Job 20
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Commentaries
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Against wine and strong drink. We should avoid contentions. The sluggard. The righteous man. Weights and measures. Tale-bearers. The wicked son. The wise king. The glory of young men. The beauty of old men. The benefit of correction.
Open source ↗REPLY OF ZOPHAR. (Job 20:1-29) Therefore--Rather, the more excited I feel by Job's speech, the more for that very reason shall my reply be supplied by my calm consideration. Literally, "Notwithstanding; my calm thoughts (as in Job 4:13) shall furnish my answer, because of the excitement (haste) within me" [UMBREIT].
Open source ↗Then answered Zophar the Naamathite,.... Notwithstanding the sad distressed condition Job was in, an account of which is given in the preceding chapter, enough to pierce a heart of stone, notwithstanding his earnest request to his friends to have pity on him, and notwithstanding the noble confession of his faith he had made, which showed him to be a good man, and the excellent advice he gave his friends to cease persecuting him, for their own good, as well as for his peace; yet, regardless of these things, Zophar starts up and makes a reply, and attacks him with as much heat and passion, wrath and anger, as ever, harping upon the same string, and still representing Job as a wicked man and an hypocrite; and said, as follows.
Open source ↗1 Then began Zophar the Naamathite, and said: 2 Therefore do my thoughts furnish me with a reply, And indeed by reason of my feeling within me. 3 The correction of my reproach I must hear, Nevertheless the spirit of my understanding informeth me. 4 Knowest thou this which is from everlasting, Since man was placed upon the earth: 5 That the triumphing of the evil-doer is not long, And the joy of the godless is but for a moment? All modern expositors take Job 20:2 as an apology for the opposition which follows, and the majority of them consider בּעבוּר as elliptical for בעבור זאת, as Tremell., Piscator, and others have done, partly (but wrongly) by referring to the Rebia mugrasch. Ewald observes: "בעבור stands without addition, because this is easily understood from the כן in לכן." But although this ellipsis is not inadmissible (comp. לכן = לכן אשׁר, Job 34:25; כעל, Isa 59:18), in spite of it Job 20:2 furnishes no meaning that can be accepted. Most expositors translate: "and hence the storm within me" (thus e.g., Ewald); but the signification perturbatio animi, proposed by Schultens for חוּשׁי, after the Arab. ḥâš, is too remote from the usage of Hebrew. Moreover, this Arab. ḥâš signifies prop. to scare, hunt, of game; not, however: to be agitated, to storm, - a signification which even the corresponding Hebr. חוּשׁ, properare, does not support. Only a few expositors (as Umbreit, who translates: because of my storm within me) take בעבור (which occurs only this once in the book of Job) as praepos., as it must be taken in consideration of the infin. which follows (comp. Exo 9:16; Exo 20:20; Sa1 1:6; Sa2 10:3). Further, לכן (only by Umbreit translated by "yet," after the Arab. lâkin, lâkinna, which it never signifies in Hebr., where ל is not = לא, but = ל with Kametz…
Open source ↗Here, I. Zophar begins very passionately, and seems to be in a great heat at what Job had said. Being resolved to condemn Job for a bad man, he was much displeased that he talked so like a good man, and, as it should seem, broke in upon him, and began abruptly (Job 20:2): Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer. He takes no notice of what Job had said to move their pity, or to evidence his own integrity, but fastens upon the reproof he gave them in the close of his discourse, counts that a reproach, and thinks himself therefore obliged to answer, because Job had bidden them be afraid of the sword, that he might not seem to be frightened by his menaces. The best counsel is too often ill taken from an antagonist, and therefore usually may be well spared. Zophar seemed more in haste to speak than became a wise man; but he excuses his haste with two things: - 1. That Job had given him strong provocation (Job 20:3): "I have heard the check of my reproach, and cannot bear to hear it any longer." Job's friends, I doubt, had spirits too high to deal with a man in his low condition; and high spirits are impatient of contradiction, and think themselves affronted if all about them do not say as they say; they cannot bear a check but they call it the check of their reproach, and then they are bound in honour to return it, if not to draw upon him that gave it. 2. That his own heart gave him a strong instigation. His thoughts caused him to answer (Job 20:2), for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks; but he fathers the instigation (Job 20:3) upon the spirit of his understanding: that indeed should cause us to answer; we should rightly apprehend a thing and duly consider it before we speak of it; but whether it did so here or no is a question. Men often mistake the di…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… צוֹפַר (Tsôwphar, H6691) — Tsophar, a friend of Job נַעֲמָתִי (Naʻămâthîy, H5284) — a Naamathite, or inhabitant of Naamah אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗סָעִף (çâʻiph, H5587) — divided (in mind), i.e. (abstractly) a sentiment שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… חוּשׁ (chûwsh, H2363) — to hurry; figuratively, to be eager with excitement or enjoyment
