Job 27

Job apparently pauses for Zophar to reply; but, as the latter is silent, continues his discourse, the scope of which seems to be as follows: Job first denies the two charges which had been brought against him—that he was ungodly and unholy (2-6), and that he maintained the impunity of the wicked (7-23). Then (xxviii.) he describes what man can do in discovering the secrets of the earth, only to show that in Providence there are deeps which no human endeavour can penetrate, leaving practical piety the only possible and certain wisdom for man.

1 parable. Poetic discourse.

2 my judgement. Or, “my right” (R.V.).

5. God forbid that I should justify you. That is, I will not on any account acknowledge you to be in the right. I am innocent of these charges.

6. My heart shall not reproach me, etc. Rather, “My heart doth not reproach me as to one of my days”: cp. the Apostle Paul’s declaration, “I have lived in all good conscience before God unto this day” (Acts xxiii. 1).

7 as the unrighteous. Their wicked calumnies deserve to be punished as they say the wicked are punished.

8 what is the hope, etc.? Or, “what is the hope of the impious, when God cutteth him off, when He taketh,” etc.? see R.V., marg.

11 by the hand of God. Or, “concerning” what God has done.

12. Why then are ye thus altogether vain? Or, “Why then do ye thus cherish foolish notions?”

13. This is the portion, etc. Many supply the word saying, after the end of ver. 12; and regard vers. 13-23 as Job’s account of the opinions of his opponents. The difficulty is that Job appears now to unsay all that he had maintained before respecting the condition of the wicked, and to concede to his friends their whole case. Then this verse is a quotation from Zophar (xx. 29, see note). May not those that follow be a rapid enumeration of what the friends of Job had maintained? It has been suggested that as there is no third speech of Zophar, and this paragraph is so much in his style, it is actually his, so completing the cycle of speeches; the words, Zophar answered and said, having dropped out of the text by some accident of transcription.

15 in death. This is probably the generic for the specific term, “pestilence”: as Jer. xv. 2; xliii. 11; Rev. vi. 8; xviii. 8.

16 as the clay. That is, in quantity as the clay.

18 his house, etc. Frail and temporary, like the dwelling which the moth makes in a garment, or the watchman in a vineyard (Isa. i. 8).

19. The rich man shall lie down, etc. The Septuagint reads otherwise, and renders, “he lieth down rich, but shall do so no more; he openeth,” etc.

He openeth his eyes, and he is not. He is suddenly cut off.

21. And as a storm hurleth him. More exactly, “And it sweepeth him” (as R.V.).

22 shall cast upon him. i.e., His arrows.