Job 18:4

“He teareth himself in his anger, etc.] Or “his soul” f689, meaning Job, and referring to what he had said in (<181609>Job 16:9); Now, says Bildad, it is neither God nor man that tears you, it is you yourself; representing Job as a madman, rending his clothes, tearing his flesh, and even his very soul; for by his passion which he expressed, whether to God or his friends, it did himself the most hurt, he broke his peace, and spoiled his comfort, and ruined his health, and made himself the most unhappy of mankind, by giving vent to his passion, to his wrath and anger, which slays and a man, (<180502>Job 5:2); here a charge of impatience is suggested, contrary to the character even of Job,…”

“Rather, turning to Job, "thou that tearest thyself in anger" (Job 5:2). be forsaken?--become desolate. He alludes here to Job's words as to the "rock," crumbling away (Job 14:18-19); but in a different application. He says bitterly "for thee." Wert thou not punished as thou art, and as thou art unwilling to bear, the eternal order of the universe would be disturbed and the earth become desolate through unavenged wickedness [UMBREIT]. Bildad takes it for granted Job is a great sinner (Job 8:3-6; Isa 24:5-6). "Shall that which stands fast as a rock be removed for your special accommodation?"”

“He teareth himself - More correctly, “thou that tearest thyself in anger!” It is not an affirmation about Job, but it is a direct address to him. The meaning is, that he was in the paryoxysms of a violent rage; he acted like a madman. Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? - A reproof of his pride and arrogance. “Shall everything be made to give way for you? Are you the only man in the world and of so much importance, that the earth is to be made vacant for you to dwell in? Are the interests of all others to be sacrificed for you, and is everything else to give place for you? Are all the laws of God’s government to be made to yield rather than that you should be punished?” Similar modes of…”

“He - Job. Thou art thy own tormentor. Forsaken - Shall God give over the government of the earth for thy sake, to prevent thy complaints and clamours? Shall the counsels of God, which are more immoveable than rocks, and the whole course of his providence be altered to comply with thy humours? Job 18:7”

“teareth: Job 5:2, Job 13:14, Job 16:9; Jon 4:9; Mar 9:18; Luk 9:39 himself: Heb. his soul shall the: Job 40:8; Eze 9:9 the rock: Job 14:18; Isa 54:10; Mat 24:35 Job 18:5”

“4 Thou art he who teareth himself in his anger: Shall the earth become desolate for thy sake, And a rock remove from its place? 5 Notwithstanding, the light of the wicked shall be put out, And the glow of his fire shineth not; 6 The light becometh dark in his tent, And his lamp above him is extinguished; 7 His vigorous steps are straitened, And his own counsel casteth him down. The meaning of the strophe is this: Dost thou imagine that, by thy vehement conduct, by which thou art become enraged against thyself, thou canst effect any change in the established divine order of the world? It is a divine law, that sufferings are the punishment of sin; thou canst no more alter this, than that at…”