15 I was eyes H5869 to the blind, H5787 and feet H7272 was I to the lame. H6455
And he said, H559 Leave H5800 us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest H3651 H3045 how we are to encamp H2583 in the wilderness, H4057 and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes. H5869
The blind G5185 receive their sight, G308 and G2532 the lame G5560 walk, G4043 the lepers G3015 are cleansed, G2511 and G2532 the deaf G2974 hear, G191 the dead G3498 are raised up, G1453 and G2532 the poor G4434 have the gospel preached to them. G2097
For G1063 as G2509 the body G4983 is G2076 one, G1520 and G2532 hath G2192 many G4183 members, G3196 and G1161 all G3956 the members G3196 of that one G1520 body, G4983 being G5607 many, G4183 are G2076 one G1520 body: G4983 so G3779 also G2532 is Christ. G5547 For G1063 G2532 by G1722 one G1520 Spirit G4151 are G907 we G2249 all G3956 baptized G907 into G1519 one G1520 body, G4983 whether G1535 we be Jews G2453 or G1535 Gentiles, G1672 whether G1535 we be bond G1401 or G1535 free; G1658 and G2532 have been G4222 all G3956 made to drink G4222 into G1519 one G1520 Spirit. G4151 G2532 For G1063 the body G4983 is G2076 not G3756 one G1520 member, G3196 but G235 many. G4183 If G1437 the foot G4228 shall say, G2036 Because G3754 I am G1510 not G3756 the hand, G5495 I am G1510 not G3756 of G1537 the body; G4983 is G2076 it therefore G3756 G3844 G5124 not G3756 of G1537 the body? G4983 And G2532 if G1437 the ear G3775 shall say, G2036 Because G3754 I am G1510 not G3756 the eye, G3788 I am G1510 not G3756 of G1537 the body; G4983 is G2076 it therefore G3756 G3844 G5124 not G3756 of G1537 the body? G4983 If G1487 the whole G3650 body G4983 were an eye, G3788 where G4226 were the hearing? G189 If G1487 the whole G3650 were hearing, G189 where G4226 were the smelling? G3750 But G1161 now G3570 hath G5087 God G2316 set G5087 the members G3196 every G1538 one G1520 of them G846 in G1722 the body, G4983 as G2531 it hath pleased him. G2309 And G1161 if G1487 they were G2258 all G3956 one G1520 member, G3196 where G4226 were the body? G4983 But G1161 now G3568 G3303 are they many G4183 members, G3196 yet but G1161 one G1520 body. G4983 And G1161 the eye G3788 cannot G3756 G1410 say G2036 unto the hand, G5495 I have G2192 no G3756 need G5532 of thee: G4675 nor G2228 again G3825 the head G2776 to the feet, G4228 I have G2192 no G3756 need G5532 of you. G5216 Nay, G235 much G4183 more G3123 those members G3196 of the body, G4983 which seem G1380 to be G5225 more feeble, G772 are G2076 necessary: G316 And G2532 those G3739 members of the body, G4983 which we think G1380 to be G1511 less honourable, G820 upon these G5125 we bestow G4060 more abundant G4055 honour; G5092 and G2532 our G2257 uncomely G809 parts have G2192 more abundant G4055 comeliness. G2157 For G1161 our G2257 comely G2158 parts have G2192 no G3756 need: G5532 but G235 God G2316 hath tempered G4786 the body G4983 together, G4786 having given G1325 more abundant G4055 honour G5092 to that part which lacked: G5302 That G3363 there should be G5600 no G3363 schism G4978 in G1722 the body; G4983 but G235 that the members G3196 should have G3309 the same G846 care G3309 one for G5228 another. G240 And G2532 whether G1535 one G1520 member G3196 suffer, G3958 all G3956 the members G3196 suffer with it; G4841 or G1535 one G1520 member G3196 be honoured, G1392 all G3956 the members G3196 rejoice with it. G4796 Now G1161 ye G5210 are G2075 the body G4983 of Christ, G5547 and G2532 members G3196 in G1537 particular. G3313 And G2532 G3739 God G2316 hath set G5087 some G3303 in G1722 the church, G1577 first G4412 apostles, G652 secondarily G1208 prophets, G4396 thirdly G5154 teachers, G1320 after that G1899 miracles, G1411 then G1534 gifts G5486 of healings, G2386 helps, G484 governments, G2941 diversities G1085 of tongues. G1100 Are all G3361 G3956 apostles? G652 are all G3361 G3956 prophets? G4396 are all G3361 G3956 teachers? G1320 are all G3361 G3956 workers of miracles? G1411 Have G3361 G2192 all G3956 the gifts G5486 of healing? G2386 do all G3956 speak G3361 G2980 with tongues? G1100 do G3361 all G3956 interpret? G1329 But G1161 covet earnestly G2206 the best G2909 gifts: G5486 and G2532 yet G2089 shew I G1166 unto you G5213 a more G2596 excellent G5236 way. G3598
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Job 29
Commentary on Job 29 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 29
Job 29:1-25.
