The book of job is one of the most problematic portions of the bible and has called forth a variety of interpretations. Now there was a day when the sons of god came to present themselves before the lord this is generally understood of the angels, as in job 38. We also saw the multiple blessings that god had bestowed upon him. Because from verse 8 to the end of the chapter, eliphaz seems to take a kinder, gentler approach to his friend job.
Rather, the focus is on what job learns from his suffering. Jun 09, 2014 the book of job is one of the most misunderstood books in the bible. Though it is hard and rare, it is not impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. This chapter is a continuation of job s third speech which began in job 9 see notes, a response to bildads speech. German bible scholar georg ewald turns his attention to the book of job in this commentary. Hidden teachings of the bible that explain manifestation. Study the bible online using commentary on job 4 and more. Fyall himself wrote a commentary on job which i read with ashs called now my eyes see you which provides deep insight into the symbol laden book of job.
Those who looked only at present things blessed their habitation, and thought them happy, blessed it long, and wished themselves in their condition. You will also find options for commentaries on job that help pastors, teachers, and readers with application of the bible, commentaries that approach the scripture versebyverse, classic christian commentaries, and much more. Commentary on job 3842 job meets god june 22, 2015 bill pratt leave a comment. The point of the book of job is to teach us that the mystery of evil is a mystery of a wartorn and unfathomably complex creation, not the mystery of gods allcontrolling will. Given how christians are yet inclined to look for a divine reason behind catastrophes and personal tragedies. The scriptures are a magnificent picture of a loving god who wants the very best for us, forever. This only is certain, that it presents a picture of a very early civilisation. The book of job provides us with our basis for understanding the purpose and course of trial in the lives of believers. Eliphaz goes on to imply that job, fits with one whose children are crushed in the gate 5. The complex and delicate nature of the subject matter. And there is a reality called satan who challenges god that his man is not as good as he thinks he is. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of bible.
The book of job is an interesting story of a man who loves god very much, and yet is severely tested to see if he will remain loyal. Welcome to an adventure in exploring the scriptures. Job 5 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. There is an evil spirit, the enemy of god, and of all righteousness, who is continually seeking to distress, to lead astray, and, if possible, to destroy those who love god. Read this article and you will have a new understanding of job. With his three friends job discussed the problem why a righteous god allows that a righteous man has to suffer innocently. David guzik commentary on job 1, where satan asks god for permission to. The book of job, in other words, should be read as a parable, not history. The father william most collection commentary on the book of job.
Read job 4 commentary using commentary critical and explanatory on the whole bible. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. However what eliphaz is ignorant of is that if god worked this way, a big question posed in this book would go unanswered. What job suffered during trials was painful, and his testimony of overcoming satan is worthy of our praise, and the blessings he gained from god are admirable. This name might have been derived from the hebrew word for persecution, thus meaning persecuted one. It is what job learns about god through his suffering.
There was a man in the land of uz, whose name was job we have observed in the argument, that the firstborn son of nahor, abrahams brother, was called uz. The book of job is a book in the ketuvim writings section of the hebrew bible tanakh, and. The understanding of sin presented throughout the book of job, even by jobs accusers, includes crimes of the heart, or desire, and not just physical actions. Jobs prosperity was now at an end, and so has the prosperity of other wicked people quickly been. At the end of these speeches, god answers job and his friends and settles the matter. There are those who believe that job is nothing more than a parable that we might learn from. For seven days job s friends sat by him in silence, without offering consolidation. In fact, some scholars believe that job requires and understanding of the book as a whole more than any other book of the old testament. His speeches neither explain jobs suffering, nor defend divine justice, nor enter into the courtroom confrontation that job has demanded, nor respond to his. Ssemanda lamech on ecclesiastes 6 commentary summary meaning explained. This hypothesis would explain its inclusion in the canon, but thats mere speculation.
