Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: Job 29:23 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Job 29:23 |
Strong Concordance |
And they waited [03176] for me as for the rain [04306]; and they opened [06473] their mouth [06310] wide as for the latter rain [04456]. |
|
King James |
And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. |
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] |
Image of Job 29:22 continued. They waited for my salutary counsel, as the dry soil does for the refreshing rain.
opened . . . mouth--panted for; Oriental image (Psa 119:131). The "early rain" is in autumn and onwards, while the seed is being sown. The "latter rain" is in March, and brings forward the harvest, which ripens in May or June. Between the early and latter rains, some rain falls, but not in such quantities as those rains. Between March and October no rain falls (Deu 11:14; Jam 5:7). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And they waited for me as for the rain - That is, as the dry and thirsty earth waits for the rain. This is a continuation of the beautiful image commenced in the previous verse, and conveys the idea that his counsel was as necessary in the assemblies of people as the rain was to give growth to the seed, and beauty to the landscape.
And they opened their mouth wide - Expressive of earnest desire; compare Psa 119:131 : "I opened my mouth and panted."
As for the latter rain - The early and the latter rains are frequently spoken of in the Scriptures, and in Palestine and the adjacent regions are both necessary to the harvest. The early, or autumnal rains, commence in the latter half of October, or the beginning of November, not suddenly, but by degrees, so as to give the husbandman an opportunity to sow his wheat and barley. The rains come mostly from the west, or southwest, continuing for two or three days at a time, and failing especially during the nights. During the months of November and December, they continue to fall heavily; afterward they return only at longer intervals, and are less heavy; but at no period during the winter do they entirely cease to occur. Rain continues to fall more or less during the month of March, but it is rare after that period. The latter rains denote those which fall in the month of March, and which are so necessary in order to bring forward the harvest, which ripens early in May or June. If those rains fail, the harvest materially suffers, and hence, the expressions in the Scriptures, that "the husbandman waits for that rain;" compare Jam 5:7; Pro 16:15. The expression, "the early and the latter rain" seems, unless some material change has occurred in Palestine, not to imply that no rain fell in the interval, but that those rains were usually more copious, or were especially necessary, first for sowing, and then for bringing forward the harvest. In the interval between the "latter" and the "early" rains - between March and October - rain never falls, and the sky is usually serene; see Robinson's Bibl. Researches, vol. ii. pp. 96-100. The meaning here is, that they who were assembled in counsel, earnestly desired Job to speak, as the farmer desires the rain that will bring forward his crop. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
They waited for me as for the rain - The idea continued. They longed as much to hear me speak, to receive my counsel and my decisions, as the thirsty land does for refreshing waters.
They opened their mouth wide - A metaphor taken from ground chapped with long drought.
The latter rain - The rain that falls a little before harvest, in order to fill and perfect the grain. The former rain is that which falls about seed-time, or in spring, in order to impregnate and swell the seed, and moisten the earth to produce its nourishment. |
7 Be patient [3114] therefore [3767], brethren [80], unto [2193] the coming [3952] of the Lord [2962]. Behold [2400], the husbandman [1092] waiteth [1551] for the precious [5093] fruit [2590] of the earth [1093], and hath long patience [3114] for [1909] it [846], until [2193] [302] he receive [2983] the early [4406] and [2532] latter [3797] rain [5205].
14 That I will give [05414] you the rain [04306] of your land [0776] in his due season [06256], the first rain [03138] and the latter rain [04456], that thou mayest gather [0622] in thy corn [01715], and thy wine [08492], and thine oil [03323].
131 I opened [06473] my mouth [06310], and panted [07602]: for I longed [02968] for thy commandments [04687].
22 After [0310] my words [01697] they spake not again [08138]; and my speech [04405] dropped [05197] upon them.
15 In the light [0216] of the king's [04428] countenance [06440] is life [02416]; and his favour [07522] is as a cloud [05645] of the latter rain [04456].
7 Be patient [3114] therefore [3767], brethren [80], unto [2193] the coming [3952] of the Lord [2962]. Behold [2400], the husbandman [1092] waiteth [1551] for the precious [5093] fruit [2590] of the earth [1093], and hath long patience [3114] for [1909] it [846], until [2193] [302] he receive [2983] the early [4406] and [2532] latter [3797] rain [5205].
131 I opened [06473] my mouth [06310], and panted [07602]: for I longed [02968] for thy commandments [04687].