TRV
Translation
Geneva Bible (1599)
Then he openeth the eares of men, euen by their corrections, which he had sealed,
Young's Literal Translation
Then He uncovereth the ear of men, And for their instruction sealeth:
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In the KJVVerse 13,667 of 31,102
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Commentary on Job 33 verses 14–18
14 ¶ For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;
16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,
17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.
18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
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 his; and he is designing your real good even in those dispensations which you put this harsh construction upon." Observe in general, 1. What a friend God is to our welfare: He speaketh to us once, yea, twice, Job 33:14. It is a token of his favour that, notwithstanding the distance and quarrel between us and him, yet he is pleased to speak to us. It is an evidence of his gracious design that he is pleased to speak to us of our own concerns, to show us what is our duty and what our interest, what he requires of us and what we may expect from him, to tell us of our faults and warn us of our danger, to show us the way and to lead us in it. This he does once, yea, twice, that is, again and again; when one warning is neglected he gives another, not willing that any should perish. Precept must be upon precept, and line upon line; it is so, that sinners may be left inexcusable. 2. What enemies we are to our own welfare: Man perceives it not, that is, he does not heed it or regard it, does not discern or understand it, is not aware that it is the voice of God, nor does he receive the things revealed, for they are foolishness to him; he stops his ear, stands in his own light, rejects the counsel of God against himself, and so is never the wiser, no not for the dictates of wisdom itself. God speaks to us by conscience, by providences, and by ministers, of all which Elihu here discourses at large, to show Job that God was both telling him his mind and doing him a kindness, even now that he seemed to keep him in the dark and so treat him as a stranger, and to keep him in distress and so treat him as an enemy. There was not then, that we know of, any divine revelation in writing, and therefore that is not here mentioned among the ways by which God speaks to men, though now it is the principal way.
In these verses he shows how God teaches and admonishes the children of men by their own consciences. Observe,
I. The proper season and opportunity for these admonitions (Job 33:15): In a dream, in slumberings upon the bed, when men are retired from the world and the business and conversation of it. It is a good time for them to retire into their own hearts, and commune with them, when they are upon their beds, solitary and still, Psa 4:4. It is the time God takes for dealing personally with men. 1. When he sent angels, extraordinary messengers, on his errands, he commonly chose that time for the delivery of their messages, when by deep sleep falling on men the bodily senses were all locked up and the mind more free to receive the immediate communications of divine light. Thus he made his mind known to the prophets by visions and dreams (Num 12:6); thus he warned Abimelech (Gen 20:3), Laban (Gen 31:24), Joseph (Mat 1:20); thus he made known to Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar things that should come to pass hereafter. 2. When he stirred up conscience, that ordinary deputy of his, in the soul, to do its office, he took that opportunity, either when deep sleep fell on men (for, though dreams mostly come from fancy, some may come from conscience) or in slumberings, when men are between sleeping and waking, reflecting at night upon the business of the foregoing day or projecting in the morning the business of the ensuing day; then is a proper time for their hearts to reproach them for what they have done ill and to admonish them what they should do. See Isa 30:21.
II. The power and force with which those admonitions come, Job 33:16. When God designs men's good by the convictions and dictates of their own consciences, 1. He gives them admission, and makes them to be heeded: Then he opens the ears of men, which were before shut against the voice of this charmer, Psa 58:5. He opens the heart, as he opened Lydia's, and so opens the ears. He takes away that which stopped the ear, so that the conviction finds or forces its way; nay, he works in the soul a submission to the regimen of conscience and a compliance with its rules, for that follows upon God's opening the ear, Isa 50:5. God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious. 2. He gives them a lodgment in the heart and makes them to abide: He sealeth their instruction, that is, the instruction that is designed for them and is suited to them; this he makes their souls to receive the deep and lasting impression of, as the wax of the seal. When the heart is delivered into divine instructions, as into a mould, then the work is done.
