the Second Week after Easter
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Job 4:2
Bible Study Resources
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Should anyone try to speak with youwhen you are exhausted?Yet who can keep from speaking?
"If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
"If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?
"If someone tried to speak with you, would you be upset? I cannot keep from speaking.
"If someone should attempt a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?
"If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?
"If someone ventures to talk with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieued? but who can withholde himselfe from speaking?
"If one tries a word with you, will you become weary?But who can hold back from speaking?
"If one ventures a word with you, will you be wearied? Yet who can keep from speaking?
Please be patient and listen to what I have to say.
"If one tries to speak to you, will you mind? Yet who could keep from speaking?
If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
"I must say something. Would it upset you if I speak?
If I venture to speak with you, will you be wearied? But who can restrain himself from speaking with you?
"If someone would test a word with you, would you be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?
Shall one try a word with you, you who are weary? But who can hold back with words?
Yf we begynne to comon with the, peradueture thou wilt be myscontent, but who can witholde himself from speakynge?
If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
If one says a word, will it be a weariness to you? but who is able to keep from saying what is in his mind?
If we assay to come with thee, wilt thou be discontent? But who can withhold him selfe from speaking?
If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieued? But who can withhold himselfe from speaking?
Hast thou been often spoken to in distress? but who shall endure the force of thy words?
If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
If we bigynnen to speke to thee, in hap thou schalt take it heuyli; but who may holde a word conseyued?
If one assay to commune with you, will you be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
[If] we essay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can refrain from speaking?
"If one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking?
"Will you be patient and let me say a word? For who could keep from speaking out?
"If one speaks with you, will you want him to stop? But who can keep from speaking?
"If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended? But who can keep from speaking?
If one attempt a word unto thee, wilt thou be impatient? But, to restrain speech, who, can endure?
If we begin to speak to thee, perhaps thou wilt take it ill; but who can withhold the words he hath conceived?
"If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended? Yet who can keep from speaking?
Hath one tried a word with thee? -- Thou art weary! And to keep in words who is able?
"If one ventures a word with you, will you become impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
to commune: Heb. a word
wilt thou: 2 Corinthians 2:4-6, 2 Corinthians 7:8-10
withhold himself from speaking: Heb. refrain from words, Job 32:18-20, Jeremiah 6:11, Jeremiah 20:9, Acts 4:20
Reciprocal: 1 Kings 10:2 - communed Job 2:13 - none spake Job 20:2 - my thoughts Job 29:9 - refrained
Cross-References
therefore the LORD God sent Adam away from the Garden of Eden, to till and cultivate the ground from which he was taken.
Adam knew [Eve as] his wife again; and she gave birth to a son, and named him Seth, for [she said], "God has granted another child for me in place of Abel, because Cain killed him."
To Seth, also, a son was born, whom he named Enosh (mortal man, mankind). At that [same] time men began to call on the name of the LORD [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving].
And Noah began to farm and cultivate the ground and he planted a vineyard.
Israel (Jacob) said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers pasturing [the flock] at Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them." And he said, "Here I am [ready to obey you]."
And Pharaoh said to his brothers [as Joseph expected], "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers [before us]."
Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (Reuel) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God.
Behold, children are a heritage and gift from the LORD, The fruit of the womb a reward.
"But the LORD took me as I followed the flock and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.'
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah [the priest], who was murdered between the altar and the house of God. Yes, I tell you, charges will be brought against this generation.'
