the fear. the reverence.
the LORD*. One of the 134 alterations of the Sopherim (App-32), by which the name "Jehovah" in the primitive text, was changed to Adonai.
that is wisdom. This was. libel on Job, for Job had this "fear" or reverence; yet he was suffering. That was the very point in question, and leads up to the answer. This was Zophar's philosophy. The fear of the LORD is not true wisdom; it is only "the beginning of wisdom" (Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Proverbs 9:10). True wisdom is to take the place of the sinner before God, and Job takes this place (Job 42:5; Job 42:6). This is "the end of the LORD" (James 5:11), and it is "the end" of this book. This wisdom "justifies God" (Psalms 51:3; Psalms 51:4; Psalms 51:6; Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:35). True wisdom is "given", and we have to be "made" to know it (Proverbs 30:24; 2 Timothy 3:15. 2Ti 38:36). Compare Job 33:27; Job 33:28; Job 34:31; Job 35:11; Job 39:17. Zophar's was human wisdom founded on human merit. To depart from evil is what every prudent man would do from good policy.