the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible
English Standard Version
Job 37:20
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sParallel Translations
Should he be told that I want to speak?Can a man speak when he is confused?
Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Should God be told that I want to speak? Would a person ask to be swallowed up?
Should he be informed that I want to speak? If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up!
"So shall it be told Him that I wish to speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up [and destroyed by God]?
"Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Shall it be told him when I speake? or shall man speake when he shalbe destroyed?
Shall it be recounted to Him that I would speak?If a man says a word, will He indeed be swallowed up?
Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?
Should I risk my life by telling God that I want to speak?
Is he to be told that I will speak? Can a man speak at all when he is already swallowed up?
Shall it be told him if I would speak? if a man [so] say, surely he shall be swallowed up.
I would not tell God that I wanted to talk to him. That would be like asking to be destroyed.
Relate to him that which he has said; and if a man speaks, surely he shall be consumed.
I won't ask to speak with God; why should I give him a chance to destroy me?
Should he be told that I want to speak? Or did a man say that he would be communicated with?
Shall it be told to Him that I would speak? If a man speaks, surely he will be swallowed up.
Shal it be tolde him, what I saye? Shulde a man speake, or shulde he kepe it backe?
Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
How may he have knowledge of my desire for talk with him? or did any man ever say, May destruction come on me?
Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Shall it bee told him that I speake? if a man speake, surely he shalbe swallowed vp.
Shall it be tolde him what I saye? Shall man speake when he shalbe destroyed?
Have I a book or a scribe my me, that I may stand and put man to silence?
Shall it be told him that I would speak? or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Who schal telle to hym, what thingis Y speke? yhe, if he spekith, a man schal be deuourid.
Shall it be told to him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Shall it be told him that I speak? If a man shall speak, surely he will be swallowed up.
Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up.
Should God be notified that I want to speak? Can people even speak when they are confused?
Should He be told that I want to speak? Did a man ever wish to be swallowed up?
Should he be told that I want to speak? Did anyone ever wish to be swallowed up?
Shall it be declared to him - that I would speak? Were any man to say aught, he might he destroyed?
Who shall tell him the things I speak? even if a man shall speak, he shall be swallowed up.
Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
Is it declared to Him that I speak? If a man hath spoken, surely he is swallowed up.
"Shall it be told Him that I would speak? Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Shall it: Psalms 139:4, Matthew 12:36, Matthew 12:37
surely: Job 6:3, Job 11:7, Job 11:8
Reciprocal: Job 39:24 - He swalloweth Psalms 40:5 - they cannot Psalms 107:27 - are at their wit's end
Cross-References
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?"
And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem.
"I am seeking my brothers," he said. "Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock."
They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.
When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes
And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, "This we have found; please identify whether it is your son's robe or not."
And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.
So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Shall it be told him that I speak?.... And what I speak? there is no need of it, since he is omniscient, and knows every word that is spoken by men; or is anything I have said concerning him, his ways, and his works, worthy relating, or worthy of his hearing, being so very imperfect? nor can the things I have spoken of, though common things, be fully explained to any; or should it be told him, the Lord, that he, Elihu, had spoke as Job had done, and arraigned his justice, and complained of his dealings? God forbid; he would not have it said they were spoken by him for all the world: or "shall it be recorded unto him what I speak?" as Mr. Broughton, or that I speak; shall it be recorded in a book, and that sent to God; that I will speak in thy cause, and be an advocate for thee, and endeavour to justify thee in all thou hast said? no, by no means;
if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up; if he speaks of the being and perfections of God, he is soon lost; his essence, and many of his attributes, are beyond his comprehension; if he speaks of his works of nature and providence, he is presently out of his depth; there is a bathos, a depth in them he cannot fathom: if he speaks of his love, and grace, and mercy, in the salvation of man, he is swallowed up with admiration; he is obliged to say, what manner of love is this? it has heights he cannot reach, depths he cannot get to the bottom of, lengths and breadths immeasurable: or should he undertake to dispute with God, to litigate a point with him concerning his works, he could not answer him in one thing of a thousand; and particularly Elihu suggests, was he to undertake Job's cause, it would soon be lost and all over with him; so Mr. Broughton renders the words, "would any plead, when he should be undone?" who would engage in a cause he is sure would be lost, and prove his utter undoing?
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Shall it be told him that I speak? - Still the language of profound awe and reverence, as if he would not have it even intimated to God that he had presumed to say anything in regard to him, or with a view to explain the reason of his doings.
If a man speak - That is, if he attempt to speak with God; to argue a case with him; to contend with him in debate; to oppose him. Elihu had designed to reprove Job for the bold and presumptuous manner in which he bad spoken of God, and for his wish to enter into a debate with him in order to vindicate his cause. He now says, that if anyone should attempt this, God had power at once to destroy him; and that such an attempt would be perilous to his life. But other interpretations have been proposed, which may be seen in Rosenmuller, Umbreit, and Lee.
Surely he shall be swallowed up - Destroyed for his presumption and rashness in thus contending with the Almighty. Elihu says that on this account he would not dare to speak with God. He would fear that he would come forth in his anger, and destroy him. How much man by nature instinctively feels, when he has any just views of the majesty of God, that he needs a Mediator!
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Job 37:20. Shall it be told him that I speak? — Shall I dare to whisper even before God? And suppose any one were to accuse me before him for what I have spoken of him, though that has been well intended, how should I be able to stand in his presence? I should be swallowed up in consternation, and consumed with the splendour of his majesty.
But in what state art thou? What hast thou been doing? Thou hast arraigned God for his government of the world; thou hast found fault with the dispensations of his providence; thou hast even charged him with cruelty! What will become of THEE?
