Job 33:16

16 then he ¹opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings,

Job 33:16 Meaning and Commentary

Job 33:16

Then he openeth the ears of men
Not the ears of his body, which remaining shut while things are presented to his mind in a dream or vision, but his internal ears; it is the same with opening the heart or understanding to attend to and receive the things delivered in this visionary way:

and sealeth their instruction;
sends home the instruction given in this manner, and imprints it upon the mind, so that it is well remembered when awake, not only the dreams themselves, but the lessons taught and learnt there, as may be observed in the cases of Abimelech and Laban, ( Genesis 20:3 ) ( 31:24 ) ; the word signifies "chastisement" ^F12 as well as instruction, that being one way in which God teaches and instructs men, ( Psalms 94:12 ) ; and so the sense may be, that God in a dream or vision makes it known to men, that if they regard not what he says to them, and repent not of their evils, and turn from them, he will correct and chastise them, and this he assures them of; and they may look for the certain performance of it, that he will visit their transgressions with a rod, and their iniquities with stripes; things that are sealed being sure and firm. Mr. Broughton renders the words, "and imprints why they are chastised."

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 (Mromb) "disciplinam eorum", Tigurine version; "castigationem eorum", Beza, Vatablus, Drusius, Mercerus, Piscator, Michaelis, Schultens.

Job 33:16 In-Context

14 For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,

16 then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings,

17 that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;

18 he keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword.

Cross References

• 1. 33:16 ch. 36:10, 15; Ps. 40:6; Isa. 50:5