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Text -- Job 32:20-22 (NET)

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Context
32:20 I will speak, so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer. 32:21 I will not show partiality to anyone, nor will I confer a title on any man. 32:22 for I do not know how to give honorary titles, if I did, my Creator would quickly do away with me.
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: SURNAME | REFRESH; REFRESHING | LIP | Job | JOB, BOOK OF | Heathen | Flattery | Elihu | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Job 32:22 - -- The more closely we eye the majesty of God as our maker, the more we dread his wrath and justice, the less danger shall we be in of a sinful fearing o...

The more closely we eye the majesty of God as our maker, the more we dread his wrath and justice, the less danger shall we be in of a sinful fearing or flattering of men.

JFB: Job 32:20 - -- Literally, "that there may be air to me" (1Sa 16:23).

Literally, "that there may be air to me" (1Sa 16:23).

JFB: Job 32:21 - -- "May I never accept," &c. Elihu alludes to Job's words (Job 13:8, Job 13:10), wherein he complains that the friends plead for God partially, "acceptin...

"May I never accept," &c. Elihu alludes to Job's words (Job 13:8, Job 13:10), wherein he complains that the friends plead for God partially, "accepting His person." Elihu says he will not do so, but will act impartially between God and Job. "And I will not give flattery," &c. (Pro 24:23).

JFB: Job 32:22 - -- As a punishment (Psa 102:24).

As a punishment (Psa 102:24).

Clarke: Job 32:20 - -- I will open my lips and answer - In the preceding verse Elihu compares himself to a skin-bottle, in which the wine was in a state of fermentation, a...

I will open my lips and answer - In the preceding verse Elihu compares himself to a skin-bottle, in which the wine was in a state of fermentation, and the bottle ready to burst for want of vent. He carries on the metaphor in this verse: the bottle must be opened to save it from bursting; I will Open my mouth.

Clarke: Job 32:21 - -- Let me not - accept any man’ s person - I will speak the truth without fear or favor

Let me not - accept any man’ s person - I will speak the truth without fear or favor

Clarke: Job 32:21 - -- Neither let me give flattering titles - I will not give epithets to any man that are not descriptive of his true state. I will not beguile him by te...

Neither let me give flattering titles - I will not give epithets to any man that are not descriptive of his true state. I will not beguile him by telling him he is what he is not. אכנה acanneh , from כנה canah , is generally supposed to signify to surname, to put a name to or upon a name, as the French word surnom implies. It means to give proud titles to persons who are worthless. It is well known that the Arabs make court to their superiors by carefully avoiding to address them by their proper names, instead of which they salute them with some title or epithet expressive of respect - Scott See below. Titles expressive of office, ecclesiastical, civil, or military, are always proper, and never forbidden, because they serve for distinction; but the Asiatic titles are in general bombastically and sinfully complimentary. The reader will find several specimens at the end of this chapter.

Clarke: Job 32:22 - -- My Maker would soon take me away - Were I to copy this conduct while under the influence which I now feel, God might justly consume me as in a momen...

My Maker would soon take me away - Were I to copy this conduct while under the influence which I now feel, God might justly consume me as in a moment. He is my Maker; he made me to know truth, to tell truth, and to live according to truth; for he is the God of truth: I shall, therefore through his help, speak the Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

We find from the above that vain titles of ceremony, expressive of the most eminent qualities, were given to worthless men, from time immemorial; and no wonder, for hypocrisy entered into man at the same time that sin entered into the world

Of the flattering titles used in the East, I shall give a few specimens from the (Arabic) Kooayid us Sultanet Shah Jehan, or, "The Rules observed during the Reign of the Mogul Emperor Shah Jehan.

Speaking of the emperor, he is entitled

"The Sun which illuminates the firmament in the universe of royalty and dominion; the Moon, which irradiates the sky of monarchy and felicity; the King who in pomp resembles Gem-sheed. His hand is boundless as the ocean in bestowing bounties, being the key of the gates of kindness and liberality!"Again: -

"The Sun of the heaven of prosperity and empire, the Shadow of God, the Asylum of the Universe, the splendor of whose instructive front causes light and gladness to the world and to mankind.

