Job 11
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12. vain--hollow.
would be--"wants to consider himself wise"; opposed to God's it ( Romans 1:22 ).
wild ass's colt--a proverb for untamed wildness ( Job 39:5 Job 39:8 , Jeremiah 2:24 , Genesis 16:12 ; Hebrew, "a wild-ass man"). Man wishes to appear wisely obedient to his Lord, whereas he is, from his birth, unsubdued in spirit.
13. The apodosis to the "If" is at Job 11:15 . The preparation of the heart is to be obtained ( Proverbs 16:1 ) by stretching out the hands in prayer for it ( Psalms 10:17 , 1 Chronicles 29:18 ).
14. Rather, "if thou wilt put far away the iniquity in thine hand" (as Zaccheus did, Luke 19:8 ). The apodosis or conclusion is at Job 11:15 , "then shalt thou," &c.
15. Zophar refers to Job's own words ( Job 10:15 ), "yet will I not lift up my head," even though righteous. Zophar declares, if Job will follow his advice, he may "lift up his face."
spot--( Deuteronomy 32:5 ).
steadfast--literally, "run fast together," like metals which become firm and hard by fusion. The sinner on the contrary is wavering.
16. Just as when the stream runs dry ( Job 6:17 ), the danger threatened by its wild waves is forgotten ( Isaiah 65:16 ) [UMBREIT].
17. age--days of life.
the noon-day--namely, of thy former prosperity; which, in the poet's image, had gone on increasing, until it reached its height, as the sun rises higher and higher until it reaches the meridian ( Proverbs 4:18 ).
shine forth--rather, "though now in darkness, thou shall be as the morning"; or, "thy darkness (if any dark shade should arise on thee, it) shall be as the morning" (only the dullness of morning twilight, not nocturnal darkness) [UMBREIT].
18. The experience of thy life will teach thee there is hope for man in every trial.
dig--namely, wells; the chief necessity in the East. Better, "though now ashamed ( Romans 5:5 , opposed to the previous 'hope'), thou shalt then rest safely" [GESENIUS];
19. ( Psalms 4:8 , Proverbs 3:24 , Isaiah 14:30 ); oriental images of prosperity.
make suit--literally, "stroke thy face," "caress thee" ( Proverbs 19:6 ).
20. A warning to Job, if he would not turn to God.
The wicked--that is, obdurate sinners.
eyes . . . fail--that is, in vain look for relief ( Deuteronomy 28:65 ). Zophar implies Job's only hope of relief is in a change of heart.
they shall not escape--literally, "every refuge shall vanish from them."
giving up of the ghost--Their hope shall leave them as the breath does the body ( Proverbs 11:7 ).