asserts a passage cannot mean what it appears to.

v. 1–3

1 But nevertheless, O Job, hear my speeches, And hearken to all my words. 2 Behold now, I have opened my mouth, My tongue speaketh in my palate. 3 Sincere as my heart are my utterances, And knowledge that is pure my lips declare. The issue of the impartial…

v. 4–7

4 The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. 5 If thou canst, answer me, Prepare in my presence, take thy stand! 6 Behold, I am like thyself, of God, Formed out of clay am I also. 7 Behold, my terror shall not affright…

v. 8–12

8 Verily thou hast said in mine ears, And I heard the sound of thy words: 9 "I am pure, without transgression; "Spotless am I, and I have no guilt. 10 "Behold, He findeth malicious things against me, "He regardeth me as His enemy; 11 "He putteth my feet in…

Jamieson, Fausset & BrownScottish Presbyterian / Reformed · 187129

The concise option. Three authors split the canon, so the voice shifts between sections. Expect brief, sober, conservative notes that resolve difficulties rather than dwelling on them — useful for orientation, thinner than Gill or Clarke where a passage is genuinely contested.

Why this voice is here: The quickest way to see what the mainstream Reformed reading of a passage is. Start here, then go to Gill or Clarke when it matters.

v. 3

I will speak according to my inward conviction. clearly--rather, "purely"; sincerely, not distorting the truth through passion, as the friends did.

v. 4

The Spirit of God hath made me--as He did thee: latter clause of Job 33:6 (Gen 2:7). Therefore thou needest not fear me, as thou wouldest God (Job 33:7; Job 9:34). On the other hand, "the breath of the Almighty hath inspired me" (as Job 32:8); not as English…

v. 5

Images from a court of justice. stand up--alluding to Job's words (Job 30:20).

World English Bible — Public domain