Job 34:36

My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end,.... This is my opinion, or what "I bring in" (o) adduce, and lay before you, men of understanding and wisdom, and leave it with you to consider of.

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. [ 'aabiy (H1), from 'aabeh (H15), wish, desire.] Margin, not so well, My father; Elihu addressing God.

Either, 1. That he may be further tried by God, or exercised with afflictions, till he be thoroughly convinced or humbled. But it seems harsh that he should pray for the continuance or increase of Job’ s afflictions. Or rather, 2. That his words and cause which I am now debating may be examined and sifted, that you that are here present, or any other wise men, may consider and judge thereof, as he desired above, ,10,34. Unto the end, i.e. thoroughly and exactly, till the cause be brought to an issue. Or, unto victory, i.e. till judgment be brought forth unto victory. Because of his answers; or, concerning his answers, or replies, or discourses; for answering is oft used in Scripture, both in the Old and New Testament, for speaking. So he limits and changeth the state of the controversy: I do not meddle with Job’ s former life, nor charge him with hypocrisy, as his three friends have done; but I justly reprove him for his hard speeches against God, whereby he hath reproached his justice and goodness. For wicked men, i.e. on their behalf, or for their use. He hath put arguments into their mouths against God and his providence. Or, with or among wicked men; as if he were one of them; or such answers as they use to make, which therefore are very unbecoming such a man as Job is, or pretends to be.

Job 34:36 My desire [is that] Job may be tried unto the end because of [his] answers for wicked men.Ver. 36. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end] Or, unto victory, till he be vanquished and set down, Usque ad victoriam (Trem). It is conceived that Job, by clapping his hands, as Job 34:37, or by the set of his countenance, or some other way, had discovered his dislike of and discontent at that which Elihu had spoken. He therefore begs of God to continue afflicting him, till he be in a better mind, Crux sancta est et salubris. This he doth by a special instinct for Job’ s good, and not out of any desire for revenge. So Farel pronounced a curse upon young Calvin’ s studies, in case he should refuse to join with him in the Lord’ s work at Geneva, where a Church had been newly planted; this so thunderstruck him, that he dared not stir from there to his dying day, At ego tibi studia tua praetexenti denuncio Omnipotentis Dei nomine, &c. (Calv. Vit.). Some read it, My Father, let Job be tried. It is not to be doubted but those ancients also called God by this sweet name of Father. See John 8:41. Beza makes Elihu thus bespeaking Job, for honour’ s sake, O my Father, Job shall be yet still tried. The Tigurines read, Haec autem in medium affero, These things I produce, that Job’ s things may be most exactly discussed, and wicked men’ s mouths stopped. Because of his answers for wicked men] Who will take liberty by him to excuse their iniquity, and speak dishonourably of God, as he hath done.

(36) My desire is that Job may be tried.—There seems to be reason to prefer the marginal rendering, and consider the words as addressed to God: “Oh my Father, let Job be tried, &c.” “Pater mi probetur Job,” Vulg. Elihu’s words cannot have fallen upon Job with more acceptance or with lighter weight than those of his other friends. He must have felt, however, that his cause was safe with God, whatever the misunderstanding of men. Because of his answers for wicked men. Rather, his answering like wicked men.

Verse 36. My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end] אבי יבחן איוב abi yibbachen Aiyob, "My father, let Job be tried." So the VULGATE, Pater mi, probetur Job. But it may be as in the common translation, I wish Job to be tried; or, as Mr. Good renders it, Verily, let Job be pursued to conquest for replying like wicked men. This is a very harsh wish: but the whole chapter is in the same spirit; nearly destitute of mildness and compassion. Who could suppose that such arguings could come out of the mouth of the loving Saviour of mankind? The reader will recollect that a very pious divine has supposed Elihu to be Jesus Christ!

36. It is not certain whether Job 34:36 be a continuation of the judgment of Elihu’s hearers or be his own words. The sentiment is excessively harsh, and probably Elihu, though of course concurring in it, puts it forth indirectly as the judgment of others. The wish is expressed that Job might be tried unto the end, constantly—that his afflictions might be continued till he should give over answering in the manner of wicked men. His “answers” are his speeches in reply to the three friends, which are characterized as such as only ungodly men would utter.

My desire is - Margin, “or, “my father, let Job be tried.”” This variation between the text and the margin, arises from the different interpretations affixed to the Hebrew word אבי 'âbiy.

36. My desire — The word ΰαι, which also signifies “my father,” is probably cognate with the root, ΰαδ, “to desire,” and is correctly rendered in the text.