III. The end and design of these admonitions that are sent. 1. To keep men from sin, and particularly the sin of pride (Job 33:17). That he may withdraw man from his purpose, that is, from his evil purposes, may change the temper of his mind and the course of his life, his disposition and inclination, or prevent some particular sin he is in danger of falling into, that he may withdraw man from his work, may make him leave off man's work, which is working for the world and the flesh, and may set him to work the work of God. Many a man has been stopped in the full career of a sinful pursuit by the seasonable checks of his own conscience, saying, Do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates. Particularly, God does, by this means, hide pride from man, that is, hide those things from him which are the matter of his pride, and take his mind off from dwelling upon them, by setting before him what reason he has to be humble. That he may take away pride from man (so some read it), that he may pluck up that root of bitterness which is the cause of so much sin. All those whom God has mercy in store for he will humble and hide pride from. Pride makes people eager and resolute in the prosecution of their purposes; they will have their way, therefore God withdraws them from their purposes, by mortifying their pride. 2. To keep men from ruin, Job 33:18. While sinners are pursuing their evil purposes, and indulging their pride, their souls are hastening apace to the pit, to the sword, to destruction, both in this world and that to come; but when God, by the admonitions of conscience, withdraws them from sin, he thereby keeps back their souls from the pit, from the bottomless pit, and saves them from perishing by the sword of divine vengeance, so iniquity shall not be their ruin. That which turns men from sin saves them from hell, saves a soul from death, Jam 5:20. See what a mercy it is to be under the restraints of an awakened conscience. Faithful are the wounds, and kind are the bonds, of that friend, for by them the soul is kept from perishing eternally.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 14–18. Public domain.
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Gregory the DialogistAD 604
40. For when they are dead to outward objects, they hear with open ears the causes which come before their inward judgment. And when they consider minutely with themselves either their open punishments, or their secret judgments, they cease not to afflict themselves with tears. Whence it is well said, And teaching, He instructeth them with discipline, because to a mind which reflects and wounds itself with penitence, the sorrows of compunction are like the stripes of a blow. Whence Solomon also rightly uniting together the force of these kinds of blows, says, The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil, and blows in the secret parts of the belly. [Prov. 20, 30] For by the blueness of a wound he implies the discipline of blows on the body. But blows in the secret parts of the belly are the wounds of the mind within, which are inflicted by compunction. For as the belly is distended when filled with food, so is the mind puffed up when swollen with wicked thoughts. The blueness then of a wound, and blows in the secret parts of the belly, cleanse away evil, because both outward discipline does away with faults, and compunction pierces the distended mind with the punishment of penance. But they differ from each other in this respect, that the wounds of blows give us pain, the sorrows of compunction have good savour. The one afflict and torture, the others restore, when they afflict us. Through the one there is sorrow in affliction, through the other there is joy in grief. But because the very act of compunction wounds the mind, he not unfitly calls it discipline.
41. For there are four modes in which the mind of a righteous man is strongly affected by compunction: when he either calls to mind his own sins, and considers WHERE HE HATH BEEN; or when fearing the sentence of God’s judgments, and examining his own self, he thinks WHERE HE SHALL BE: or when, carefully observing the evils of this present life, he reflects with sorrow WHERE HE IS; or when he contemplates the blessings of his heavenly country, and, because he does not as yet enjoy them, beholds with regret WHERE HE IS NOT. Paul had called to mind his former sins, and was afflicting himself by the sight of what he had been, when he said, I am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. [1 Cor. 15, 9] Again, from carefully weighing the Divine sentence, he was afraid that it was bad for him in prospect, when he says, I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection, lest perchance, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway. [l Cor. 9, 27] And again, he was considering the evils of this present life, when he said, While we are in this body, we are absent from the Lord: [2 Cor. 5, 6] and, I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me captive to the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [Rom. 7, 23] And again, he was considering the blessings of his heavenly country, when saying, We see now through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know, even as also I am known. [1 Cor. 13, 12] And again, We know that if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2 Cor. 5, 1] And looking at the blessings of this house, he says to the Ephesians, That ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who have believed. [Eph. 1, 18. 19.] But blessed Job, considering the evils of this present life, says, The life of man upon the earth is a temptation. [Job 7, 1] Whence David says, Every man that liveth is altogether vanity; and though man walketh in the image of God, yet will he be disquieted in vain. [Ps. 39, 6] But again, on contemplating his heavenly home, and weighing the evils in which he then was, and considering the good things which he did not as yet enjoy, he says, Woe is me that my sojourning is prolonged; [Ps. 120, 5] and, I said in my fear, I am cast out from the sight of Thine eyes. [Ps. 31, 22] Being raised up in an ecstasy, which our translators properly interpreted fear, he saw that he was cast out from the sight of the eyes of God. For after beholding that inward light, which flashed within his mind with bright rays through the grace of contemplation, he returned to himself; and discerned, by the knowledge he had gained, either the blessings which were there, of which he was deprived, or the evils with which he was here surrounded. For no one is able to look on the ills of life as they really are, if he is unable by contemplation to gain a taste of the blessings of the eternal country. Whence also he knew that he had been cast out of the sight of the eyes of God. For when he was raised up in a trance, he saw that which, when he fell back on himself, he lamented that he could not of himself behold.