Gill's Notes on the Bible
[If] we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved?.... Eliphaz speaks in the name of himself and his two friends, who had doubtless consulted together, and compared their sentiments of Job; which appearing to be the same, they formed a plan and scheme in which they should attack him, and the part which each should take, and the order in which they should proceed: these words are said, either as seemingly doubting whether they should speak or be silent; for they may be rendered, "shall we try", or attempt, to drop or speak a "word to thee"; to enter into a conversation with thee? or, "shall we take up a discourse", and carry it on with thee, "who art grieved" already? or art weary and heavy laden, and bore down with the burden of affliction, with sorrows and troubles; or art impatient h under them; we fear, should we, that thou wilt be more grieved and burdened, and become more impatient; and therefore know not well what to do: or else, as supposing and taking it for granted that he would be grieved and burdened, and made more restless and uneasy, impatient and outrageous, yet they had determined to enter into a debate with him; for so the words are by some rendered, "should we speak a word unto thee"; or, "against thee" i; even should the least word be spoken against thee, thou wilt be weary k, or burdened, or grieved, or take it ill: we know thou wilt; yet, nevertheless, we must not, we cannot, we will not forbear speaking: or else interrogatively, as our version and others, "wilt thou be grieved?" we desire thou wouldest not, nor take it ill from us, but all in good part; we mean no hurt, we design no ill, but thy good, and beg thou wilt hear us patiently: this shows how great a man Job had been, and in what reverence and respect he was had, that his friends bespeak him after this manner in his low estate; however, this was artifice in them, to introduce the discourse, and bring on the debate after this sort:
but who can withhold himself from speaking? be it as it will; Eliphaz suggests, though Job was already and greatly burdened, and would be more so, and break out into greater impatience, yet there was a necessity of speaking, it could not be forborne; no man could refrain himself from speaking, nor ought in such a case, when the providence of God was reflected upon, and he was blasphemed and evil spoken of, and charged with injustice, as was supposed; in such circumstances, no good, no faithful man, could or ought to keep silence; indeed, when the glory of God, the honour of the Redeemer, and the good of souls require it, and a man's own reputation with respect to his faithfulness lies at stake, silence should not be kept, let the consequence be as it may; but how far this was the case may be considered.
h הנסה דבר אליך תלאה "num suscipiemus verbum ad te, qui impatiens es?" Schmidt; "qui jam dum lassatus", Michaelis. i "Contra te", Piscator. k "Forsitan moleste accipies", V. L. "fatisces", Schultens.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
If we assay to commune with thee - Margin, A word. Hebrew - הנסה דבר dâbâr hanı̂câh. “May we attempt a word with thee?” This is a gentle and polite apology at the beginning of his speech - an inquiry whether he would take it as unkind if one should adventure on a remark in the way of argument. Jahn, in characterizing the part which Job’s three friends respectively take in the controversy, says: “Eliphaz is superior to the others in discernment and delicacy. He begins by addressing Job mildly; and it is not until irritated by opposition that he reckons him among the wicked.”
Wilt thou be grieved? - That is, Wilt thou take it ill? Will it be offensive to you, or weary you, or tire your patience? The word used here (לאה lâ'âh) means to labor, to strive, to weary, to exhaust; and hence, to be weary, to try one’s patience, to take anything ill. Here it is the language of courtesy, and is designed to introduce the subsequent remarks in the kindest manner. Eliphaz knew that he was about to make observations which might implicate Job, and he introduced them in as kind a manner as possible. There is nothing abrupt or harsh in his beginning. All is courteous in the highest degree, and is a model for debaters.
But who can withhold himself from speaking? - Margin, “Refrain from words.” That is, “the subject is so important, the sentiments advanced by Job are so extraordinary, and the principles involved are so momentous, that it is impossible to refrain.” There is much delicacy in this. He did not begin to speak merely to make a speech. He professes that be would not have spoken, if he had not been pressed by the importance of the subject, and had not been full of matter. To a great extent, this is a good rule to adopt: not to make a speech unless there are sentiments which weigh upon the mind, and convictions of duty which cannot be repressed.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Job 4:2. If we assay to commune with thee — As if he had said, Should I and my friends endeavour to reason with thee ever so mildly, because we shall have many things to say by way of reprehension, thou wilt be grieved and faint; and this we may reasonably infer from the manner in which thou bearest thy present afflictions. Yet as thou hast uttered words which are injurious to thy Maker, who can forbear speaking? It is our duty to rise up on the part of God, though thereby we shall grieve him who is our friend. This was a plausible beginning, and certainly was far from being insincere.
