
Text -- Job 16:4 (NET)




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collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Rather, "marshal together (an army of) words against you."

JFB: Job 16:4 - -- In mockery; it means nodding, rather than shaking; nodding is not with us, as in the East, a gesture of scorn (Isa 37:22; Jer 18:16; Mat 27:39).
Clarke: Job 16:4 - -- I also could speak - It is probably better to render some of these permissives or potential verbs literally in the future tense, as in the Hebrew: I...
I also could speak - It is probably better to render some of these permissives or potential verbs literally in the future tense, as in the Hebrew: I also Will speak. Mr. Good has adopted this mode

Clarke: Job 16:4 - -- If your soul were in my soul’ s stead - If you were in my place, I also could quote many wise sayings that might tend to show that you were hyp...
If your soul were in my soul’ s stead - If you were in my place, I also could quote many wise sayings that might tend to show that you were hypocrites and wicked men; but would this be fair? Even when I might not choose to go farther in assertion, I might shake my head by way of insinuation that there was much more behind, of which I did not choose to speak; but would this be right? That such sayings are in memory, is no proof that they were either made for me, or apply to my case.
TSK -> Job 16:4
TSK: Job 16:4 - -- if your soul : Job 6:2-5, Job 6:14; Mat 7:12; Rom 12:15; 1Co 12:26
up words : Job 11:2, Job 35:16; Pro 10:19; Ecc 10:14
shake mine : 2Ki 19:21; Psa 22...

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Job 16:4
Barnes: Job 16:4 - -- I also could speak as ye do - In the same reproachful manner, and stringing together old proverbs and maxims as you have. If your soul wer...
I also could speak as ye do - In the same reproachful manner, and stringing together old proverbs and maxims as you have.
If your soul were in my soul’ s stead - If you were in my place. The idea is, that there is no difficulty in finding arguments to overwhelm the afflicted - a truth which most persons who have been unfortunate, have had opportunity to experience.
I could heap up words against you - Or, rather, "I could string together words against you."The idea is not that of heaping up, or accumulating; it is that of tying together, or uniting; and refers here to stringing together old maxims, saws, and proverbs, in the form of a set argument or discourse. The idea of Job is, that their discourses were nothing but ancient proverbs, thrown together, or strung along without regard to order, pertinency, or force. The Hebrew word used here (
And shake mine head at you - An action common to all countries and ages, expressive of contempt, or of threatening; compare Jer 18:16; Lam 2:15; Zep 2:15; Mat 27:39. So Lucretius ii. 1163:
Jamque caput quassans grandis suspirat ararat
Crebrius incassum magnum cecidisse laborem.
In like manner Virgil, Aeneid xii. 292:
Tum quassanos caput, haec effudit pectore dicta .
So, also, Homer, Odyssey
The meaning of Job here is, that be could as easily have expressed contempt, reproach, and scorn, as they did. It required no uncommon talent to do it, and he felt that he would have been fully sufficient for the task.
Poole -> Job 16:4
Poole: Job 16:4 - -- If your soul , i.e. your person, as Gen 12:5 .
I could heap up words against you i.e. I could multiply accusations and reproaches against you, as...
Haydock -> Job 16:4
Haydock: Job 16:4 - -- My soul. If you had experienced my state of misery, (Haydock) I surely would not have behaved thus to you. (Calmet) Facile, cum valemus, recta cons...
My soul. If you had experienced my state of misery, (Haydock) I surely would not have behaved thus to you. (Calmet) Facile, cum valemus, recta consilia ægrotis damus:
Tu si hic sis, aliter sentias. (Terent. Andria.)
Gill -> Job 16:4
Gill: Job 16:4 - -- I also could speak as ye do,.... As big words, with as high a tone, with as stiff a neck, and as haughtily and loftily; or "ought I to speak as you d...
I also could speak as ye do,.... As big words, with as high a tone, with as stiff a neck, and as haughtily and loftily; or "ought I to speak as you do" m? that I ought not, nor would you think I ought, if you were in my case; or, being so, "would I speak as you do" n? no, I would not, my conscience would not suffer me:
if your soul were in my soul's stead; in the same afflicted state and condition, in the same distressed case and circumstances; not that he wished it, as some render the words, for a good man will not wish hurt to another; only he supposes this, as it was a case supposable, and not impossible to be a fact, some time or another, in this state of uncertainty and change; however it is right to put ourselves in the case of others in our own imagination, that so it may be considered in the proper point of view, that we may better judge how we should choose to be treated ourselves in such circumstances, and so teach us to do that to others as we would have done to ourselves:
I could heap up words against you; talk as fast as you to me, and run you down with a great torrent of words; Job had a great fluency, he talked a great deal in his afflicted, state, too much as his friends thought, who represent him as dealing in a multitude of words, and as a very talkative man, Job 8:2; and what could he have done, had he his health, and in prosperous circumstances as formerly? he could have brought many charges and accusations against them, as they had against him; or "would I heap up words against you?" or "ought I?" &c. o; no, it would not be my duty, nor would I do it; humanity and good sense would never have allowed me to do it; but, on the contrary, I "would have joined myself with you", in a social, free, and familiar manner, in words p, in a friendly meeting with you, so the words may be read and paraphrased; I would have come and paid you a visit, and sat down by you, and entered into a kind and compassionate conversation with you about your case and condition, and done all I could to comfort you; I would have framed and composed (as the word used signifies) a set discourse on purpose; I would have sought out all the acceptable words, and put them together in the best manner I could for you q; had I the tongue of the learned, I would have made use of it, to have spoken a word in season to you:
and shake mine head at you; by way of scorn and derision, that is, he could have done it as well as they; shaking the head is used as a sign of contempt, Psa 22:8; or "would I", or "ought I to shake my head at you" r if in my case? no, I would not; as I ought not, I would have scorned to have done it; or the sense may be, "I would have shook my head at you", in a way of pity, bemoaning lamenting, and, condoling your case s; see Job 42:11.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Job 16:1-22
TSK Synopsis: Job 16:1-22 - --1 Job reproves his friends for unmercifulness.17 He maintains his innocency.
MHCC -> Job 16:1-5
MHCC: Job 16:1-5 - --Eliphaz had represented Job's discourses as unprofitable, and nothing to the purpose; Job here gives his the same character. Those who pass censures, ...
Matthew Henry -> Job 16:1-5
Matthew Henry: Job 16:1-5 - -- Both Job and his friends took the same way that disputants commonly take, which is to undervalue one another's sense, and wisdom, and management. Th...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Job 16:1-5
Keil-Delitzsch: Job 16:1-5 - --
1 Then began Job, and said:
2 I have now heard such things in abundance,
Troublesome comforters are ye all!
3 Are windy words now at an end,
Or ...
Constable: Job 15:1--21:34 - --C. The Second Cycle of Speeches between Job and His Three Friends chs. 15-21
In the second cycle of spee...

Constable: Job 16:1--17:16 - --2. Job's second reply to Eliphaz chs. 16-17
This response reflects Job's increasing disinterest ...
