Bible Commentary

Job 9:4

The Pulpit Commentary on Job 9:4

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. The sense is strengthened if we omit "he is," and render, Wise in heart, and mighty in strength, who hath hardened' etc.? God's combination of perfect wisdom with infinite strength renders it hopeless for any man to contend with him.

Who hath hardened himself against him; and hath prospered? Job fully admits the wisdom of all that Eliphaz () and Bildad () have said, or hinted, with respect to his inability wholly to justify himself.

No one has ever taken this line of absolute self-justification, and prospered.

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Job 9:1-13In this answer Job declared that he did not doubt the justice of God, when he denied himself to be a hypocrite; for how should man be just with God? Before him he pleaded guilty of sins more than could be counted; and i…Matthew HenrycommentaryJob's Reply to Bildad. (b. c. 1520.)JOB'S REPLY TO BILDAD. (B. C. 1520.) Bildad began with a rebuke to Job for talking so much, Job 8:2. Job makes no answer to that, though it would have been easy enough to retort it upon himself; but in what he next lays…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 9:1-4Job to Bildad: 1. Bildad's theology refuted. I. AN IRONICAL CONCESSION. "I know that it is so of a truth." The doctrine propounded by Bildad (Job 8:3), that in God's dealings with mankind such a thing as either a perver…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 9:1-4Man unable to answer to God. Job resumes. He knows, as truly as does Bildad, that God doth not pervert justice. His work is always right, while man is erring, vain, and sinful. How shall the creature "answer" to the Cre…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 9:1-35Job, in answer to Bildad, admits the truth of his arguments, but declines to attempt the justification which can alone entitle him to accept the favourable side of Bildad's alternative. Man cannot absolutely justify him…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 9:1-35EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 9:1-4A gospel outline. I. A SUBLIME TRUTH. Them is no unrighteousness with God (Job 9:1), in either: 1. Permitting sin. (Psalms 92:5.) 2. Afflicting man. (Deuteronomy 8:5.) 3. Saving the penitent. (Romans 3:26; 1 John 1:9.)…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 9:2-20God viewed as absolute and arbitrary Power. I. THE HELPLESSNESS OF MAN IN PRESENCE OF HIS OMNIPOTENCE. (Job 9:1-3.) What avails right on one's side against him who has all heaven's artillery at his command? "It is idle…Joseph S. Exell and contributors