1. Job pauses for a reply. None being made, he proceeds to illustrate the mysteriousness of God's dealings, as set forth (Job 28:1-28) by his own case.
2. preserved me—from calamity.
3. candle—when His favor shone on me (see on Job 18:6 and Ps 18:28).
darkness—By His safeguard I passed secure through dangers. Perhaps alluding to the lights carried before caravans in nightly travels through deserts [Noyes].
4. youth—literally, "autumn"; the time of the ripe fruits of my prosperity. Applied to youth, as the Orientalists began their year with autumn, the most temperate season in the East.
secret—when the intimate friendship of God rested on my tent (Pr 3:32; Ps 31:20; Ge 18:17; Joh 15:15). The Hebrew often means a divan for deliberation.
6. butter—rather, "cream," literally, "thick milk." Wherever I turned my steps, the richest milk and oil flowed in to me abundantly. Image from pastoral life.
When I washed my steps—Literal washing of the feet in milk is not meant, as the second clause shows; Margin, "with me," that is, "near" my path, wherever I walked (De 32:13). Olives amidst rocks yield the best oil. Oil in the East is used for food, light, anointing, and medicine.
7-10. The great influence Job had over young and old, and noblemen.
through … street!—rather, When I went out of my house, in the country (see Job 1:1, prologue) to the gate (ascending), up to the city (which was on elevated ground), and when I prepared my (judicial) seat in the market place. The market place was the place of judgment, at the gate or propylæa of the city, such as is found in the remains of Nineveh and Persepolis (Isa 59:14; Ps 55:11; 127:5).
8. hid—not literally; rather, "stepped backwards," reverentially. The aged, who were already seated, arose and remained standing (Hebrew) until Job seated himself. Oriental manners.
9. (Job 4:2; see on Job 21:5).
Refrained talking—stopped in the middle of their speech.
10. Margin, "voice—hid," that is, "hushed" (Eze 3:26).
Tongue cleaved, &c.—that is, awed by my presence, the emirs or sheiks were silent.
11. blessed—extolled my virtues (Pr 31:28). Omit "me" after "heard"; whoever heard of me (in general, not in the market place, Job 29:7-10) praised me.
gave witness—to my honorable character. Image from a court of justice (Lu 4:22).
the eye—that is, "face to face"; antithesis to
ear—that is, report of me.
12-17. The grounds on which Job was praised (Job 29:11), his helping the afflicted (Ps 72:12) who cried to him for help, as a judge, or as one possessed of means of charity. Translate: "The fatherless who had none to help him."
13. So far was I from sending "widows" away empty (Job 22:9).
ready to perish—(Pr 31:6).
14. (Isa 61:10; 1Ch 12:18).
judgment—justice.
diadem—tiara. Rather, "turban," "head-dress." It and the full flowing outer mantle or "robe," are the prominent characteristics of an Oriental grandee's or high priest's dress (Zec 3:5). So Job's righteousness especially characterized him.
