Ishodad of Merv

Medieval · AD 800–1500

173 passages across 12 books of the Bible · Who was this?

On Job

20 of 43
  1. Job 1:4-5
    “Job would sanctify them,” that is, Job purified them through the waters of cleansing and through the sacrifices that he offered for them. And since the righteous man had full confidence in the fact that his children were free from manifest sins, thanks to the education and instruction which he had given them, he offered sacrifices for their secret sins and thoughts by saying, “It may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.”

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 1:5

  2. Job 1:6
    There was never a special meeting where Satan dared to speak, to formulate questions and receive answers—nothing of the sort—but these facts are reported in a narrative style for the edification of the listeners.… They never took place in reality, and here the devil did not address God or pose questions; Satan never had the faculty to speak to God or to see him who is the one that “the creatures of fire and spirit” cannot see, but [the devil] meditated in his heart, and God, “who searches the hearts and examines the mind,” knew the devil’s malice.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 1:6

  3. Job 3:1-2
    Human beings are apt to curse and grumble against the misfortunes that befall them. God, in fact, does not expect insensitivity on our part. But when we are in tribulations and suffer those afflictions that strike us, God expects that we not abandon ourselves to blasphemous words but use those that demonstrate our grief and express the seriousness of our misery.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 3:1

  4. Job 3:20-23
    A person’s actions are veiled and hidden by his death. God covers his way. The word covers means that God spares some afflictions through death, because the action of covering on God’s part is an aid.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 3:22

  5. Job 4:10-11
    The author signifies by “the lion” those powerful men who inspire people with fear, as lions do. By “lioness” he means their wives, who were evil and inspired fear simply by speaking. In the same manner, their children were arrogant and quite cruel. All these have perished. They were extinguished instantly.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 4:10

  6. Job 4:16
    Eliphaz employs “murmur” and “voice” as words to express his ideas about God. As … the murmur and the voice strike our ears, they have no form or aspect. We only receive their sensation. Just as it is not possible to see a “murmur” or “voice,” so we must realize the same is true of our thoughts about the divine nature. We receive our perception and knowledge of the divine nature as God gives us these thoughts, but this is not something that we can perceive through forms.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 4:16

  7. Job 5:6-7
    The author signifies all the silent and inanimate beings, and all those who are mute and without speech, through the two figures of the earth and the bird. His point is that neither the earth nor a bird can commit any act of iniquity. Because they cannot sin they are beyond afflictions and punishment. But the human being, since he is endowed with reason and sins by using his freedom, is born and grows up among pains and tribulation to match his nature.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 5:6-7

  8. Job 5:19
    We must not think that the author intends to limit divine providence by fixing a precise number of troubles. He means that God will completely save you from the afflictions that surround you.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 5:19

  9. Job 6:5
    By mentioning the wild ass, the author speaks about all wild animals, and by referring to the ox, about all cattle. His point is that neither wild animals nor cattle complain when they have food to eat. Nor do humans complain when they can have at their disposal the necessary things they need and what is seasoned with salt.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 6:5

  10. Job 6:8-10
    “He would let loose his hand and finish me!” That is, may he put an end to my life by his intervention. Again Job speaks, “I would be finished again with violence and no mercy.” In a word, “I desire that God inflict death on me violently and mercilessly.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 6:9

  11. Job 7:7
    “My eye will begin to see good again.” Here the author refers to the hope that is reserved for people in the new world.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 7:7

  12. Job 7:11-12
    “Am I the sea, or the dragon?” That is, you have imposed a limit that the sea must not trespass, so that it might not submerge the earth. You did the same with the dragon, that it might not go out and destroy all that it met. But why do you continue to punish me so harshly, for I am a feeble man with a short life?

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 7:12

  13. Job 8:19
    “Out of the earth still others will spring.” In other words, God inflicts these punishments on the impious as their just reward, but with regard to the righteous, regardless of the state of abasement in which he finds them, God will make them spring up again, rendering them glorious.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 8:19

  14. Job 9:7
    Here the author is probably speaking about what happened in Egypt for three days, or about what happens sometimes to the stars that become hidden. Perhaps he is alluding to what occurred at the beginning: God kept the light close to him, as though it was in a bag. The interpreter says the author does not maintain that the things he mentions actually happened but that, if God desires it, they will certainly occur.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 9:7

  15. Job 11:16
    The words “You will be led like passing waters” mean that your tribulations will leave you at once, like the waters of rain which, when it stops raining, disappear as well.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 11:16

  16. Job 13:11-12
    The author seems to say that Job’s friends will abstain from pronouncing reproaches, because of the fear of God and the terror that he inspires.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 13:11

  17. Job 13:27-28
    “You observe the strength of my feet.” The words “you observe” signify God’s consideration, because we keep our eye on what we care for. And the words “my feet” refer to the firmness, because feet are supports. But these words are also analogous to the roots of the plants. That is, you have sent me tribulations and imposed them on me with force and care.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 13:27

  18. Job 15:14-16
    “He will drink iniquity like water.” The author says these words in order to show that [human beings] enjoy uttering blasphemies.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 15:16

  19. Job 16:11
    “God has given me up to an iniquitous angel.” These words are said because it is believed that an angel accompanies each human being. Job calls his angel iniquitous because of the effects of Job’s misfortunes that he observes, just as David calls the angel evil who kills the firstborn of the Egyptians.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 16:11

  20. Job 17:6-7
    “I will rise in authority among peoples,” because of the stupefaction for all that has happened to me. And the words, “I will be a veil on their faces,” that is, whoever hears about my horrible misfortunes will veil his face. This is said as an analogy of the fact that when one hears a horrible thing, he brings his hand to his forehead and veils his eyes.

    COMMENTARY ON JOB 17:6

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