I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear
From his ancestors, who in a traditionary way had handed down
from one to another what they knew of God, his will and worship,
his works and ways; and from those who had the care of his
education, parents and tutors, who had instilled the principles
of religion, and the knowledge of divine things, into him very
early; and from such as might instruct in matters of religion in
a public manner; and both by ordinary and extraordinary
revelation made unto him, as was sometimes granted to men in that
age in which Job lived; see ( Job 4:16 Job 4:17 ) ( 33:14-16
) . Though he had heard more of God through his speaking to him
out of the whirlwind than ever he did before, to which he had
attentively listened; and the phrase, hearing by or with the
hearing of the ear, denotes close attention; see ( Ezekiel 44:5
) ;
but now mine eye seeth thee;
thy Shechinah, as Jarchi; thy divine glory and Majesty; the
Logos, the Word or Son of God, who now appeared in an human form,
and spake to Job out of the whirlwind; and whom he saw with the
eyes of his body, as several of the patriarchs had seen him, and
which is the sense of an ancient writer F14;
though no doubt he saw him also with the eyes of his
understanding, and had a clearer sight of his living Redeemer,
the Messiah, than ever he had before; and saw more of God in
Christ, of his nature, perfections, and glory, than ever he had
as yet seen; and what he had heard of him came greatly short of
what he now saw; particularly he had a more clear and distinct
view of the sovereignty, wisdom, goodness, and justice of God in
the dealings of his providence with the children of men, and with
himself, to which now he humbly submitted.