42. For that compunction with which it dispels all bodily imaginations which crowd upon it, and annoy it, and with which it strives to fix the eye of the heart on the very ray of the boundless light, is wont in truth more deeply to affect a perfect mind. For these appearances of bodily figures it has attracted to itself within, through infirmity of the flesh. But when it is completely filled with compunction, it is here specially on its guard, lest the imagination of circumscribed vision should delude it, when it is searching after truth; and it rejects all imaginations which present themselves to it. For since it has fallen, by their means, beneath itself, it endeavours to rise above itself, by escaping from them: and after it has been distracted, in an unseemly manner, by many objects, it endeavours to gather itself again together; that prevailing by the mighty power of love, it may contemplate one single and incorporeal Being.
43. And hence it is admitted, at times, to taste some unusual savour of sweetness within, and is suddenly in a measure refreshed, when breathed on by the glowing Spirit; and is the more eager, the more it gains a taste of something to love; and it desires that within itself, which it feels to taste sweetly within, because it has in truth, from the love of its sweetness, become vile in its own sight; and after having been able, in whatever way, to enjoy it, it has discovered what it had hitherto been without it. It endeavours to cling closely to it, but is kept from approaching its strength, by its own remaining weakness; and because it is unable to contemplate its purity, it counts it sweet to weep, and, sinking back into itself, to make its bed in the tears of its own weakness. For it cannot fix the eyes of its mind on that, of which it has only taken a hasty glance within; because it is compelled by its own old habits to sink downwards. It meanwhile pants and strives and endeavours to rise above itself, but sinks back, overpowered with weariness, into its own familiar darkness. But because a mind thus affected, has to endure itself as the cause of a stubborn contest against itself, and because all this controversy about ourselves causes no small amount of pain, when we are engaged in it, whatever pleasure may be blended therewith; Eliu, after having said that God speaks to us in a dream, and that our ears are opened by His words, calls this same opening of the ears a discipline, and with good reason. Because the more the sound of inward wisdom by the grace of its secret inspiration bursts forth upon us, the more does it affect us with distress. For no one would outwardly lament that which he is, if he had not been able to perceive within, that which as yet he is not. For on seeing that we ourselves were created aright, but that we were deceived by giving a fatal consent to the persuasions of the devil, we observe in our own case, that what we made ourselves is one thing, and what we were made is another: that by nature we were sound, but that we became corrupted through our own fault. And therefore when we are pinched by conscience, we seek to escape from what we ourselves have done, that we may be refashioned after the pattern in which we were first made.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Job 33:16 encapsulates Elihu's profound insight into God's active and purposeful communication with humanity. It reveals that God, in His sovereign wisdom and mercy, initiates a spiritual awakening by enabling individuals to truly hear and comprehend His divine messages. Furthermore, He ensures that these critical instructions, often warnings or guidance, are deeply imprinted upon the human heart and mind, making them undeniable and effective in guiding individuals away from destructive paths and towards life. This verse highlights God's persistent and intimate engagement with His creation for their ultimate preservation and instruction, portraying a God who is neither silent nor indifferent to the plight of His people.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Job 33:16 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message about divine communication. The phrase "openeth the ears" is a powerful idiom, signifying not just physical hearing but a deeper, spiritual receptivity and understanding that is divinely granted. It suggests an unveiling or revelation of truth, implying that human capacity for spiritual discernment is ultimately dependent on God's initiative. The subsequent phrase, "sealeth their instruction," utilizes metaphor. The act of "sealing" is drawn from the physical world, where a seal authenticates, secures, or imprints, and is applied metaphorically to the spiritual realm to convey the idea that God's instruction is made firm, authoritative, and deeply impressed upon the heart and mind. This metaphor emphasizes the lasting and undeniable impact of divine communication, suggesting its binding and transformative power. Furthermore, the verse exhibits a form of synthetic parallelism, where the second clause ("and sealeth their instruction") builds upon and completes the thought of the first clause ("Then he openeth the ears of men"), explaining the purpose and effect of the divine revelation. Together, these devices underscore the profound and transformative nature of God's interaction with humanity, highlighting His active role in guiding and preserving individuals.