Chapter 16

1 Job reproveth his friends of unmercifulness. 7 He sheweth the pitifulness of his case. 17 He maintaineth his innocency.

1. Job answered. The tone of Job’s answer to the second speech of Eliphaz is despairing.

2. Many such things. There was nothing new in the speech, except its increased bitterness. Job had heard, many times before, all the commonplaces about the universal sinfulness of man and the invariable connection between sin and suffering. See on Ps. 38:3; 39:9.

Miserable comforters. Eliphaz had inquired, “Are the consolations [comforts] of God small with thee?” (ch. 15:11). This seemingly is Job’s answer to this thrust.

3. Vain words. Literally, “words of wind.” Job had begged his friends to be silent (ch. 13:5, 13). His present statement is a retort to Eliphaz, who had charged Job with uttering windy words (see ch. 15:2, 3).

What emboldeneth thee? Literally, “what pains thee?” that is, what disturbs or vexes thee?

4. Speak as ye do. There is no difficulty in finding arguments to overwhelm the afflicted. Anyone can talk when he is enjoying the blessings of life. Were the positions reversed, Job could condemn and moralize as effectively as they.

Heap up words. That is, tie words together, reciting one after another old maxims and proverbs as Job’s friends had been so inclined to do.

Shake mine head. A Hebrew mode of condemnation (see Ps. 22:7; Isa. 37:22; Jer. 18:16; Matt. 27:39).

5. Strengthen you. “If I were in your place,” Job declares, in effect, “I would not act as you have acted. I would comfort and encourage you.”

6. Though I speak. Job’s friends might bring him comfort if they would, but Job was unable to obtain any relief either by his words or by his silence.

7. Thou. The sudden change from the third person to the second person is not uncommon in Hebrew. Note a change in reverse order in vs. 8, 9. Verse 7 marks a transition. Job turns from complaints against his comforters to an enumeration of his own sufferings. His first complaint is weariness (see ch. 3:13). It was natural that he should long for rest. His second complaint is that he has lost his children and that his friends are disloyal to him. Weariness and the sense of being alone combine to bring him great suffering.

8. Filled me with wrinkles. Literally, “thou didst seize me.” The verb translated by this phrase occurs only here and in ch. 22:16. Some think the Hebrew here refers to the contraction of the face in wrinkles. However, others think it may mean “drawn up,” or “compressed,” that is, by afflictions. Job seems to picture God as compressing him with trouble until his body shrivels and crumples up into wrinkles. This condition is interpreted by his friends as a witness against him, according to their theory of suffering.

Leanness. Job’s emaciation is likewise interpreted as proof of his extreme sinfulness (see Ps. 109:24).

9. He teareth me. The picture appears to be that of a wild animal attacking its prey. It seems to Job that God is his enemy, whereas, if the facts had been known, Satan would be the one indicted (see Job 10:16; cf. Hosea 13:7).

10. They. Both God and man, Job feels, are against him (see Ps. 22:13; 35:15, 16; Micah 5:1; Matt. 27:30; Luke 22:64; John 18:22).

11. Delivered me. All that Job had suffered at the hands of men—the gibes of his “comforters,” the insults and derision of base men, the desertion of many who might have been expected to help him—all these calamities Job attributes to God Himself. In so doing, he commits a common error of mankind—that of blaming God for those evil displays of human nature that are incited by Satan.

12. His mark. Job considers himself as a target for God’s arrows (see Deut. 32:23; Job 6:4; Ps. 7:13; 38:2; Lam. 3:12).

13. His archers. Job may be referring to his “friends.”

Reins. That is, the kidneys. (See on ch. 19:27).

14. Breach upon breach. The figure changes, and Job seems to be a fort that God breaks down by attack after attack until it lies in ruin.

15. Sewed sackcloth. Another transition in thought. Job turns to the consideration of how he has acted under his severe affliction. He has put on sackcloth, not for a time, merely as ordinary mourners do, but permanently, by sewing it tightly about his skin.

Horn. A symbol of “pride,” “dignity,” “strength.”

16. Foul. From the Hebrew root chamar, which here may be equivalent to an Arabic root “to be red”; hence the first half of the verse should read, “my face is red from my weeping.”

Shadow of death. The look of Job’s eyes portended death.

17. Injustice. Job is denying the insinuations Eliphaz had made against him (see ch. 15:34, 35).

My prayer is pure. Job maintains not only the integrity of his actions, but also the sincerity of his prayers.

18. Cover not thou. Verses 18–22 record an impassioned plea for vindication.

My cry. Job desired that the voice of his protest should not die away unheard.

Have no place. That is, no resting place.

19. My witness. This verse presents evidence of a faint glimmer of hope in the dark night of despair. Although Job is convinced that God is afflicting him, he still maintains at least a measure of confidence in Him.

My record. Literally, “my witness,” that is, “one who witnesses.” The LXX here reads, “my advocate is on high.”

20. Unto God. God alone is Job’s refuge. As hard as he thinks God has used him, he still looks to Him for vindication, support, and sympathy. He has nowhere else to turn. Despite the storms that stir the surface of his life, the depths remain in a measure unperturbed.

21. Plead for a man. Job’s plea seems to be that God would pronounce him not guilty; that God would cease afflicting him and appear on his side. In v. 19 Job had called God his witness. Verse 21 seems to be a plea that God would actually bear witness in Job’s behalf.

For his neighbour. Job had doubtless often appeared as a witness for a friend. Why did not God do the same in his behalf when he stood in such dire need of God’s help?

22. I shall go. This verse more appropriately begins the following chapter, which opens with anticipation of the approach of death.

Ellen G. White comments

2    TM 350; 3T 508

4, 5      3T 508