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Commentary on Job 21 verses 1–6
Job here recommends himself, both his case and his discourse, both what he suffered and what he said, to the compassionate consideration of his friends. 1. That which he entreats of them is very fair, that they would suffer him to speak (Job 21:3) and not break in upon him, as Zophar had done, in the midst of his discourse. Losers, of all men, may have leave to speak; and, if those that are accused and censured are not allowed to speak for themselves, they are wronged without remedy, and have no way to come at their right. He entreats that they would hear diligently his speech (Job 21:2) as those that were willing to understand him, and, if they were under a mistake, to have it rectified; and that they would mark him (Job 21:5), for we may as well not hear as not heed and observe what we hear. 2. That which he urges for this is very reasonable. (1.) They came to comfort him. "No," says he, "let this be your consolations (Job 21:2); if you have no other comforts to administer to me, yet deny me not this; be so kind, so just, as to give me a patient hearing, and that shall pass for your consolations of me." Nay, they could not know how to comfort him if they would not give him leave to open his case and tell his own story. Or, "It will be a consolation to yourselves, in reflection, to have dealt tenderly with your afflicted friend, and not harshly." (2.) He would hear them speak when it came to their turn. "After I have spoken you may go on with what you have to say, and I will not hinder you, no, though you go on to mock me." Those that engage in controversy must reckon upon having hard words given them, and resolve to bear reproach patiently; for, generally, those that mock will mock on, whatever is said to them. (3.) He hoped to convince them. "If you will but give me a fair hearing, mock on if you can, but I believe I shall say that which will change your note and make you pity me rather than mock me." (4.) They were not his judges (Job 21:4): "Is my complaint to man? No, if it were I see it would be to little purpose to complain. But my complaint is to God, and to him do I appeal. Let him be Judge between you and me. Before him we stand upon even terms, and therefore I have the privilege of being heard as well as you. If my complaint were to men, my spirit would be troubled, for they would not regard me, nor rightly understand me; but my complaint is to God, who will suffer me to speak, though you will not." It would be sad if God should deal as unkindly with us as our friends sometimes do. (5.) There was that in his case which was very surprising and astonishing, and therefore both needed and deserved their most serious consideration. It was not a common case, but a very extraordinary one. [1.] He himself was amazed at it, at the troubles God had laid upon him and the censures of his friends concerning him (Job 21:6): "When I remember that terrible day in which I was on a sudden stripped of all my comforts, that day in which I was stricken with sore boils, - when I remember all the hard speeches with which you have grieved me, - I confess I am afraid, and trembling takes hold of my flesh, especially when I compare this with the prosperous condition of many wicked people, and the applauses of their neighbours, with which they pass through the world." Note, The providences of God, in the government of the world, are sometimes very astonishing even to wise and good men, and bring them to their wits' end. [2.] He would have them wonder at it (Job 21:5): "Mark me, and be astonished. Instead of expounding my troubles, you should awfully adore the unsearchable mysteries of Providence in afflicting one thus of whom you know no evil; you should therefore lay your hand upon your mouth, silently wait the issue, and judge nothing before the time. God's way is in the sea, and his path in the great waters. When we cannot account for what he does, in suffering the wicked to prosper and the godly to be afflicted, nor fathom the depth of those proceedings, it becomes us to sit down and admire them. Upright men shall be astonished at this, Job 17:8. Be you so."
Let us admit, he says, that I am iniquitous and impious; but I gain no profit from these remarks and know that you will mock me; therefore, I do not yield. “And what!” he says, “is it a mortal who blames me?” that is, no mortal can blame me. I am not fighting against a man. “When I think of it, I am dismayed and pains seize my flesh.” Notice how he always stands up, how he puts forward his sufferings, how he indicates the reason for the terrible words he is going to speak, because he does not talk in this manner by himself or from a fixed position but because his soul is dismayed and his thoughts are darkened.
44. That blessed Job was not forgetful of his deeds, the last utterance of his lips proves. Wherefore this which he now says to his friends, Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh, must clearly be said in mockery. As if it were in plain words; ‘If I remember that I have had any thing of the hypocrite in me, directly I tremble in tears of penitence.’ And ‘if he remembered, his flesh was shaken with trembling’ he declares, i.e. that the weakness of practice was disheartened by the dread of vengeance. But as Zophar said many things about the sudden condemnation of the wicked man, whereby he snapped at the powerful estate of blessed Job, the holy man subjoins in answer to his words.
