Geneva Study Bible Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. Man {a} that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
(a) Taking the opportunity of his adversaries words he describes the state of man's life from his birth to his death. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an {b} one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
(b) His meaning is, that seeing that man is so frail a creature, God should not handle him so extremely, in which Job shows the wickedness of the flesh, when it is not subject to the Spirit. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, {c} as an hireling, his day.
(c) Until the time you have appointed him to die, which he desires as the hireling waits for the end of his labour to receive his wages. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? {d} But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
(d) He speaks here not as though he had no hope of immortality but as a man in extreme pain, when reason is overcome by afflictions and torments. As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:
So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy {e} wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and {f} remember me!
(e) By this he declares that the fear of God's judgment was the reason why he desired to die. (f) That is, relieve my pain and take me to mercy. If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till {g} my change come.
(g) Meaning, to the day of the resurrection when he would be changed and renewed. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. Thou shalt call, and I will {h} answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
(h) Though I am afflicted in this life, yet in the resurrection I will feel your mercies and answer when you call me. For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. My transgression is sealed up in a {i} bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.
(i) You lay them all together and do not allow any of my sins to go unpunished. And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place. And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the {k} rock is removed out of his place.
(k) He murmurs through the impatiency of the flesh against God, as though he used great severity against him as against the hard rocks, or waters that overflow, so that by this the opportunity of his hope is taken away. The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man. The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn. But his {l} flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn. (l) Yet while he is in pain and misery. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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