---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Job 11"
description: "CHAPTER 11   FIRST
SERIES.   :-. FIRST SPEECH
OF ZOPHAR. 2. Zophar assails Job for his
empty words, and indirectly, the two friends, for their weak reply."
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/job/11"
---

CHAPTER 11

FIRST
SERIES.

. FIRST SPEECH
OF ZOPHAR.

**2.** Zophar assails Job for his
empty words, and indirectly, the two friends, for their weak reply.
Taciturnity is highly prized among Orientals ([Proverbs 10:8](../../../kjv/proverbs/10/8);
[Proverbs 10:19](../../../kjv/proverbs/10/19)).

**3. lies**—rather, "vain
boasting" ([Isaiah 16:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/6);
[Jeremiah 48:30](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/30)). The "men"
is emphatic; men of sense; in antithesis to "vain boasting."
**mockest**—upbraidest God
by complaints, "shall no man make thee ashamed?"

**4. doctrine**—purposely used of
Job's speeches, which sounded like lessons of doctrine ([Deuteronomy 32:2](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/2);
[Proverbs 4:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/4/2)).
**thine**—addressed to God.
Job had maintained his *sincerity* against his friends
suspicions, not *faultlessness.*

**6. to that which is!**—Rather,
"they are double to [man's] wisdom" [MICHAELIS].
So the *Hebrew* is rendered (). God's ways, which you arraign, if you were shown their
secret wisdom, would be seen vastly to exceed that of men, including
yours ([1 Corinthians 1:25](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/1/25)).
**exacteth**—Rather, "God
*consigns to oblivion* in thy favor much of thy guilt."

**7.** Rather, "Penetrate to
the perfections of the Almighty" ([Job 9:10](../../../kjv/job/9/10);
[Psalms 139:6](../../../kjv/psalms/139/6)).

**8. It**—the "wisdom"
of God ([Job 11:6](../../../kjv/job/11/6)). The
abruptness of the *Hebrew* is forcible: "The heights of
heaven! What canst thou do" (as to attaining to them with thy
gaze, [Psalms 139:8](../../../kjv/psalms/139/8))?
**know**—namely, of His
perfections.

**10. cut off**—Rather, as in , "pass over," as a storm; namely, rush upon in
anger.
**shut up**—in prison, with
a view to trial.
**gather together**—the
parties for judgment: hold a judicial assembly; to pass sentence on
the prisoners.

**11.** ().
**consider**—so as to
punish it. Rather, from the connection, , "He seeth wickedness also, which man does not
*perceive*"; literally, "But no (other, save He)
perceiveth it" [UMBREIT].
God's "wisdom" (), detects sin where Job's human eye cannot reach (), so as to see any.

**12. vain**—hollow.
**would be**—"wants to
consider himself wise"; opposed to God's "wisdom" (see
on [Job 11:1](../../../kjv/job/11/1)); refuses to see
sin, where God sees it ([Romans 1:22](../../../kjv/romans/1/22)).
**wild ass's colt**—a
proverb for untamed wildness ([Job 39:5](../../../kjv/job/39/5);
[Job 39:8](../../../kjv/job/39/8); [Jeremiah 2:24](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/24);
[Genesis 16:12](../../../kjv/genesis/16/12); *Hebrew,* "a
wild-ass man"). Man wishes to appear wisely obedient to his
Lord, whereas he is, from his birth, unsubdued in spirit.

**13.** The apodosis to the "If"
is at [Job 11:15](../../../kjv/job/11/15). The
preparation of the heart is to be obtained ([Job 11:15](../../../kjv/job/11/15)) by stretching out the hands in prayer for it ([Psalms 10:17](../../../kjv/psalms/10/17);
[1 Chronicles 29:18](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/29/18)).

**14.** Rather, "if thou wilt
put far away the iniquity in thine hand" (as Zaccheus did, ). The apodosis or conclusion is at , "*then* shalt thou," &c.

**15.** Zophar refers to Job's own
words ([Job 10:15](../../../kjv/job/10/15)), "yet
will I not lift up my head," even though righteous. Zophar
declares, if Job will follow his advice, he may "lift up his
face."
**spot**— ([Job 10:15](../../../kjv/job/10/15)).
**steadfast**—literally,
"run fast together," like metals which become firm and hard
by fusion. The sinner on the contrary is wavering.

**16.** Just as when the stream runs
dry ([Job 6:17](../../../kjv/job/6/17)), the danger
threatened by its wild waves is forgotten ([Job 6:17](../../../kjv/job/6/17)) [UMBREIT].

**17. age**—days of life.
**the noon-day**—namely, of
thy former prosperity; which, in the poet's image, had gone on
increasing, until it reached its height, as the sun rises higher and
higher until it reaches the meridian ().
**shine forth**—rather,
"though now in darkness, thou shall be as the morning"; or,
"thy darkness (if any dark shade should arise on thee, it) shall
be as the morning" (only the dullness of morning twilight, not
nocturnal darkness) [UMBREIT].

**18.** The experience of thy life
will teach thee there is hope for man in every trial.
**dig**—namely, wells; the
chief necessity in the East. Better, "though now *ashamed*
([Romans 5:5](../../../kjv/romans/5/5), opposed to the previous
'hope'), thou shalt then rest safely" [GESENIUS];

**19.** ([Psalms 4:8](../../../kjv/psalms/4/8);
[Proverbs 3:24](../../../kjv/proverbs/3/24); [Isaiah 14:30](../../../kjv/isaiah/14/30));
oriental images of prosperity.
**make suit**—literally,
"stroke thy face," "caress thee" ([Isaiah 14:30](../../../kjv/isaiah/14/30)).

**20.** A warning to Job, if he
would not turn to God.
**The wicked**—that is,
obdurate sinners.
**eyes . . . fail**—that
is, in vain look for relief (). Zophar implies Job's only hope of relief is in a change
of heart.
**they shall not
escape**—literally, "every refuge shall vanish from them."
**giving up of the ghost**—Their
hope shall leave them as the breath does the body ().

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