Job 9:27

Job 9:27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself]:

Ver. 27. If I say, I will forget my complaint] And suffer in silence, as thou, Bildad, hast advised me, Job 8:2. Sorrows are not so easily forgotten; Lam 3:19, "Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall." The Stoics boasting of their indolence, or ability to bear afflictions without making moan or complaining, when it came to their own turn, found by experience that they had spoken more trimly than truly; and therefore one Dionysius, surnamed Mεταθεμενος, or the Flincher, left for this reason from the Stoics to the Peripatetics.

I will leave off my heaviness] Heb. My face, viz. the sourness that used to sit upon it, as 1Sa 1:18. The Pharisees were vultuosi tetrici inamaeni, Mat 6:16, of a sad and sour countenance, grim and ghastly; they affected to look like Sycthians, as the word signifieth, that they might seem great tasters, when as inwardly they were merry and pleasant. Job’s case was far different; his heart was heavy as lead; nevertheless, to give content to his friends, he would endeavour to look lightsomely, but found a very hard task of it.

And comfort myself] Heb. Strengthen, viz. so as not to make moan, but bite in my pain. Invalidum omne natura querulum, the weaker anything is the more apt it is to complain; and, on the contrary, some men’s flesh will presently rankle and fester, if but razed with a pin only: so some men’s spirits, they are ever whining.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Job_9:27-35

If I say, I will forget my complaint.

Concerning Jobs sufferings

I. As too great to render any efforts of self-consolation effective. Three things are suggested.

1. A valuable power of mind. The power to alleviate sufferings. If I say, I will forget my complaint. Herein is the implied power. All have it. It is a remedial force that kind heaven has put within us. If he cannot quench the flame, he can cool it; if he cannot roll off the load, he by his own thoughts can make it comparatively light. He can go into a circle of ideas so engrossing and delectable as to experience transports of rapture in the dungeon or in the flames. What is pain but a mental sensation? And wherever that mental sensation may burn, its fires can be quenched in the river of noble thoughts and lofty aspirations.

2. A natural tendency of mind. What is it? The exertion of this mitigating power within us under suffering; an effort to forget the complaint, to leave off the heaviness, to comfort. Who under suffering does not essay this?

3. A sad defect in mind. I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that Thou wilt not hold me innocent. Why did his mental efforts at self-consolation fail? Simply because he had not the inner sense of innocence. Though he always maintained that he was innocent of the sin of hypocrisy with which his friends charged him, he always felt that before the Holy he was guilty, and herein was the failure of his mind to mitigate his pain. He regards his sufferings--

II. As too deserved to justify any hope of relief.

1. He feels that no self-cleansing would serve him before God. If I be wicked,--or, as it should be, I am wicked,--why then labour I in vain? If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; yet shalt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

2. He feels that there is no one to act as umpire between him and his Maker. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

3. He feels that his afflictions were directly from God, and until they were removed there was no hope for him. Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His fear terrify me; then would I speak, and not fear Him: but it is not so with me. (Homilist.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Job 9:27-28. If I say, I will forget my complaints, &c. — If I resolve within myself that I will cease complaining, and endeavour to take comfort. I am afraid of all my sorrows — Or, of my pains and griefs: I find all such endeavours vain; for if my griefs be suspended for a time, yet my fears continue. I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent — I plainly perceive that thou, O God, (to whom he makes a sudden address, as he does also Job 9:31,) wilt not clear my innocence by removing those afflictions which make them judge me guilty of some great crime. Words proceeding from despair and impatience.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I think not to fall into these afflictions, but my sorrows bring me to these manifold infirmities, and my conscience condemneth me.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 27. I will forget my complaint] I will forsake or forego my complaining. I will leave off my heaviness. VULGATE, I will change my countenance - force myself to smile, and endeavour to assume the appearance of comfort.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

27. my complaint] i. e. as always, my complaining, ch. Job_7:13.

my heaviness] lit. my faces, my sad mien, 1Sa_1:18.

comfort myself] lit. brighten up, ch. Job_10:20; Psa_39:13. The word in Arab, (balija) means to have a space clear of hair between the eyebrows, hence to have an open, bright countenance. A certain woman described the Prophet (Mohammed) as ablaju’lwajhi, bright in countenance. Then the word came to mean also to be bright, of the dawn or the day.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I am afraid of all my sorrows,.... That they would return upon him, and surround him, and overwhelm him, so that he should not be able to stand up against them, or under them; that they would increase and continue with him, and so he should never be released from them:

