Albert Barnes Commentary Job 29:17

Albert Barnes Commentary

Job 29:17

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Job 29:17

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth." — Job 29:17 (ASV)

And I brake the jaws of the wicked - Margin, “jaw-teeth, or, grinders.” The Hebrew word מתלעה methalle‛ah, the same, with the letters transposed, as מתלעות, is from לתע, to “bite”—and means “the biters,” the grinders, the teeth. It is not used to denote the jaw. The image here is taken from wild beasts, with whom Job compares the wicked, and says that he rescued the helpless from their grasp, as he would a lamb from a lion or wolf.

And plucked - Margin, “cast.” The margin is a literal translation, but the idea is, that he violently seized the spoil or prey which the wicked had taken, and by force tore it from him.