As humans we tend to think we know a little bit of everything. And as the originators and ultimate explanation for their own. If you are caught excessively commenting, insulting, or derailing then your comments. The book of job, named after its protagonist apparently not an israelite. Job, in turn, has responded to each of them, declaring his innocence and demanding that god give him answers. Book of job complete bible commentary verse by verse. God allowed satan to take away from job his wealth, his family, and his health. The skeptical character of the symposium, with its challenge to timehonored views, most likely would have kept the book of job out of the canon of old testament writings had some additions not been made to the original book. The lord said, behold, all that he hath is in thy power i give thee full power to do with his property, his servants, his children, and his wife, whatsoever thy craft or malice shall prompt thee to do. The contents of the book, together with its artistic structure and elegant style, place it.
He also examines the date and history of job as well. The point of the book of job is to teach us that the mystery of evil is a. And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. Study job 1 using matthew henrys bible commentary concise to better understand scripture with full outline and verse meaning. The name job is the english translation of the hebrew name iyov which means persecuted, hated on the surface job is a long, boring, somewhat confusing book and one might question how it ever came to be grouped with the wisdom books as it is hard to ascertain any wisdom in this tale of woe. In job the word has not yet taken on the special later meaning. Commentary on the book of job bible study notes and comments. While it is true that suffering is a major theme in the book of job, suffering is not the real meaning of job. Read book of job complete bible commentary verse by verse by matthew henry available from rakuten kobo. And so, that was eliphazs last speech to job recorded in this book. If job will pretend to be a rival with god, especially if he pretend to be a judge of his actions, he must be able to do this.
But the odious judgments made by his friends caution us against making toocertain application of any model to our own lives. This begins a long section in the book of job where jobs friends counsel him and he answers them. I attempt to clear that up by offering a different perspective than most people know today. You have heard of the perseverance of job and seen the end intended by the lord that the lord is very compassionate and merciful.
There was a man in the land of uz, whose name was job. And god again challenges him by a display of his power and. Waters ritten by an unknown author, possibly the most ancient literary account in the bible,1 the book of job is a mixture of divine and human wisdom that addresses a major life issue. Job is a wealthy man living in a land called uz with his large family and extensive flocks. Read commentary on this popular bible verse and understand the real meaning behind gods word using john gills exposition of. Jobs afflictions began from the malice of satan, by the lords permission, for wise and holy purposes. The book of job does not espouse an explicit belief in resurrection. Sep 07, 2010 the book of job is a highly controversial book of mostly confusing information. And it seems as if verses 6 and 7 were a turning point for eliphaz in his tone with job. Nevertheless these ways of god with mankind have always a good purpose romans 8. The last of the book is a beautiful picture of what james calls the tender mercies of god toward job james 5. They had produced no witnesses against him, neither could they prove the things whereof they now accused him. The book of job has been widely given the theme of patience and we see this mentioned in the new testament book. Job declared, in effect, that he did not understand the cry because he did not know the pain.
Like anything in life, the reward for success reflects the amount of effort put. The two great themes of the book of job, as explained by james, are the. But after this experience, job came to embody for me a bible in my pocket answer to suffering, something that could be whipped out to explain. This prose prologue to the book reads like a folktale.
Job summary we have detailed a brief summary of the book of job for bible study or sunday school lessons. Click the bible to visit the new being developed test drive it and tell us about your experience. Commentary on job 40 by matthew henry blue letter bible. Job 31 commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. See also greg parsons excellent article on job guidelines for understanding and proclaiming the book of job from bibliotheca sacra 151, 1994, pages 3934 introduction the reader who desires to unlock the rich theological treasures contained in the book of job should assume its literary unity. The text of job is so ancient that in some places we dont really know the exact meaning. Addressing the problem of theodicy the vindication of the justice of god in the light of humanitys suffering it is a rich theological work setting out a variety of perspectives. Job explained why his suffering was so deep and his words were. Job chapter 1 coffmans commentary of the new testament. Commentary on job 3842 job meets god tough questions. The name job is mentioned only 54 times and mostly just in the. As we shall see, he rather appeals to factors in creation to explain to job why he cant.
The book of job has been widely given the theme of patience and we see this mentioned in the new testament book of james. The book of job is one of the most misunderstood books in the bible. Commentary on the book of job chapter five by wm w wells. His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred sheasses, and a very great household. Walther eichrodt writes, in the speeches of god in the book of job, this god of mens construction. Yet, if job turns to god god will bless job tremendously. God says to job, now i want you to pray for your friends these three dear men, so stubborn, so sure that they had all the answers, so well meaning, so sincere, so dedicated, but such utter blunderers. There are others who believe the events in job occurred during the exile. What does one say about god and faith in the midst of undeserved and extreme suffering. Job here admitted that his words were indeed rash, but explained that it was because of the excessive heaviness of his grief. The justice job is here challenged to do, and that is to bring the proud low with a look. It broke down the book of job and explained things so well.