"The just and vigilant Monarch; the Asylum of Truth, the Refuge of the World; the Diffuser of Light, the Solver of all human difficulties.

"The Lord of the Age, who is endowed with such perfect excellence, both in internal and external qualifications, that on all occasions he holds fast the thread of good counsel, prudence, and purity of morals.

"The faculty of apprehension is possessed by him in such a degree, that before the matter ha s scarcely obtained utterance he comprehends the purport, and gives answers with the tongue of inspiration.

Addresses to Persons of Distinctio

"Let them convey to the presence of glorious empire, the Sultan, in pomp like Solomon, the center of the universe, powerful as heaven!

"Let them who kiss the carpet of the palace, in pomp like heaven, convey this letter to his majesty, whose sight is as creative as alchymy, king of kings, the asylum of the world!

"To the exalted presence, which gratifies the desires of all people, the most beneficent of the age, the vizier, protector of the universe, may the Almighty perpetuate his fortune!

"May this letter be dignified in the presence of Naweeb Saheb, diffuser of benefits, of exalted pomp, the respectable, the discriminator of ranks! May his power increase!

"Let them convey this to the perusal of his excellency, conversant in realities and mysteries, the support of excellencies, the cream of his contemporaries, and the cherisher of the poor!

These are a specimen of the flattering titles given in the East to persons in eminent stations. Their kings they clothe in all the attributes of the Deity, when both in their public and private character they are corrupt and unholy, rascals in grain, and the ruthless oppressors of suffering humanity.

TSK: Job 32:20 - -- I will speak : Job 13:13, Job 13:19, Job 20:2, Job 21:3 be refreshed : Heb. breathe I will open : Pro 8:6, Pro 8:7

I will speak : Job 13:13, Job 13:19, Job 20:2, Job 21:3

be refreshed : Heb. breathe

I will open : Pro 8:6, Pro 8:7

TSK: Job 32:21 - -- accept : Job 13:8, Job 34:19; Lev 19:15; Deu 1:17, Deu 16:19; Pro 24:23; Mat 22:16 flattering : 2Sa 14:17, 2Sa 14:20; Act 12:22, Act 12:23, Act 24:2, ...

TSK: Job 32:22 - -- I know not : That is, I cannot, Job 17:5; Psa 12:2, Psa 12:3; Pro 29:5; 1Th 2:5; Gal 1:10

I know not : That is, I cannot, Job 17:5; Psa 12:2, Psa 12:3; Pro 29:5; 1Th 2:5; Gal 1:10

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Job 32:20 - -- I will speak, that I may be refreshed - Margin, "breathe."The meaning is, that he would then have room to breathe again; he would feel relieved...

I will speak, that I may be refreshed - Margin, "breathe."The meaning is, that he would then have room to breathe again; he would feel relieved.

Barnes: Job 32:21 - -- Let me not, I pray you - This is not to be regarded as an address to them, or a prayer to God, but as an expression of his determination. It is...

Let me not, I pray you - This is not to be regarded as an address to them, or a prayer to God, but as an expression of his determination. It is similar to the phrase which we use when we say, "may I never do this;"implying the strongest possible purpose not to do it. Elihu means to say that on no account would he use partiality or flattery in what he said.

Accept any man’ s person - Treat any with partiality. That is, "I will not be influenced by rank, age, wealth, or personal friendship, in what I say. I will state the truth impartially, and will deliver my sentiments with entire freedom;"see the phrase explained in the notes at Job 13:8.

Neither let me give flattering titles unto man - The word used here ( כנה kânâh - not used in the Qal, but found only in the Piel), means to address in a friendly and soothing manner; to speak kindly to anyone, Isa 44:5; Isa 45:4; and then to flatter. That is, undoubtedly, its meaning here. Elihu says he did not know how to flatter anyone. He meant to state the exact truth; to treat each one impartially; and not to be influenced by the rank or wealth of those whom he addressed. He meant to deal in plain and simple truth.

