Verse 1
answered = responded. See note on Job 4:1 .
E.W. Bullinger
answered = responded. See note on Job 4:1 .
how. ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . This is the one great question of the book.
man = mortal man. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
will = desire to.
who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare 2 Chronicles 36:13 .Isaiah 48:4 .
they know. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia. App-6 .
waves of the sea. The celebrated Mugah Codex (the earliest quoted in the Massorah itself), App-30 , reads "cloud": i.e. thick cloud.
Arcturus. Hebrew. 'ash. A name still connected with "the Great Bear" (the more ancient name being "the greater sheepfold": Arab, al naish, the assembled (as in a fold). See Job 38:31 , Job 38:32 , and App-12 .
Orion. Hebrew. kesil. Compare Job 38:31 .Amos 5:8 . A strong one, or the coming prince. See App-12 .
Pleiades. Hebrew. kimah = the congregation of the judge. See Job 38:31 , Job 38:32 .Amos 5:8 , and App-12 . A constellation in the neck of Taurus.
chambers of the south: i.e. the [hidden] recesses, or the invisible spaces; on the latitude of Job's residence.
Lo. Figure of speech. Asterismos . App-6 .
Behold. Figure of speech. Asterismos . App-6 .
GOD . Hebrew. Eloah . App-4 .
withdraw = avert.
helpers = confederates.
not answer = not [dare to] answer.
breath. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
my soul = myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .
life. Hebrew. chayai.
the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha, App-44 .
covereth: i.e. so that they cannot discern between right and wrong.
post = runner, or courier. Compare Esther 3:13 , Esther 3:15 .
swift ships = ships of ebeh. Hence vessels of bulrush (eb) ; vessels of desire ('abeh), i.e. desiring to reach their haven; vessels of enmity ('eybah), i.e. pirate vessels; or vessels of the Nile ('abai, Abyssinian for Nile). Others, vessels of Joppa. Perhaps the last is best.
complaint = complaining.
why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .
never so clean = clean with soap.
abhor. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia.
Neither is there. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "Oh that there were".
any Daysman = any umpire, arbiter, or mediator. In Job's case He was found in Elihu; in ours, in Christ.
His fear = the fear that He causes.
terrify = startle, or scare. Compare Job 13:21 ; Job 33:7 .
Then would I = Fain would I.