---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Job 34"
description: "CHAPTER 34   :-. 1. answered—proceeded. 2. This chapter is addressed
also to the \"friends\" as the thirty-third chapter to Job
alone. 3. palate—(See on  :-"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/job/34"
---

CHAPTER 34

.

**1. answered**—proceeded.

**2.** This chapter is addressed
also to the "friends" as the thirty-third chapter to Job
alone.

**3. palate**—(See on ; [Job 34:3](../../../kjv/job/34/3)).

**4. judgment**—Let us select
among the conflicting sentiments advanced, what will stand the test
of examination.

**5. judgment**—my right. Job's
own words ([Job 13:18](../../../kjv/job/13/18); [Job 27:2](../../../kjv/job/27/2)).

**6.** Were I to renounce my right
(that is, confess myself guilty), I should die. Job virtually had
said so ([Job 27:4](../../../kjv/job/27/4); [Job 27:5](../../../kjv/job/27/5);
[Job 6:28](../../../kjv/job/6/28)). MAURER,
not so well, "Notwithstanding my right (innocence) I am treated
as a liar," by God, by His afflicting me.
**my wound**—literally,
"mine arrow," namely, by which I am pierced. So "*my*
stroke" ("hand," [Job 6:28](../../../kjv/job/6/28), *Margin*). My sickness ([Job 6:4](../../../kjv/job/6/4);
[Job 16:13](../../../kjv/job/16/13)).
**without transgression**—without
fault of mine to deserve it ([Job 16:13](../../../kjv/job/16/13)).

**7.** (). Image from the camel.
**scorning**—against God
([Job 15:4](../../../kjv/job/15/4)).

**8.** Job virtually goes in company
(makes common cause) with the wicked, by taking up their sentiments
([Job 9:22](../../../kjv/job/9/22); [Job 9:23](../../../kjv/job/9/23);
[Job 9:30](../../../kjv/job/9/30); [Job 21:7-15](../../../kjv/job/21/7-15)),
or at least by saying, that those who act on such sentiments are
unpunished ([Malachi 3:14](../../../kjv/malachi/3/14)). To deny
God's righteous government because we do not see the reasons of His
acts, is virtually to take part with the ungodly.

**9. with God**—in intimacy (, *Margin*).

**10.** The true answer to Job,
which God follows up (). Man is to *believe* God's ways are right, because
they are His, not because we fully *see* they are so ([Romans 9:14](../../../kjv/romans/9/14);
[Deuteronomy 32:4](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/4); [Genesis 18:25](../../../kjv/genesis/18/25)).

**11.** Partly here; fully,
hereafter ([Jeremiah 32:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/32/19); [Romans 2:6](../../../kjv/romans/2/6);
[1 Peter 1:17](../../../kjv/1-peter/1/17); [Revelation 22:12](../../../kjv/revelation/22/12)).

**12.** (). In opposition to Job, , will not—cannot.

**13.** If the world were not God's
property, as having been made by Him, but committed to His charge by
some superior, it might be possible for Him to act unjustly, as He
would not thereby be injuring Himself; but as it is, for God to act
unjustly would undermine the whole order of the world, and so would
injure God's own property ().
**disposed**—hath founded
([Isaiah 44:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/7)), established the
circle of the globe.

**14, 15.** "If He were to set
His heart on man," either to injure him, or to take strict
account of his sins. The connection supports rather [UMBREIT],
"If He had regard to himself (only), and were to gather unto
Himself ([Psalms 104:29](../../../kjv/psalms/104/29)) man's
spirit, c. (which he sends forth, [Psalms 104:30](../../../kjv/psalms/104/30)
[Ecclesiastes 12:7](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/12/7)), all flesh must perish
together," &c. ([Genesis 3:19](../../../kjv/genesis/3/19)).
God's loving preservation of His creatures proves He cannot be
selfish, and therefore cannot be unjust.

**16.** In , Elihu had spoken *to all* in general, now he calls
Job's special attention.

**17.** "Can even He who (in
thy view) hateth right (justice) govern?" The government of the
world would be impossible if injustice were sanctioned. God must be
just, because He governs ().
**govern**—literally,
"bind," namely, by authority (so "reign," , *Margin*). UMBREIT
translates for "govern, *repress wrath,* namely, against
Job for his accusations.
**most just**—rather, "Him
who is at once mighty and just" (in His government of the
world).