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SUMMARY
Job 21:6 powerfully encapsulates the profound internal and external turmoil Job experiences as he confronts the perplexing reality of suffering and the apparent incongruity of divine justice. This verse is a visceral expression of his deep-seated fear and physical distress, arising not from personal guilt but from the terrifying implications of a world where the wicked often prosper, challenging the conventional theological framework upheld by his friends. It highlights the spiritual and intellectual anguish of a righteous man grappling with God's inscrutable ways and the unsettling observations that contradict his established understanding of divine retribution.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Job 21:6 employs several powerful literary devices to convey Job's profound distress. Hyperbole is evident in the phrase "trembling taketh hold on my flesh," which vividly exaggerates the physical manifestation of his fear to emphasize its overwhelming and all-consuming nature. This is further enhanced by Personification, as "trembling" is depicted as an active, almost sentient force that "takes hold," as if it were an entity seizing Job's body and possessing it. The verse also utilizes potent Sensory Imagery, particularly kinesthetic imagery, by describing the physical sensation of trembling, allowing the reader to viscerally connect with Job's experience and feel the immediate impact of his anguish. This combination of devices creates a powerful and immediate impression of Job's deep turmoil, making his internal suffering palpable and profoundly relatable.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 21:6 profoundly illustrates the human struggle with the problem of evil and the apparent injustice in the world, a perennial theological challenge. It highlights the acute tension between a belief in a just and sovereign God and the observable reality of the wicked prospering while the righteous suffer. Job's fear is not a lack of faith, but a deeply honest and visceral response to a theological paradox that threatens to unravel his understanding of God's character and governance. This verse reminds us that genuine faith can coexist with profound questions, intense confusion, and even debilitating fear when confronted with life's inexplicable hardships, pushing us to seek a deeper, more nuanced understanding of divine wisdom beyond simplistic formulas. It underscores that God's ways are often inscrutable, challenging our human attempts to neatly categorize His justice.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 21:6 offers profound validation for the human experience of fear, confusion, and even physical distress when confronted with life's overwhelming injustices and unanswered theological questions. It reminds us that it is not a sign of spiritual weakness to feel shaken when our understanding of God's justice or plan seems to contradict observable reality. Job, a man explicitly described as blameless and upright in Job 1:1, openly expresses his terror and physical trembling. This encourages believers to bring their deepest anxieties, doubts, and theological struggles honestly and authentically before God, rather than suppressing them or pretending to have all the answers. In a world that often demands certainty and polished faith, Job's raw vulnerability grants permission to lament, to question, and to wrestle with the paradoxes of faith without shame. It invites us to trust God even when His ways are inscrutable, much like the prophet Isaiah reminds us that God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways higher than His ways. The verse ultimately points us towards a faith that is robust enough to endure perplexity, finding solace not in simplistic answers, but in the unwavering presence of God amidst our deepest fears and unanswered questions.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is Job so afraid if he is righteous? Is his fear a sign of sin?
Answer: Job's fear in Job 21:6 is not a sign of personal sin or guilt, but rather a profound and honest reaction to his theological perplexity and the apparent breakdown of the retributive principle he and his friends believed in. He observes that the wicked often prosper and die peacefully, directly contradicting the conventional wisdom that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin and prosperity a sign of righteousness. This observation is terrifying to Job because it undermines his entire understanding of God's just governance of the world. His fear is an honest, visceral response to the incomprehensibility of God's ways and the unsettling implications for divine justice, not a result of his own wrongdoing. It highlights the intellectual and spiritual anguish of a righteous man grappling with a profound paradox of faith.
How does Job's fear here relate to his earlier laments?
Answer: Job's fear in Job 21:6 is a continuation and intensification of the anguish expressed in his earlier laments, such as those found in Job 3 or Job 10. While earlier laments often focused on his personal suffering and desire for an explanation or an audience with God, this verse specifically ties his fear to the memory and observation of the wicked's prosperity, which is a theological rather than purely personal source of distress. His earlier laments were cries of pain and confusion; this verse adds a layer of existential terror stemming from the perceived injustice of the world, challenging the very framework of divine order. The physical "trembling" underscores the depth and consuming nature of this specific, theologically-driven fear.
Does this verse suggest that questioning God's justice is acceptable?
Answer: Yes, Job 21:6 and indeed the entire book of Job strongly suggest that questioning God's justice, when done with honest anguish and a sincere desire for understanding, is acceptable and even a part of a robust faith. Job does not abandon God; rather, he relentlessly pursues God, demanding an explanation and wrestling with the paradoxes he observes. His fear and trembling are not rebellion but a sincere expression of a soul deeply troubled by what appears to be an inconsistency in God's ways. The book ultimately vindicates Job's honest lament over his friends' rigid, simplistic theology, demonstrating that God welcomes our raw, unvarnished questions and fears, even when we don't understand His purposes.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 21:6, with its raw depiction of fear and trembling in the face of perceived injustice and the prosperity of the wicked, finds profound resonance and ultimate resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Job's anguish stems from a world where divine justice seems absent or inscrutable, a world still groaning under the weight of sin and its consequences (Romans 8:22). Yet, in Christ, the ultimate answer to the problem of evil and suffering is provided. Jesus, the Lamb of God, willingly entered into the full depths of human suffering, experiencing abandonment, injustice, and a death that seemed to contradict all notions of divine fairness. On the cross, He bore the full weight of sin and its curse, becoming sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). His resurrection, however, decisively defeats death, sin, and the apparent triumph of evil, revealing God's ultimate justice and sovereign power to bring redemptive good out of the greatest injustice. For the believer, the fear and trembling that grip Job are transformed into a confident hope, knowing that even amidst present suffering and apparent paradoxes, Christ has secured a future where all wrongs will be righted, and God's perfect justice will be fully revealed (Revelation 21:4). We are called to trust in the one who has already overcome the world (John 16:33), transforming our fear into faith in His ultimate victory and righteous reign.