Job 4:12
Read Job 4:12 Using Other Translations
What does Job 4:12 mean?
Now a thing was secretly brought to me
From reason and experience, Eliphaz proceeds to a vision and
revelation he had from God, showing the purity and holiness of
God, and the frailty, weakness, folly, and sinfulness of men, by
which it appears that men cannot be just in the sight of God, and
therefore it must be wrong in Job to insist upon his innocence
and integrity. Some indeed have thought that this was a mere
fiction of Eliphaz, and not a real vision; yea, some have gone so
far as to pronounce it a diabolical one, but without any just
foundation; for there is nothing in the manner or matter of it
but what is agreeable to a divine vision or to a revelation from
God; besides, though Eliphaz was a mistaken man in the case of
Job, yet was a good man, as may be concluded from the acceptance
of a sacrifice for him by the Lord, which was offered for him by
Job, according to the order of God, and therefore could never be
guilty of such an imposture; nor does Job ever charge him with
any falsehood in this matter, who doubtless would have been able
to have traversed and exposed him; add to all this, that in his
discourse annexed to and continued along with this account,
stands a passage, which the apostle has quoted as of divine
inspiration, ( 1
Corinthians 3:19 ) ; from ( Job 5:13 ) . When Eliphaz
had this vision, whether within the seven days of his visit to
Job, or before, some time ago, which he might call to mind on
this occasion, and judging it appropiate to the present case,
thought fit to relate it, is not certain, nor very material to
know: it is introduced after this manner, "a thing" or "word", a
word of prophecy, a word from the Lord, a revelation of his mind
and will, which was hidden and secret, and what before he was not
so well acquainted with; this was "brought" unto him by the
Spirit of God, or by a messenger from the Lord, sent on this
occasion, and for this purpose; and the manner in which it was
brought was "secretly" or "by stealth", as Mr. Broughton and
others
F12 render it; it was "stolen" unto him, or "secretly" brought, as the Targum, and we, and others F13; it was in a private way or manner; or "suddenly", as some others F14, at unawares, when it was not expected by him: it may have respect to the still and silent manner in which it was revealed to him, "there was silence, and he heard a voice"; a still one, a secret whisper; or to the almost invisible person that revealed it, whose image he saw, but could not discern his form and likeness; or it may be to the distinguishing favour he enjoyed, in having this revelation particularly made to him, and not to others; he heard this word, as it were, behind the curtain, or vail, as the Jews
F15 say, explaining this passage:
mine ear
received a little of it;
this revelation was made, not by an impulse upon his spirits, but
vocally, a voice was heard, as after declared, and Eliphaz was
attentive to it; he listened to what was said, and heard, and
took it in with much delight and pleasure, though but a small
part of it, as his capacity was able to retain it; or it was but
a small part of the will of God, an hint of his only, as some
interpret it F16. Schultens has shown, from the use
of a word near this in the Arabic language, that it signifies "a
string of pearls"; and so may design a set of evangelic truths,
comparable to gold, silver, and precious stones, and which are
indeed more desirable than them, and preferable to them; what
they are will be observed hereafter.
F12 (bngy) "furtive", V. L. Montanus, Cocceius, Drusius;
"furtivum verbum venit", Schultens.
F13 "Clanculum", Junius & Tremellius,
Piscator; "clam", Beza.
F14 "Subito", Schmidt, Michaelis.
F15 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 89. 2.
F16 In David de Pomis, Lexic. fol. 217.
3.