**18.** Literally, (Is it fit) *to
be said* to a king? It would be a gross outrage to reproach thus
an earthly monarch, much more the King of kings (). But MAURER
with the *Septuagint* and *Vulgate* reads, (It is not fit
to accuse of injustice Him) *who says* to a king, Thou art
wicked; to princes, Ye are ungodly; that is, who punishes impartially
the great, as the small. This accords with .

**19.** ([Acts 10:34](../../../kjv/acts/10/34);
[2 Chronicles 19:7](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/19/7); [Proverbs 22:2](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/2);
[Job 31:15](../../../kjv/job/31/15)).

**20. they**—"the rich"
and "princes" who offend God.
**the people**—namely, of
the guilty princes: guilty also themselves.
**at midnight**—image from
a night attack of an enemy on a camp, which becomes an easy prey
([Exodus 12:29](../../../kjv/exodus/12/29); [Exodus 12:30](../../../kjv/exodus/12/30)).
**without hand**—without
*visible* agency, by the mere word of God (so [Job 20:26](../../../kjv/job/20/26);
[Zechariah 4:6](../../../kjv/zechariah/4/6); [Daniel 2:34](../../../kjv/daniel/2/34)).

**21.** God's omniscience and
omnipotence enable Him to execute immediate justice. He needs not to
be long on the "watch," as Job thought ([Job 7:12](../../../kjv/job/7/12);
[2 Chronicles 16:9](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/16/9); [Jeremiah 32:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/32/19)).

**22. shadow of death**—thick
darkness ([Amos 9:2](../../../kjv/amos/9/2); [Amos 9:3](../../../kjv/amos/9/3);
[Psalms 139:12](../../../kjv/psalms/139/12)).

**23.** ([1 Corinthians 10:13](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/10/13);
[Lamentations 3:32](../../../kjv/lamentations/3/32); [Isaiah 27:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/27/8)).
Better, as UMBREIT, "He
does not (needs not to) *regard* (as in [Job 34:14](../../../kjv/job/34/14);
[Isaiah 41:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/41/20)) man *long* (so
*Hebrew,* [Genesis 46:29](../../../kjv/genesis/46/29)) in
order that he may go (be brought by God) into judgment."
Literally, "*lest* his (attention) upon men" ([Job 11:10](../../../kjv/job/11/10);
[Job 11:11](../../../kjv/job/11/11)). So [Job 11:11](../../../kjv/job/11/11), "without number" ought to be translated,
"without [needing any] searching out," such as has to be
made in human judgments.

**24. break in pieces**— ([Psalms 2:9](../../../kjv/psalms/2/9);
[Job 12:18](../../../kjv/job/12/18); [Daniel 2:21](../../../kjv/daniel/2/21)).

**25. Therefore**—because He knows
all things ([Job 34:21](../../../kjv/job/34/21)). He
knows their works, without a formal investigation ([Job 34:21](../../../kjv/job/34/21)).
**in the night**—suddenly,
unexpectedly ([Job 34:20](../../../kjv/job/34/20)).
Fitly *in the night,* as it was in it that the godless hid
themselves ([Job 34:22](../../../kjv/job/34/22)).
UMBREIT, *less*
simply, for "overturneth," translates, "walketh";
that is, God is ever on the alert, discovering all wickedness.

**26. He striketh them**—chasteneth.
**as**—that is, because
they are wicked.
**sight of others**—Sinners
hid themselves in darkness; therefore they are punished before all,
in open day. Image from the place of public execution ([Job 40:12](../../../kjv/job/40/12);
[Exodus 14:30](../../../kjv/exodus/14/30); [2 Samuel 12:12](../../../kjv/2-samuel/12/12)).

**27, 28.** The grounds of their
punishment in [Job 34:26](../../../kjv/job/34/26). [Job 34:26](../../../kjv/job/34/26) states in what respect they "considered not God's
ways," namely, by *oppression,* whereby "they caused
the cry," &c.

