The Pulpit Commentary on Job 11:20

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

Had Zophar ended with Job 11:19 Job might possibly have taken some comfort from his speech, holding out, as it did, a hope of restoration to God's favour and a return to happiness. But, as if to accentuate the unfavourable view which he takes of Job's conduct and character, he will not end with words of good omen, but appends a passage which has a ring of malice, menace, and condemnation. But the eyes of the wicked shall fail; or, waste away' grew weary, i.e.' of looking for a help that does not come, and a deliverer who does not make his appearance. And they shall not escape; literally, their refuge is perished from them. And their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost; rather, shall be the giving up of the ghost. They shall have no other hope but death—a manifest allusion to Job's repeated declarations that he looks for death, longs for it, and has no expectation of any other deliverance (see Job 3:21, Job 3:22; Job 6:7, Job 6:8; Job 7:15; Job 10:1, Job 10:18. etc.). Such, says Zophar, is always the final condition of the wicked.

HOMILETICS

More for Job 11:20

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 11:1-20Humble yourselves beneath the mighty hand of God. Zophar, the youngest of the friends, now comes forward once more to beat down the complaint of Job with the old arguments and commonplaces. To support his words, he does…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 11:1-20EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 11:1-20Zophar, the Naamathite, the third of Job's comforters (Job 2:11), and probably the youngest of them, now at last takes the word, and delivers an angry and violent speech. He begins by accusing Job of having spoken at un…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryMatthew Henry on Job 11:13-20Zophar exhorts Job to repentance, and gives him encouragement, yet mixed with hard thoughts of him. He thought that worldly prosperity was always the lot of the righteous, and that Job was to be deemed a hypocrite unles…Matthew Henry commentaryMatthew Henry on Job 11:13-20Zophar, as the other two, here encourages Job to hope for better times if he would but come to a better temper. I. He gives him good counsel (Job 11:13-14), as Eliphaz did (Job 5:8), and Bildad, Job 8:5. He would have h…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Job 11:13-20Zophar to Job: 3. An exhortation to repentance. I. THE ACTINGS OF PENTIENCE. 1. Preparation of the heart. "If thou prepare [literally, 'direct'] thy heart'" i.e. towards God. True penitence is a heart-work, beginning in…Joseph S. Exell and contributors