Open source ↗שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… מוּסָר (mûwçâr, H4148) — properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraint כְּלִמָּה (kᵉlimmâh, H3639) — disgrace רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… בִּינָה (bîynâh, H998) — understanding עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;…
Open source ↗יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… עַד (ʻad, H5703) — properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗רְנָנָה (rᵉnânâh, H7445) — a shout (for joy) רָשָׁע (râshâʻ, H7563) — morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person קָרוֹב (qârôwb, H7138) — near (in place, kindred or time) שִׂמְחָה (simchâh, H8057) — blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival) חָנֵף (chânêph, H2611) — soiled (i.e. with sin), impious רֶגַע (regaʻ, H7281) — a wink (of the eyes), i.e. a very short space of time
Open source ↗שִׂיא (sîyʼ, H7863) — elevation עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… נָגַע (nâgaʻ, H5060) — properly, to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with… עָב (ʻâb, H5645) — properly, an envelope, i.e. darkness (or density, 2 Chronicles 4:17); specifically, a…
Open source ↗אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) נֶצַח (netsach, H5331) — properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at adistance travelled towards; hence… גֵּלֶל (gêlel, H1561) — dung (plural balls of dung) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אַי (ʼay, H335) — where? hence how?
Open source ↗עוּף (ʻûwph, H5774) — to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning) חֲלוֹם (chălôwm, H2472) — a dream מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… נָדַד (nâdad, H5074) — properly, to wave to and fro (rarely to flap up and down); figuratively, to rove, flee,… חִזָּיוֹן (chizzâyôwn, H2384) — a revelation, expectation by dream לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
Open source ↗עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) שָׁזַף (shâzaph, H7805) — to tan (by sunburning); figuratively (as if by a piercing ray) to scan יָסַף (yâçaph, H3254) — to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing) מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… שׁוּר (shûwr, H7789) — to spy out, i.e. (generally) survey, (for evil) lurk for, (for good) care for
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… רָצָה (râtsâh, H7521) — to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy adebt דַּל (dal, H1800) — properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… אוֹן (ʼôwn, H202) — ability, power, (figuratively) wealth
Open source ↗עֶצֶם (ʻetsem, H6106) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.)… מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) עָלוּם (ʻâlûwm, H5934) — (only in plural as abstract) adolescence; figuratively, vigor שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) — to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose) עָפָר (ʻâphâr, H6083) — dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
Open source ↗רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) מָתַק (mâthaq, H4985) — to suck, by implication, to relish, or (intransitively) be sweet פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… כָּחַד (kâchad, H3582) — to secrete, by act or word; hence (intensively) to destroy לָשׁוֹן (lâshôwn, H3956) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or…
Open source ↗חָמַל (châmal, H2550) — to commiserate; by implication, to spare עָזַב (ʻâzab, H5800) — to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc. מָנַע (mânaʻ, H4513) — to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre חֵךְ (chêk, H2441) — properly, the palate or inside of the mouth; hence, the mouth itself (as the organ of…
Open source ↗לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) מֵעֶה (mêʻeh, H4578) — used only in plural the intestines, or (collectively) the abdomen, figuratively,… הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert מְרֹרָה (mᵉrôrâh, H4846) — properly, bitterness; concretely, a bitter thing; specifically bile; also venom (of a… פֶּתֶן (pethen, H6620) — an asp (from its contortions) קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.
Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s request.