Job 16:6-17 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Job 16:6-17 contain a bitter complaint of God's ferocity against Job, in spite of his innocence. The connexion of Job 16:6 with the context is not clear: RV translation is probably, however, correct. With Job 16:7 the enumeration of God's unkindness begins. Davidson explains the change from he to thou by the rise of emotion. God has such hold on Job (Job 16:8) by afflicting him.

Job 16:9 compares His onslaught to that of a wild beast.

Job 16:10 f. speaks of the hostility of men, not Job's friends, but the outcasts who mock him (Job 30:1 f.). The sense is improved by putting Job 16:11 before Job 16:10.

Job 16:12 describes once more God's attack: the first two lines appear to continue the figure of Job 16:9: with the third line we have a new figure, that of an archer. In Job 16:13 translate as mg. arrows so the Versions.

Job 16:14 introduces the figure of an assault upon a fortress; giant means hero, mg. mighty man.

Job 16:15 describes Job's humiliation.

Job 16:16. Job's face is inflamed with weeping (mg. red), his eyes are dimmed.

Job 16:17. And yet in spite of Eliphaz (Job 15:4-5) Job is innocent.

Related Commentaries of Job 16:6

Job 16:6-17

6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.