Bible Commentaries
Job 33

Verse 3

Sentence. Some editions have scientiam, "knowledge," with the Hebrew. (Calmet)

Verse 4

Spirit. We are therefore equal. (Menochius) --- Thou canst not fear being overpowered with the divine majesty, in this dispute, chap. xiii. 21. (Calmet) --- Life. Septuagint, "instruction." (Haydock)

Verse 6

Formed. Job had expressed a desire to plead before a man, chap. ix. 32., and xiii. 19., and xxxi. 35. Eliu offers himself to maintain the cause of God. (Calmet)

Verse 7

Wonder (miraculum.) Hebrew, "terror," (Haydock) in allusion to Job’s words, chap. ix. 34. --- Eloquence. Hebrew, "hand." (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "the dread of me shall not cast thee down, nor my hand be heavy upon thee." Arrogant men esteem their own observations as something wonderful. (St. Gregory) (Worthington)

Verse 9

In me. Job had not said so in express terms, though he had said something to the same purpose. But he had sufficiently explained himself, and Eliu could not be ignorant that he only meant that his present sufferings were not proportioned to his guilt. (Calmet)

Verse 10

Complaints. Something similar had indeed come from Job’s lips; (chap. xiv. 17., and xx. 21.) not that he pretended that God sought to find him guilty without cause; but he meant that He treated him as an enemy, for some secret purpose. (Calmet)

Verse 11

Stocks. Chap. xiii.14., and xiv. 16. Eliu interprets the words in the worst sense, though Job had only expostulated with God on the treatment which he received, testifying a great love and confidence in him. He acknowledges some want of knowledge, chap. xlii. 3. (Calmet)

Verse 12

Man: so that he is not obliged to explain his reasons. (Menochius)

Verse 13

Because. Septuagint, "Thou hast said, Why has not He heard every word of my pleading or judgment." Aquila and Theodotion, "for all his words are unanswerable." Protestants, "He giveth not account of any of his matters." (Haydock)

Verse 14

Time. One decision ought to suffice; and God had declared Job innocent, chap. i. 8., &c. (Worthington) --- His decrees are immutable; and yet thou wouldst have him to explain his conduct, as if he could be under a mistake, and correct it. He manifests his will, and it is our business to be attentive. We cannot expect that he should speak twice, though he does so frequently in his great mercy. Hebrew, "God speaketh once, and he regardeth not a second time." (Calmet) --- Septuagint, "But the second time, (15) a dream," &c. (Haydock) --- Eliu specifies three methods by which God declares his will; (ver. 26) 1. By vision; 2. by afflictions; 3. by the voice of angels, or of preachers, ver. 19, 23.

Verse 15

Beds. It seems prophetic dreams were not then uncommon.

Verse 16

Instructeth. Hebrew, "sealing," that they may not mistake such a favour for a common dream. (Calmet)

Verse 17

Him. Septuagint, "his body from the fall [of iniquity.]" (Grabe) (Haydock)

Verse 19

Also. This is the second method of instruction. Eliu pretends that Job had thus been visited by God, and had not understood his meaning.

Verse 21

Bare. The skin will scarcely cover them. He will appear ghastly, like a skeleton. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "his bones....shall stick out." (Protestants) (Haydock)

Verse 22

CHAPTER XXXIII.

Destroyers; the worms in the grave, (Haydock) or to sickness, (Menochius) "which bring on death." Pagnin mortiferis.

Verse 23

Angel, by secret inspirations, (St. Thomas Aquinas; Tirinus, &c.) or a man sent by God, to announce the truths of salvation. (Mariana) --- Man’s, or "to man." (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "a messenger with him, an interpreter, one....to declare to man his uprightness." Protestants, (Haydock) "If there be any merit in him, the angel comforter, chosen from a thousand accusers, is ready to declare to the son of man his rectitude." Septuagint, "If there be a thousand destroying angels, not one of them shall hurt him; if the consider in his heart to be converted unto the Lord. Though he (the angel) lay before man his reproof, and shew his folly, He (God) will take hold of him, that he may not die. He will renew his flesh as the plaster of a wall, and fill his bones with marrow: (25) he will make his flesh soft, like that of an infant, and will place him in manhood among men." (Haydock) --- But this is different from the Hebrew. (Calmet) --- The intercession of angels is very powerful. The are represented as suggesting motives, which prevail on God to shew mercy, ver. 24. (Haydock)

Verse 25

Consumed. Hebrew, "fresher than a child’s," (Haydock) as was the case of Naaman, 4 Kings v. 14.

Verse 26

And he. It is ambiguous whether this refer to God or to man. (Calmet) --- But both shall see each other with joy. The penitent will be restored to as much favour as if he had never sinned. (Haydock)

Verse 29

Times, or often. God instructs man by visions, sickness, and the intercession and inspirations of angels, ver. 14. (Calmet)

Verse 30

Living, both soul and body, delivering them from adversity. (Calmet)

Verse 32

Just, and to be so indeed. (Menochius) --- How much would his vanity be mortified, when Job answered him only with silence! (Haydock) though he urged him to reply so often. (Worthington)