Charles Ellicott Commentary Job 4:17

"Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?" — Job 4:17 (ASV)

Shall mortal man be more just than God?—This is the burden, or refrain, upon which the friends of Job are continually harping. It is perfectly orthodox, but at the same time perfectly inadequate to deal with the necessities of Job’s case. He is willing to admit that it is impossible for any man to be just with God; but then arises Job’s dilemma: Where is God’s justice if He punishes the innocent as the guilty?

The word rendered “mortal” man is really weak, frail man, involving, perhaps, the idea of mortality, but not immediately suggesting it. As far as mortality implies sin, the notion of being just is absurd; and even a strong man—such is the antithesis—cannot be more pure than He who made him, who, it is assumed, must be both strong and righteous.