What [is] man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
Ver. 17. What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him?] i.e. Make so much ado about him, or look upon him as a fit match for the great God to grapple with, Psalms 14:3, or to take care of his affairs? Debile argumentum, saith Vatablus here, a poor argument; but Job maketh use of all kinds of arguments to move God to make an end of him: Domine, fac finem, fac finem, God, make an end, make an end! said dying Erasmus; but what he meant by those words I know not, saith Melancthon, who reporteth it.
And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?] So as to make any account of so mean and miserable a creature, Psalms 144:3, to magnify him whom thou mightest rather vilify, or indeed, nullify; or, that thou shouldest set thy heart against him, sc. to destroy him, as Job 34:14. That is but an ignoble contest, ubi et vincere inglorium est, et atteri sordidum.