Barnes: Job 32:22 - -- For I know not to give flattering titles - I do not know how to flatter. It is not in my character; it has not been my habit. "In so doing."The...

For I know not to give flattering titles - I do not know how to flatter. It is not in my character; it has not been my habit. "In so doing."These words are not in the Hebrew, and they greatly mar the sense, and give a different idea from that which was intended by the speaker.

My Maker would soon take me away - Or, rather, "My Maker will soon take me away."That is, "I know that I must soon be removed, and must stand before my Maker. I must give an account for all that I say. Knowing that I am to go to the realities of another state of being, I cannot flatter people. I must tell them the exact and simple truth."There could be no better preventive of flattery than this. The conviction that we are soon to appear before God, where all are on a level, and where every mask will be stripped off, and everything appear as it is, would prevent us from ascribing to others qualities which we know they do not possess, and from giving them titles which will only exalt them in their own estimation, and hide the truth from their minds. Titles which properly belong to men, and which pertain to office, religion does not forbid us to confer - for the welfare of the community is promoted by a proper respect for the names and offices of those who rule. But no good end is answered in ascribing to men titles as mere matters of distinction, which serve to keep before them the idea of their own talents or importance; or which lead them to forget that they like others are soon to be "taken away,"and called to give up their account in another world. The deep conviction that we are all soon to try the realities of a bed of death and of the grave, and that we are to go to a world where there is no delusion, and where the ascription of qualities to us here which do not belong to us will be of no avail, would prompt to a wish to state always the simple truth. Under that conviction, we should never so ascribe to another any quality of beauty, strength, or talent, any name or title, as to leave him for one moment under a deception about himself. If this rule were followed, what a change would it produce in the social, the political, the literary, and even the religious world!

Poole: Job 32:20 - -- That I may be refreshed that I may ease my mind of those thoughts which now oppress it. I will open my lips and answer I will not utter impertinent...

That I may be refreshed that I may ease my mind of those thoughts which now oppress it.

I will open my lips and answer I will not utter impertinent words, but solid answers, to Job’ s arguments.

Poole: Job 32:21 - -- Do not expect that I should out of fear or respect to any of you speak partially, but bear with my free and plain dealing with you all. As I shall n...

Do not expect that I should out of fear or respect to any of you speak partially, but bear with my free and plain dealing with you all. As I shall not censure and reproach Job as a hypocrite or profane person, which you have done; so neither shall I flatter him, but faithfully reprove him for his exorbitant speeches of God.

Poole: Job 32:22 - -- I have neither skill nor will to flatter Job or any man so as to debauch my conscience, or corrupt the truth, or speak falsely for his sake. If I sh...

I have neither skill nor will to flatter Job or any man so as to debauch my conscience, or corrupt the truth, or speak falsely for his sake. If I should be guilty of that sin, God would quickly and sorely punish me for it. Or without this supplement,

my Maker will quickly take me away to wit, out of this world. I dare not flatter any man, because I consider I must shortly die and go to judgment, to give an account of all my words and actions.

Haydock: Job 32:21 - -- Man. Hebrew, "give flattering titles unto man." Protestants, "I do not respect a mortal." Septuagint, (Haydock) "nothing shall make me conceal the...

Man. Hebrew, "give flattering titles unto man." Protestants, "I do not respect a mortal." Septuagint, (Haydock) "nothing shall make me conceal the truth: I will give things their proper names." Job seemed to him to have arrogated to himself the perfection of God, in maintaining his own innocence. (Calmet) ---

He promises to stand up in defence of the Almighty, (Menochius) as his advocate. (Calmet)

Haydock: Job 32:22 - -- Away. I shall therefore speak with the utmost caution, (Haydock) as one who must shortly appear before the divine tribunal. (Menochius) --- Hebrew...