**29.** ([Proverbs 16:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/7);
[Isaiah 26:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/3)).
**make trouble**—rather,
"condemn" ([Romans 8:33](../../../kjv/romans/8/33);
[Romans 8:34](../../../kjv/romans/8/34)). MAURER,
from the reference being only to *the godless,* in the next
clause, and [Job 34:20](../../../kjv/job/34/20)
translates, "When God keeps quiet" (leaves men to *perish*)
[Psalms 83:1](../../../kjv/psalms/83/1); [UMBREIT]
from the *Arabic* (*strikes to the earth*), "who shall
*condemn* Him as unjust?" [Psalms 83:1](../../../kjv/psalms/83/1).
**hideth . . . face**—
([Job 23:8](../../../kjv/job/23/8); [Job 23:9](../../../kjv/job/23/9);
[Psalms 13:1](../../../kjv/psalms/13/1)).
**it be done**—Whether it
be against a guilty nation ([Psalms 13:1](../../../kjv/psalms/13/1)) or an individual, that God acts so.

**30. Ensnared**—into sin ([1 Kings 12:28](../../../kjv/1-kings/12/28);
[1 Kings 12:30](../../../kjv/1-kings/12/30)). Or rather,
"enthralled by further oppression," [1 Kings 12:30](../../../kjv/1-kings/12/30).

**31.** Job accordingly says so
([Job 40:3-5](../../../kjv/job/40/3-5); [Micah 7:9](../../../kjv/micah/7/9);
[Leviticus 26:41](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/41)). It was to lead him to
this that Elihu was sent. Though no hypocrite, Job, like all, had
sin; therefore through affliction he was to be brought to humble
himself under God. All sorrow is a proof of the common heritage of
sin, in which the godly shares; and therefore he ought to regard it
as a merciful correction. UMBREIT
and MAURER lose this by
translating, as the *Hebrew* will bear, "Has any a right to
say to God, I have borne chastisement and yet have not sinned?"
(so [Job 34:6](../../../kjv/job/34/6)).
**borne**—namely, the
penalty of sin, as in [Leviticus 5:1](../../../kjv/leviticus/5/1);
[Leviticus 5:17](../../../kjv/leviticus/5/17).
**offend**—literally, "to
deal destructively or corruptly" ([Leviticus 5:17](../../../kjv/leviticus/5/17)).

**32.** ([Job 10:2](../../../kjv/job/10/2);
[Psalms 32:8](../../../kjv/psalms/32/8); [Psalms 19:12](../../../kjv/psalms/19/12);
[Psalms 139:23](../../../kjv/psalms/139/23); [Psalms 139:24](../../../kjv/psalms/139/24)).
**no more**— ([Proverbs 28:13](../../../kjv/proverbs/28/13);
[Ephesians 4:22](../../../kjv/ephesians/4/22)).

**33.** Rather, "should God
recompense (sinners) according to thy mind? Then it is for thee to
reject and to choose, and not me" [UMBREIT];
or as MAURER, "*For
thou hast rejected* God's way of recompensing; state therefore thy
way, *for thou must choose, not I,*" that is, it is thy
part, not mine, to show a better way than God's.

**34, 35.** Rather, "men . . .
will say to me, and the wise man ([Job 34:2](../../../kjv/job/34/2);
[Job 34:10](../../../kjv/job/34/10)) who hearkens to me
(will say), 'Job hath spoken,'" &c.

**36.** *Margin,* not so well,
"My father," Elihu addressing God. This title does not
elsewhere occur in Job.
**tried**—by calamities.
**answers for wicked men**—(See
on [Job 34:3](../../../kjv/job/34/3)). Trials of the
godly are not removed until they produce the effect designed.

**37. clappeth . . . hands**—in
scorn ([Job 27:23](../../../kjv/job/27/23); [Ezekiel 21:17](../../../kjv/ezekiel/21/17)).
**multiplieth . . . words**—
([Job 11:2](../../../kjv/job/11/2); [Job 35:16](../../../kjv/job/35/16)).
To his original "sin" to correct which trials have been
sent, "he adds *rebellion,*" that is, words arraigning
God's justice.

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