What is taught about trial in the new testament is founded on the principles found right here in the book of job. The big picture of job is that there was a man who was, in one sense, blameless in gods sight. He systematically goes over each section of job as a drama, highlighting the contentions and resolutions throughout. In greek lxx the name is transliteration of the hebrew consonants iwb. A major difficulty in understanding the meaning of the book is, what insight leads job to submit so. Bible explained bible commentary study of each verse in. Job with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Through job 37, job has listened to three friends and elihu speak to him about why he is suffering so badly. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of job in easyenglish. Job s final speech in his own defense is probably where the book originally ended. To understand the full impact of the book of job the book must be read and understood as a whole.
Commentary on the book of job chapter one by wm w wells. We continue our study in the book of job in the second chapter. But the basic lesson is that tough times dont last, tough people do. But do you know the hidden meaning behind the story of job. As with other books of the bible, job bears the name of the narratives primary character. The context for any passage in the book of job has to begin with chapter 1, which establishes job s excellent character 1. It is here supposed that god can do it and will do it himself, else he would not have put it thus upon job. Ash must have been an excellent student because when reading fyalls book one can easily see fyalls influence upon ash, yet there is distinction between the two.
The book of job is concerned with the problem of suffering. Job s speech shifts gears in verse 2 as he appears to be addressing god himself with his thoughts. His friends speak in more or less three rounds, with each speech followed by a reply from job. A major difficulty in understanding the meaning of the book is, what insight leads job to submit so humbly to god at the end. Kraus identifies and clarifies problem areas in the text, invites us to enter into jobs dialogue and stimulates thoughtful consideration of lifes intractable questions. This reference in james is the only time job is mentioned by name in the n. Commentary on the book of job chapter four by wm w wells.
At its beginning, job seems to be a book about human suffering. Library the father william most theological collection. Job s three friends eliphaz, bildad and zophar were not able to understand these ways of. The authorship and date of the book of job are problems yet unsolved. Top 5 commentaries on the book of job ligonier ministries. The book of job is a highly controversial book of mostly confusing information. Apr 29, 2012 in my own unique style i teach the book of job chapter by chapter, verse by verse and explain everything i have learned about it.
Job 4 commentary commentary critical and explanatory on the. Job free bible commentary in easy english easyenglish bible. He is blameless and upright, always careful to avoid. It deals with problems which indicate some advance in religious thought. Job commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary is one of the most respected interdenominational commentaries ever written. In the introduction, ewald gives context to the format, content, and style of the book as poem. When you are reading comments on a verse, you will want to click for other verses which explain it. Commentary on the book of job with translation logos bible. The two great themes of the book of job, as explained by james, are the perseverance of job and the end intended by the lord, and it is important that we learn both themes.
Or from an arabic word meaning repent, thus bearing the name repentant one. Job was a wealthy but righteous and godfearing man. This is another volume in the series of bible commentaries of matthew henry. The prologue to the book of job chapters 12 sets up the meditation on suffering that follows it.
Job proves faithful to god in prosperity and in adversity. He is implying that job is filled with bitterness and envy. Its incredibly complex and obscure hebrew allowing for multiple translations and meanings. There was once a man in the land of uz whose name was job 1. The book of job is probably a late part of the old testament. In my own unique style i teach the book of job chapter by chapter, verse by verse and explain everything i have learned about it. It should be kept in mind that job is not the author. It is not surprising, therefore, that the translators of the septuagint add this verse to the book of job. Job is sure that god does not discover things, nor judge of them, as men do. Verses 25 and there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. The permission seems to have extended to this, as well as to torturing the body. You can find the best commentary on job for you using the tools on the right side. Job is a book that ranks as one of the most difficult books in thetanach bible, for two reasons. Job went through one of the most difficult seasons i think recorded in the bible.
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