Away. I shall therefore speak with the utmost caution, (Haydock) as one who must shortly appear before the divine tribunal. (Menochius) ---

Hebrew, "For I know not how to call things by their sirnames, (Calmet) or titles of vanity; (Haydock) If I do, may my Creator soon (Calmet) take me away." Septuagint, "I know not how to admire the face. If it be not so, the worms shall consume me." (Haydock)

Gill: Job 32:20 - -- I will speak, that I may be refreshed,.... That his mind might be made easy; the matter it was full of lay with much weight upon it, pressed him hard,...

I will speak, that I may be refreshed,.... That his mind might be made easy; the matter it was full of lay with much weight upon it, pressed him hard, and gave him pain; and therefore he determines to speak his mind, and disburden himself: so a minister of the word speaks sometimes to the refreshment of others, the Gospel being a word in season to weary souls, bread to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, even wine to them that are of an heavy heart; and especially it is refreshing when the love of God is shed abroad in the heart through it, and the presence of God is enjoyed under it; and sometimes he speaks to the refreshment of himself with others, Rom 15:32; and whether it be so, one or the other, yet a faithful minister eases his mind, discharges his conscience, and is clear from the blood of all, when he truly and fully declares the whole counsel of God, so far as he is acquainted with it:

I will open my lips and answer; speak freely and boldly what was upon his mind, and he had to say, and which he judged would be a sufficient answer to Job; the opening of his lips is a phrase used by him in allusion to the opening of a bottle, full of new wine, the metaphor before expressed by him.

Gill: Job 32:21 - -- Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person,.... Neither the person of Job, because of his poverty and affliction, indulging too much to pity and ...

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person,.... Neither the person of Job, because of his poverty and affliction, indulging too much to pity and commiseration, and affecting to get a good name from others for it; nor the persons of his three friends, on account of their wealth and grandeur; for neither the persons of the poor, nor of the rich, are to be regarded in judgment, or in the decision of any matter between them, but truth and justice are to be attended to; see Exo 23:3. Elihu was determined with himself not to respect the person of any, and he hopes that Job and his friends would bear with him, and excuse him on that account:

neither let me give flattering titles unto men; he does not mean titles of civil honour and respect, which belong to men, and are in common use among men, according to the different stations of life, men are in; for honour is to be given to whom it is due; and it is no piece of flattery to give men their proper and usual titles, as it was not in the Evangelist Luke, and in the Apostle Paul, Luk 1:3; but he means such titles that do not belong to men, and are unsuitable unto them, and only given them by way of flattery; as to call a man wise and prudent when he is the reverse; or a holy, just, and good man, when he is a very wicked one. Elihu was resolved not to act such a part, and he hopes the persons he had to deal with would not take it amiss that he spake his mind plainly and freely, and called a spade a spade; not must they or any other expect to be complimented by him with the characters of wise and prudent, just and good, if they did not appear to him to be so. According to Ben Gersom the sense is, that he would not hide a man's name under epithets, but call him by his proper name; he would not do as they had done by Job, who, under covert names, meant him; as when they described a wicked man, and an hypocrite, designed him, but did not say so express words; now Elihu suggests, that, should Job or they appear to him to have acted a wrong part, he should tell them plainly of it, and say, thou art the man.

Gill: Job 32:22 - -- For I know not to give flattering titles,.... He had not been brought up in such a manner, nor taught to use them; he had not been inured to them, nor...

For I know not to give flattering titles,.... He had not been brought up in such a manner, nor taught to use them; he had not been inured to them, nor did he know or approve of them; nor could he in conscience give them;

in so doing, my Maker would soon take me away; it being such a piece of wickedness, so abominable to him, and so highly resented by him, that I might justly expect he would, as he could, strike me dead at once; just as Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for lying, Act 5:5, or he knew that it would be but a short time at most, and he should be taken out of the world by death, when he must appear before his Maker, his Judge, to whom he must give an account of his words, as well as actions; the awe of this being continually on his mind would not admit him to flatter any man. Some render it, "will burn me" c, as in 2Sa 5:21; so Aben Ezra and Ben Gersom, that is, in hell fire; see Psa 12:2.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Job 32:20 The cohortative expresses Elihu’s resolve to speak.

NET Notes: Job 32:21 The verb means “to confer an honorary title; to give a mark of distinction,” but it is often translated with the verb “flatter.̶...