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 33:16 offers a profound theological statement about God's character and His relationship with humanity. It portrays God as deeply invested in the spiritual well-being of individuals, actively intervening to ensure they hear and internalize His life-giving truth. This divine initiative underscores God's mercy and His desire for humanity's preservation, even in the midst of suffering or potential wrongdoing. The "opening of ears" speaks to God's sovereign power to grant spiritual understanding, an act of grace that enables true comprehension of divine mysteries. Meanwhile, "sealing instruction" highlights the authority and indelible nature of His word, ensuring that His message is not fleeting but profoundly impactful and foundational for life. This verse lays a foundational truth: God communicates not to condemn, but to correct, guide, and redeem, inviting a response of humble receptivity and obedience that leads to life and avoids destruction.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 33:16 calls us to a posture of profound spiritual attentiveness and humility. In a world saturated with noise, distractions, and competing voices, the ability to truly hear God's voice, to discern His specific instruction for our lives, is not merely a skill but a divine gift. This verse reminds us that God is actively speaking, not just through dramatic visions as in Job's time, but preeminently through His inspired Word, the Bible, and by His Spirit. Our responsibility is to cultivate a heart that is ready for God to "open" its ears—to pray for spiritual understanding, to diligently engage with Scripture, and to quiet ourselves to listen for the Spirit's promptings in our consciences and circumstances. When God's instruction comes, whether as a gentle nudge, a clear warning, a profound insight, or a challenging command, we are called to allow it to be "sealed" within us—to take root deeply, to shape our convictions, and to compel our obedience. This divine sealing is not a passive event but an active embrace of truth that transforms our paths, preserving us from error, guiding us in righteousness, and leading us into abundant life.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
How does God "open the ears of men" and "seal their instruction" in contemporary life?
Answer: In contemporary life, God primarily "opens the ears of men" through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, enabling spiritual understanding of His revealed Word, the Bible. While direct dreams and visions still occur, the primary and most reliable means of divine communication for believers is Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Spirit works within believers to grant spiritual discernment, making the truths of the Bible alive, convicting, and applicable to their lives (1 Corinthians 2:10-14). God "seals their instruction" by imprinting His truth deeply upon the heart and mind through conviction, memory, and the transformative power of His Word. This sealing ensures that the instruction is not easily forgotten or dismissed, but becomes a foundational guide for thought and action, leading to obedience and preservation (Psalm 119:105). It's a continuous process of spiritual formation where God's truth becomes an integral, indelible part of one's inner being, shaping character and destiny.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 33:16, with its emphasis on God opening ears and sealing instruction, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the very Word of God made flesh (John 1:14), the supreme and perfect revelation of God to humanity. While Elihu speaks of God communicating through dreams and visions, Christ's coming represents the full, final, and most direct unveiling of God's character and will (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus himself is the one who sovereignly "opens the understanding" of His disciples to comprehend the Scriptures and the divine plan of salvation (Luke 24:45). Through His teaching, His parables, His perfect life, and ultimately His atoning death and glorious resurrection, He provides the ultimate "instruction" for humanity—the way of salvation, reconciliation with God, and eternal life. The "sealing" of this instruction is accomplished by the Holy Spirit, whom Christ sent after His ascension, who indwells believers, convicts them of sin, guides them into all truth, and writes God's laws on their hearts, fulfilling the New Covenant promise (Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3). Thus, in Christ, God not only speaks but also empowers spiritual hearing and permanently inscribes His saving truth within those who believe, preserving them for eternal life and enabling them to truly hear and follow the Good Shepherd's voice (John 10:27-28).