15. Literally, "the blind" (De 27:18); "lame" (2Sa 9:13); figuratively, also the spiritual support which the more enlightened gives to those less so (Job 4:3; Heb 12:13; Nu 10:31).
16. So far was I from "breaking the arms of the fatherless," as Eliphaz asserts (Job 22:9), I was a "father" to such.
the cause which I knew not—rather, "of him whom I knew not," the stranger (Pr 29:7 [Umbreit]; contrast Lu 18:1, &c.). Applicable to almsgiving (Ps 41:1); but here primarily, judicial conscientiousness (Job 31:13).
17. Image from combating with wild beasts (Job 4:11; Ps 3:7). So compassionate was Job to the oppressed, so terrible to the oppressor!
jaws—Job broke his power, so that he could do no more hurt, and tore from him the spoil, which he had torn from others.
18. I said—in my heart (Ps 30:6).
in—rather, "with my nest"; as the second clause refers to long life. Instead of my family dying before me, as now, I shall live so long as to die with them: proverbial for long life. Job did realize his hope (Job 42:16). However, in the bosom of my family, gives a good sense (Nu 24:21; Ob 4). Use "nest" for a secure dwelling.
sand—(Ge 22:17; Hab 1:9). But the Septuagint and Vulgate, and Jewish interpreters, favor the translation, "the phœnix bird." "Nest" in the parallel clause supports the reference to a bird. "Sand" for multitude, applies to men, rather than to years. The myth was, that the phœnix sprang from a nest of myrrh, made by his father before death, and that he then came from Arabia (Job's country) to Heliopolis (the city of the Sun) in Egypt, once in every five hundred years, and there burnt his father [Herodotus, 2:73]. Modern research has shown that this was the Egyptian mode of representing hieroglyphically a particular chronological era or cycle. The death and revival every five hundred years, and the reference to the sun, implies such a grand cycle commencing afresh from the same point in relation to the sun from which the previous one started. Job probably refers to this.
19. Literally, "opened to the waters." Opposed to Job 18:16. Vigorous health.
20. My renown, like my bodily health, was continually fresh.
bow—Metaphor from war, for, my strength, which gains me "renown," was ever renewed (Jer 49:35).
21. Job reverts with peculiar pleasure to his former dignity in assemblies (Job 29:7-10).
22. not again—did not contradict me.
dropped—affected their minds, as the genial rain does the soil on which it gently drops (Am 7:16; De 32:2; So 4:11).
23. Image of Job 29:22 continued. They waited for my salutary counsel, as the dry soil does for the refreshing rain.
opened … mouth—panted for; Oriental image (Ps 119:131). The "early rain" is in autumn and onwards, while the seed is being sown. The "latter rain" is in March, and brings forward the harvest, which ripens in May or June. Between the early and latter rains, some rain falls, but not in such quantities as those rains. Between March and October no rain falls (De 11:14; Jas 5:7).
24. When I relaxed from my wonted gravity (a virtue much esteemed in the East) and smiled, they could hardly credit it; and yet, notwithstanding my condescension, they did not cast aside reverence for my gravity. But the parallelism is better in Umbreit's translation, "I smiled kindly on those who trusted not," that is, in times of danger I cheered those in despondency. And they could not cast down (by their despondency) my serenity of countenance (flowing from trust in God) (Pr 16:15; Ps 104:15). The opposite phrase (Ge 4:5, 6). "Gravity" cannot well be meant by "light of countenance."
25. I chose out their way—that is, I willingly went up to their assembly (from my country residence, Job 29:7).
in the army—as a king supreme in the midst of his army.
comforteth the mourners—Here again Job unconsciously foreshadows Jesus Christ (Isa 61:2, 3). Job's afflictions, as those of Jesus Christ, were fitting him for the office hereafter (Isa 50:4; Heb 2:18).