Charles Ellicott Commentary Job 11
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Job 11
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Job 11
"Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said," — Job 11:1 (ASV)
Zophar, the third of Job’s friends, has a clearly defined character, distinct from that of the others; he is the ordinary and commonplace moral man, who expresses the thoughts and instincts of the many. Eliphaz was the poet and spiritual man, who sees visions and dreams; Bildad was the man who rested on authority and appealed to tradition; Zophar is the man of worldly wisdom and common sense. In some respects he is the most offensive of the three.
He is astonished that Job has not been silenced by the replies of the other two, and thinks he can do no less than help to silence him. Thus he at once begins with a multitude of words, and full of talk, and lies, and mockery. Zophar stands on a lower level, and drags Job down to it. He refracts his protestations of innocence against himself, and charges him with iniquity in making them. His longing also to come into judgment with God (Job 9:32) he turns back upon himself, being confident that it could not fail to convict him were he to do so.
"For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes." — Job 11:4 (ASV)
Clean in thine eyes is variously referred to God, to mortal men (Job 11:3), and to Job himself (Job 32:1). The first interpretation seems most preferable, since in any case Job had hypothetically spoken of himself as righteous before God (Job 10:15). (Compare to Job 9:30 and so on.)
Zophar, therefore, who professes superior wisdom, desires that God would show Job how far short he falls of it: that He would show him the hidden things, the secrets of wisdom. For sound wisdom is manifold: it has many aspects and lies, as it were, fold over fold in unexpected complexities, defying the shallow and unscrutinizing gaze. And if He were to do this, Job would find out to his dismay that God still credited him part of the penalty due to him.
"And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth." — Job 11:6 (ASV)
They are double to that which is!—This translation conveys no sense, and is not a translation; see the last Note.
"Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?" — Job 11:7 (ASV)
Can you by searching find out God? Literally, can you attain to the searching out of God?
"It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?" — Job 11:8 (ASV)
It is as high as heaven. —Literally, The heights of heaven; what can you do? it is deeper than the grave; what can you know?
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