NET Notes: Job 32:22 Heb “quickly carry me away.”

Geneva Bible: Job 32:21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, ( m ) neither let me give flattering titles unto man. ( m ) I will neither have regard for riches, c...

Geneva Bible: Job 32:22 For I know not to give flattering ( n ) titles; [in so doing] my maker would soon take me away. ( n ) The Hebrew word signifies to change the name as...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Job 32:1-22 - --1 Elihu is angry with Job and his three friends.6 Because wisdom comes not from age, he excuses the boldness of his youth.11 He reproves them for not ...

MHCC: Job 32:15-22 - --If we are sure that the Spirit of God suggested what we are about to say, still we ought to refrain, till it comes to our turn to speak. God is the Go...

Matthew Henry: Job 32:15-22 - -- Three things here apologize for Elihu's interposing as he does in this controversy which had already been canvassed by such acute and learned disput...

Keil-Delitzsch: Job 32:18-22 - -- 18 For I am full of words, The spirit of my inner nature constraineth me. 19 Behold, my interior is like wine which is not opened, Like new bottl...

Constable: Job 32:1--37:24 - --F. Elihu's Speeches chs. 32-37 Many critical scholars believe that a later editor inserted chapters 32-3...

Constable: Job 32:6--34:1 - --2. Elihu's first speech 32:6-33:33 Before Elihu began presenting his views (ch. 33), he first ha...

Constable: Job 32:6-22 - --Elihu's reasons for speaking 32:6-22 Elihu began by voicing his respect for Job's three ...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Job (Book Introduction) JOB A REAL PERSON.--It has been supposed by some that the book of Job is an allegory, not a real narrative, on account of the artificial character of ...

JFB: Job (Outline) THE HOLINESS OF JOB, HIS WEALTH, &c. (Job 1:1-5) SATAN, APPEARING BEFORE GOD, FALSELY ACCUSES JOB. (Job 1:6-12) SATAN FURTHER TEMPTS JOB. (Job 2:1-8)...

TSK: Job (Book Introduction) A large aquatic animal, perhaps the extinct dinosaur, plesiosaurus, the exact meaning is unknown. Some think this to be a crocodile but from the desc...

TSK: Job 32 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Job 32:1, Elihu is angry with Job and his three friends; Job 32:6, Because wisdom comes not from age, he excuses the boldness of his yout...

Poole: Job 32 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 32 Elihu, Job’ s fourth friend, speaketh: he is angry with Job for justifying himself, and with his three friends for not satisfying, ...

MHCC: Job (Book Introduction) This book is so called from Job, whose prosperity, afflictions, and restoration, are here recorded. He lived soon after Abraham, or perhaps before tha...

MHCC: Job 32 (Chapter Introduction) (Job 32:1-5) Elihu is displeased at the dispute between Job and his friends. (Job 32:6-14) He reproves them. (Job 32:15-22) He speaks without partia...

Matthew Henry: Job (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of Job This book of Job stands by itself, is not connected with any other, and is therefore to...

Matthew Henry: Job 32 (Chapter Introduction) The stage is clear, for Job and his three friends have sat down, and neither he nor they have any thing more to say; it is therefore very seasonabl...

Constable: Job (Book Introduction) Introduction Title This book, like many others in the Old Testament, got its name from...

Constable: Job (Outline) Outline I. Prologue chs. 1-2 A. Job's character 1:1-5 B. Job's calamitie...

Constable: Job Job Bibliography Andersen, Francis I. Job. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series. Leicester, Eng. and Downe...

Haydock: Job (Book Introduction) THE BOOK OF JOB. INTRODUCTION. This Book takes its name from the holy man, of whom it treats; who, according to the more probable opinion, was ...

Gill: Job (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOB This book, in the Hebrew copies, generally goes by this name, from Job, who is however the subject, if not the writer of it. In...

Gill: Job 32 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOB 32 Job's three friends being silenced, and having no more to say in reply to him, Elihu, of whose descent some account is given...

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