Job 17:5

He that speaketh flattery to [his] friends,.... As Job's friends did to him when they promised great outward prosperity, and a restoration to his former state, and to a greater affluence upon his

He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

Hereby Job chargeth them, either, 1. With flattering him with vain hopes, and promises of the return of his former prosperity, when he knew that his case was desperate. Or, 2. With flattering and befriending God, and giving a partial sentence out of respect to him; for which he reproved and condemned them before, , where see the notes. Some render the words thus, He that uttereth or declareth his mind or thoughts (as this word signifies, ,17) with flattery, or to flatter or deceive another. The eyes of his children shall fail; he shall be severely punished, not only in his person, but even in his children, whose eyes shall fail with vain expectations of relief and deliverance out of those calamities which shall come upon them for this sin of their parents.

Job 17:5 He that speaketh flattery to [his] friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.Ver. 5. He that speaketh flattery to his friends] As you, my friends, do to and for God, in seeming to assert his justice in punishing me for my wickedness, so soothing and smoothing up the Almighty ( quod ipsum nihil aliud est quam falso Deo blandiri, saith Merlin), and seeking to make the world believe, by your great words, that you are his great champions, while you go about to clear up his righteousness by concluding that I am unrighteous. See Job 13:7-8. The eyes of his children shall fail] Not himself only shall smart (while the Lord cutteth off flattering lips and the deceitful tongue, Psalms 12:3), but his poor children shall repent for it. They shall lie languishing at hope’ s hospital, and after all be disappointed; or their eyes shall fail with long looking after good; but nothing comes. They shall look for peace, and there is no good; and for a time of healing, but behold trouble, Jeremiah 14:19. God will destroy flatterers, head and tail, branch and rush, like as the Thessalians once utterly destroyed the city called Kολακεια, or Flattery (Hen. Steph. Apol. pro Herod.).

(5) He that speaketh flattery to his friends.—The three words thus rendered are, from their very brevity, most obscure. Literally, they run: for a portion he will tell friends. But what is the meaning of this? Some render, “He denounceth his friends for a prey,” i.e., such is the conduct of Job’s friends towards Job. Others understand it, “He would say, friends should take their part,” i.e., any one who would undertake to be surety for me would naturally expect my friends to share the responsibility; but so far from this, the eyes of his sons would fail in looking for it; they would never see it.

Verse 5. He that speaketh flattery] There is a great variety of meaning given to the terms in this verse. The general sense is, The man who expects much from his friends will be disappointed: while depending on them his children's eyes may fail in looking for bread.

5. This verse is very obscure. In some way or other it must carry on Job’s severe reflection on the conduct of his friends (Job 17:4), and express it in a stronger way. The word rendered in A.V. flattery usually means a portion or share, that which falls to one on a division of land, booty, and the like, or that which is one’s possession. This must be the meaning here. The sense may be, They give over (their) fellow for a prey, While the eyes of his children fail. The expression seems to be of the nature of a proverb, which illustrates the cruel treatment to which men are subjected—they are given over, lit. assigned or declared, as a prey or possession to others (to whom, as debtors and the like, they are sold), while no pity is had for their perishing children. The language is general, though the conduct of Job’s friends towards him furnishes an illustration of the truth. The word “fellow” is plur., “fellows” or friends, the plur. being used to express the general idea; the sing., referring to each individual, appears in his children. Job regards his own treatment as an instance of similar ruthlessness, and his friends and those around him as shewing a similar cruelty. The passage expresses a sentiment similar to that in ch. Job 6:27. Others render, he that betrayeth (or, denounceth) friends for a prey, may the eyes of his children fail, or, the eyes of his children shall fail. But a malediction or a threat on Job’s part does not suit his tone at this moment, nor the general scope of the passage, in which he is drawing a gloomy picture of his own treatment at the hands of men and God.

He that speaketh flattery to his friends - Noyes renders this, “He that delivers up his friend as a prey, the eyes of his children shall fail.” So Wemyss, “He who delivers up his friends to plunder.” Dr.

5. He… friends — The common reading is, He who betrays friends for a spoil. Flattery — Hhelck, signifies a share of spoil. The spoil which the treacherous gain proves a curse to their children.