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Selected Verse: Job 13:3 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Job 13:3 |
Strong Concordance |
Surely [0199] I would speak [01696] to the Almighty [07706], and I desire [02654] to reason [03198] with God [0410]. |
| |
King James |
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| Job wishes to plead his cause before God (Job 9:34-35), as he is more and more convinced of the valueless character of his would-be "physicians" (Job 16:2). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| Surely I would speak to the Almighty - I would desire to carry my cause directly up to God, and spread out my reasons before him. This Job often professed to desire; see Job 9:34-35. He felt that God would appreciate the arguments which he would urge, and would do justice to them. His friends he felt were censorious and severe. They neither did justice to his feelings, nor to his motives. They perverted his words and arguments; and instead of consoling him, they only aggravated his trials, and caused him to sink into deeper sorrows. But he felt if he could carry his cause to God, he would do ample justice to him and his cause. The views which he entertained of his friends he proceeds to state at considerable length, and without much reserve, in the following verses. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
3 But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I long to reason with God.
4 And ye however are forgers of lies,
Physicians of no value are ye all.
5 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace,
It would be accounted to you as wisdom.
6 Hear now my instruction,
Ando hearken to the answers of my lips!
He will no longer dispute with the friends; the more they oppose him, the more earnestly he desires to be able to argue his cause before God. אוּלם (Job 13:3) is disjunctive, like ἀλλά, and introduces a new range of thoughts; lxx ου ̓ μήν δὲ ἀλλά, verum enim vero. True, he has said in Job 9 that no one can maintain his cause before God; but his confidence in God grows in proportion as his distrust of the friends increases; and at the same time, the hope is begotten that God will grant him that softening of the terror of His majesty which he has reserved to himself in connection with this declaration (Job 9:34, comp. Job 13:20.). The infin. absol. הוכח, which in Job 6:25 is used almost as a substantive, and indeed as the subject, is here in the place of the object, as e.g., Isa 5:5; Isa 58:6 : to prove, i.e., my cause, to God (אל־אל, like Job 13:15, אל־פּניו) I long. With ואוּלם (Job 13:4) the antithesis is introduced anew: I will turn to God, you on the contrary (καὶ ὑμεῖς δὲ). Since the verb טפל, from its primary meaning to spread on, smear on (whence e.g., Talmudic טפלה, the act of throwing on, as when plastering up the cracks of an oven), cogn. תּפל (whence תּפל, plaster, and perhaps also in the signification tasteless, Job 6:6 = sticky, greasy, slimy), does not signify, at least not at first, consuere, but assuere (without any relation of root with תּפר), we explain, not with Olshausen and others, concinnatores mendacii, such as sew together lies as patchwork; but with Hirzel and others, assutores mendacii, such as patch on lies, i.e., charge falsely, since they desire throughout to make him out to be a sinner punished according to his desert. This explanation is also confirmed by Job 14:17. Another explanation is given by Hupfeld: sarcinatores false = inanes, inutiles, so that שׁקר signifies what lies = what deceives, as in the parallel member of the verse אלל,
(Note: In the Talmudic, the jugular vein, the cutting of which produces death, is called אלל (later עצב, Arab. ‛ṣb), according to which (b. Chullin 121a) it is explained: healer of the jugular artery, i.e., those who try to heal what is incurable, therefore charlatans, - a strange idea, which has arisen from the defective form of writing אלל. The lxx translates ἰαταὶ κακῶν.)
nothingness, and also עמל (Job 16:2) in a similar connection, is not an objective but attributive genitive; but Psa 119:69 is decisive against this interpretation of שׁקר טפלי. The parallelism is not so exactly adjusted, as e.g., even רפאי does not on account of the parallel with טפלי signify patchers, ῥάπται, but: they are not able to heal Job's wounds with the medicine of consolation; they are medici nihili, useless physicians. Pro 17:28, "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise," applies to them, si tacuisses, sapiens mansisses; or, as a rabbinical proverb of similar meaning, quoted by Heidenheim, says, השׂגה בהשׂגה הלאות, "the fatigue of comprehension is comprehension," i.e., the silent pause before a problem is half the solution. The jussive form וּתהי, it would be (Ges. 128, 2), is used in the conclusion of the wish. Thus he challenges them to hear his תּוכחת (תּוכחה) and his רבוה. Hirzel is quite right when he says the former does not mean defence (justification), nor the latter proofs (counter-evidence); תוכחת is, according to his signification (significatus, in distinction from sensus), ἔλεγχος, correptio (lxx, Vulg.), and here not so much refutation and answer, as correction in an ethical sense, in correspondence with which רבות is also intended of reproaches, reproofs, or reprimands. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Surely - I had rather debate the matter with God than with you. I am not afraid of presenting my person and cause before him, who is a witness of my integrity. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Surely I would speak to the Almighty - אולם ulam, O that: - I wish I could speak to the Almighty!
I desire to reason with God - He speaks here to reference to the proceedings in a court of justice. Ye pretend to be advocates for God, but ye are forgers of lies: O that God himself would appear! Before him I could soon prove my innocence of the evils with which ye charge me. |
2 I have heard [08085] many such things [07227]: miserable [05999] comforters [05162] are ye all.
34 Let him take [05493] his rod [07626] away [05493] from me, and let not his fear [0367] terrify [01204] me:
35 Then would I speak [01696], and not fear [03372] him; but it is not so with me.
34 Let him take [05493] his rod [07626] away [05493] from me, and let not his fear [0367] terrify [01204] me:
35 Then would I speak [01696], and not fear [03372] him; but it is not so with me.
28 Even a fool [0191], when he holdeth his peace [02790], is counted [02803] wise [02450]: and he that shutteth [0331] his lips [08193] is esteemed a man of understanding [0995].
69 The proud [02086] have forged [02950] a lie [08267] against me: but I will keep [05341] thy precepts [06490] with my whole heart [03820].
2 I have heard [08085] many such things [07227]: miserable [05999] comforters [05162] are ye all.
17 My transgression [06588] is sealed up [02856] in a bag [06872], and thou sewest up [02950] mine iniquity [05771].
6 Can that which is unsavoury [08602] be eaten [0398] without salt [04417]? or is there [03426] any taste [02940] in the white [07388] of an egg [02495]?
4 But [0199] ye are forgers [02950] of lies [08267], ye are all physicians [07495] of no value [0457].
15 Though [02005] he slay [06991] me, yet will I trust [03176] in him: but I will maintain [03198] mine own ways [01870] before [06440] him.
6 Is not this the fast [06685] that I have chosen [0977]? to loose [06605] the bands [02784] of wickedness [07562], to undo [05425] the heavy [04133] burdens [092], and to let the oppressed [07533] go [07971] free [02670], and that ye break [05423] every yoke [04133]?
5 And now go to; I will tell [03045] you what I will do [06213] to my vineyard [03754]: I will take away [05493] the hedge [04881] thereof, and it shall be eaten up [01197]; and break down [06555] the wall [01447] thereof, and it shall be trodden down [04823]:
25 How forcible [04834] are right [03476] words [0561]! but what doth your arguing [03198] reprove [03198]?
20 Only do [06213] not two [08147] things unto me: then will I not hide [05641] myself from thee [06440].
34 Let him take [05493] his rod [07626] away [05493] from me, and let not his fear [0367] terrify [01204] me:
3 Surely [0199] I would speak [01696] to the Almighty [07706], and I desire [02654] to reason [03198] with God [0410].