I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent: a sudden apostrophe to God as near him; the meaning is not, that he was confident that God would not justify him but condemn him in a spiritual sense; Job did not despair of his everlasting salvation, he knew and believed in his living Redeemer; he knew he should be acquitted and justified by his righteousness, and not be condemned with the world; but he was certain of this, as he thought that God would neither "cleanse" (k) him, as some render the word, from the worms his flesh was clad with, and from the filthy boils and ulcers he was covered with; nor clear him so as that he should appear to be innocent in the sight and judgment of his friends; but go on to treat him as if he was a guilty person, by continuing his afflictions on him, even unto death; he had no hope of being freed from them, and so of being cleared from the imputation of his friends, who judged of him by his outward circumstances.

(k) "quod non mundabis me", Montanus, Bolducius, Beza.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

If I say, I will forget my complaint - If I resolve that I will leave off complaining, and will be more cheerful, I find it all in vain. My fears and sorrows return, and all my efforts to be cheerful are ineffectual

I will leave off my heaviness - The word rendered “my heaviness” here (פני pânam) denotes literally “my face;” and the reference is to the sad and sorrowful countenance which he had. “If I should lay that aside, and endeavor to be cheerful.”

And comfort myself - The word rendered comfort here (בלג bâlag) in Arabic means to be bright, to shine forth; and it would here be better rendered by “brighten up.” We have the same expression still when we say to one who is sad and melancholy, “brighten up; be cheerful.” The meaning is, that Job endeavored to appear pleasant and cheerful, but it was in vain. His sorrows pressed heavily on him, and weighed down his spirits in spite of himself, and made him sad.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Sorrow. I cannot entirely repress it. (Calmet) --- The more I strive, (Haydock) the greater is my pain. (Menochius)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

If I say; if I resolve within myself.

I will forget my complaints; I will cease complaining.

My heaviness, Heb. mine anger; wherewith Job was charged by his friends, Job 18:4; my angry expressions. And comfort myself; I will endeavour to take comfort.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

27. Heaviness, etc. — Literally, Face, dark looks.

Comfort myself — Look cheerful. The original expresses the brightening up of the countenance by an exquisite metaphor taken from the lighting up of the sky when the clouds are lifted. Psa_39:13.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

If I say, I will forget my complaint. (comp. above, Job_7:13) Job represents himself as sometimes, for a moment, imagining that he might put aside his load of sorrow by not thinking of it. He tries, and says to himself, "I will forget," etc.; but in vain. The whole mass of his sufferings seems to rise up against him, and make even momentary forgetfulness impossible. I will leave off my heaviness; or, my black looks. And comfort myself. (comp. Job_10:20 and Psa_39:13, where the same verb is rendered "recover strength

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

I would forget about my complaints

The abstract noun "complaint" can be translated as the verb "complain." AT: "I would stop complaining" or "I would stop complaining against God" (See: Abstract Nouns)

my complaints

It can be stated clearly whom Job was complaining against. AT: "my complaints against God" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

I would take off my sad face and be happy

Job's sad face is spoken of here as if it was something that could be removed. AT: "I would stop looking unhappy and smile" (See: Metaphor)

I would be afraid of all my sorrows

Verses 28 and 29 express the consequences if Job does what he says in verse 27. This can be expressed by adding the word "then." AT: "Then I would be afraid of all my sorrows" (See: Connecting Words)

of all my sorrows

The abstract noun "sorrows" can be expressed as a verb. AT: "of everything that hurts me" (See: Abstract Nouns)

I will be condemned

"I will be accused and punished." This can be stated in active form. AT: "God will condemn me" (See: Active or Passive)

why, then, should I try in vain?

Job uses this question to emphasize that he does not think it is of any use trying to get God's attention. The implied information about what Job is trying can be made explicit. AT: "It is of no use to try to get God's attention." (See: Rhetorical Question and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

translationWords

face

fear

innocent

condemn

vain

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

my speech The words of my pain.

my anger Heb. פני, lit. my face.

and [I will] restrain myself Heb. ואבליגה, I will strengthen myself, like (Amos 5:9), “Who strengthens (המבליג) the robbed upon the strong.”

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.