---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Job 17"
description: "CHAPTER 17   :-. JOB"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/job/17"
---

CHAPTER 17

. JOB'S ANSWER
CONTINUED.

**1. breath . . . corrupt**—result
of elephantiasis. But UMBREIT,
"my strength (spirit) is spent."
**extinct**—Life is
compared to an expiring light. "The light of my day is
extinguished."
**graves**—plural, to
heighten the force.

**2.** UMBREIT,
more emphatically, "had I only not to endure *mockery,* in
the midst of their *contentions* I (mine eye) would remain
quiet."
**eye continue**—*Hebrew,*
"tarry all night"; a figure taken from sleep at night, to
express undisturbed *rest;* opposed to (), when the eye of Job is represented as pouring out tears
to God *without rest.*

**3. Lay down now**—namely, a
pledge or security; that is, be my surety; do Thou attest my
innocence, since my friends only mock me (). Both litigating parties had to lay down a sum as security
before the trial.
**put me in a surety**—Provide
a surety for me (in the trial) with Thee. A presage of the "surety"
([Hebrews 7:22](../../../kjv/hebrews/7/22)), or "one
Mediator between God and man" (see on [Hebrews 7:22](../../../kjv/hebrews/7/22)).
**strike hands**—"who
else (save God Himself) could strike hands with me?" that is, be
my security ([Psalms 119:122](../../../kjv/psalms/119/122)).
The *Hebrew* strikes the hand of him for whom he goes security
([Proverbs 6:1](../../../kjv/proverbs/6/1)).

**4. their heart**—The *intellect*
of his friends.
**shalt . . . exalt**—Rather
imperative, "exalt them not"; allow them not to conquer
[UMBREIT], ([Isaiah 6:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/9);
[Isaiah 6:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/10)).

**5.** The *Hebrew* for
"flattery" is "smoothness"; then it came to mean
a *prey* divided by *lot,* because a smooth stone was used
in casting the lots ([Deuteronomy 18:8](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/18/8)),
"a portion" ([Genesis 14:24](../../../kjv/genesis/14/24)).
Therefore translate, "He that delivers up his friend as a prey
(which the conduct of my friends implies that they would do), even
the eyes," c. [NOYES]
([Job 11:20](../../../kjv/job/11/20)). Job says this as
to the sinner's *children,* retorting upon their reproach as to
the cutting off of his ([Job 5:4](../../../kjv/job/5/4)
[Job 15:30](../../../kjv/job/15/30)). This accords with the
Old Testament dispensation of legal retribution ([Job 15:30](../../../kjv/job/15/30)).

**6. He**—God. The poet
reverentially suppresses the name of God when speaking of calamities
inflicted.
**by-word**— ([Deuteronomy 28:37](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/37);
[Psalms 69:11](../../../kjv/psalms/69/11)). My awful punishment
makes my name execrated everywhere, as if I must have been
superlatively bad to have earned it.
**aforetime . . . tabret**—as
David was honored ([1 Samuel 18:6](../../../kjv/1-samuel/18/6)).
Rather from a different *Hebrew* root, "I am treated to my
face as an object of disgust," literally, "an object to be
spit upon in the face" ([1 Samuel 18:6](../../../kjv/1-samuel/18/6)). So *Raca* means ([1 Samuel 18:6](../../../kjv/1-samuel/18/6)) [UMBREIT].

**7.** ([Psalms 6:7](../../../kjv/psalms/6/7);
[Psalms 31:9](../../../kjv/psalms/31/9); [Deuteronomy 34:7](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/34/7)).
**members**—literally,
"figures"; all the individual members being peculiar *forms*
of the body; opposed to "shadow," which looks like a figure
without solidity.

**8. astonied**—at my unmerited
sufferings.
**against the hypocrite**—The
upright shall feel their sense of justice wounded ("will be
indignant") because of the prosperity of the wicked. By
"hypocrite" or "ungodly," he perhaps glances at
his false friends.

**9.** The strength of religious
principle is heightened by misfortune. The pious shall take fresh
courage to persevere from the example of suffering Job. The image is
from a warrior acquiring new courage in action ([Isaiah 40:30](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/30);
[Isaiah 40:31](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/31); [Philippians 1:14](../../../kjv/philippians/1/14)).

**10. return**—If you have
anything to advance really wise, though I doubt it, recommence your
speech. For as yet I cannot find one wise man among you all.

**11.** Only do not vainly speak of
the restoration of health to me; for "my days are past."
**broken off**—as the
threads of the web cut off from the loom ().
**thoughts**—literally,
"possessions," that is, all the feelings and fair hopes
which my heart once nourished. These belong to the *heart,* as
"purposes" to the *understanding;* the two together
here describe the entire inner man.

**12. They**—namely, "my
friends."
**change the night into
day**—that is, would try to persuade me of the change of my
misery into joy, which is impossible [UMBREIT]
([Job 11:17](../../../kjv/job/11/17)); (but) the light
of prosperity (could it be enjoyed) would be short because of the
darkness of adversity. Or better for "short," the *Hebrew*
"near"; "and the light of new prosperity should be
near in the face of (before) the darkness of death"; that is,
they would persuade me that light is near, even though darkness
approaches.

**13.** Rather, "if I wait for
this grave (Sheol, or the unseen world) as my house, and make my bed
in the darkness ([Job 17:14](../../../kjv/job/17/14)),
and say to corruption," rather, "to the pit" or
"grave," &c. ([Job 17:14](../../../kjv/job/17/14)). Where then is my hope? [UMBREIT].
The apodosis is at [Job 17:15](../../../kjv/job/17/15).

**14. Thou art my father,**
&c.—expressing most intimate connection (). His diseased state made him closely akin to the grave and
worm.

**15.** Who shall see it fulfilled?
namely, the "hope" () which they held out to him of restoration.

**16. They**—namely, my hopes
shall be buried with me.
**bars**— (). Rather, the *wastes* or *solitudes* of the pit
(sheol, the unseen world).
**rest together**—the rest
of me and my hope is in, &c. Both expire together. The word
"rest" implies that man's ceaseless hopes only rob him of
rest.

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