English · KJV

Ishodad of Merv

Medieval · AD 800–1500 · 173 passages across 12 books

Commentary

121–140 of 173
Job 1:4-5

And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

“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

Job 1:6

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

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

Job 3:1-2

After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

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

Job 3:20-23

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

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

Job 4:10-11

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.

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

Job 4:16

It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

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

Job 5:6-7

Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;

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

Job 5:19

He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.

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

Job 6:5

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

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

Job 6:8-10

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

“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

Job 7:7

O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.

“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

Job 7:11-12

Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

“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

Job 8:19

Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.

“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

Job 9:7

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

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

Job 11:16

Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:

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

Job 13:11-12

Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

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

Job 13:27-28

Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.

“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

Job 15:14-16

What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

“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

Job 16:11

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

“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

Job 17:6-7

He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

“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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