He will surely reprove you
Or "in reproving he will reprove you" F18; he
will certainly do it, it may be depended upon, and be expected;
he will never suffer sin to go unreproved and uncorrected; he
will do it to the purpose, with sharpness and severity, as the
nature of the crime requires; he reproves by his spirit, and it
is well for men when he thoroughly, and in a spiritual and saving
way, reproves them by him, and convinces them of sin,
righteousness, and judgment; and he reproves by his word, which
is written for reproof and correction; and by his ministers, one
part of whose work it is to rebuke and reprove men for bad
practices, and bad principles; and in some cases they are to use
sharpness, and which when submitted to, and kindly taken, it is
well; and sometimes he reproves by his providences, by afflictive
dispensations, and that either in love, as he rebukes his own
children, or in wrath and hot displeasure, as others, which is
here designed; and as it is always for sin he rebukes men, so
particularly he rebukes for the following, as might be expected:
if ye do secretly accept persons;
acceptance of persons in judgment is prohibited by God, and is
highly resented by him; yea, even the acceptance of his own
person to the prejudice of the character of an innocent man;
which seems to be what Job has respect unto, as appears from (
Job 13:8 ) ; and
some versions render it, "if ye accept his face" {a}; and though
this may be done no openly and publicly, but in a covert and
secret manner, under disguise, and with specious pretences to the
honour and glory of God.