Job 22:30

“He shall deliver the island of the innocent, etc.] But where is there such an island, an island of innocent persons? it seems to be better rendered by others, “the innocent shall deliver the island” f871: good men are sometimes, by their counsel and advice, and especially by their prayers, the means of delivering an island or country from ruin and destruction: but the word rendered “island” is a negative particle, as in (<090421>1 Samuel 4:21 <203104> Proverbs 31:4); and signifies “not”; and so in the Targum; which is “a man that is not innocent shall be delivered:” in like manner Jarchi interprets it, and so do Noldius f872 and others f873; and the sense is, that Job, for he is the person…”

“island--that is, "dwelling." But the Hebrew expresses the negative (Sa1 4:21); translate "Thus He (God) shall deliver him who was not guiltless," namely, one, who like Job himself on conversion shall be saved, but not because he was, as Job so constantly affirms of himself, guiltless, but because he humbles himself (Job 22:29); an oblique attack on Job, even to the last. and it--Rather, "he (the one not heretofore guiltless) shall be delivered through the purity (acquired since conversion) of thy hands"; by thy intercession (as Gen 18:26, &c.). [MAURER]. The irony is strikingly exhibited in Eliphaz unconsciously uttering words which exactly answer to what happened at last: he and the other…”

“He shall deliver the island of the innocent - Margin, “the innocent shall deliver the island.” Never was there a more unhappy translation than this; and it is quite clear that our translators had no intelligible idea of the meaning of the passage. What can be meant by “saving the island of the innocent?” The word rendered island (אי 'ı̂y) commonly means, indeed, an island, or a maritime country; see Isaiah 20:6, note. It is, however, used as a “negative” in 1 Samuel 4:21, in the name “I-chabod” - אי־כבוד 'ı̂y-kâbôd. “And she named the child I-chabod (margin, that is, “where is the glory?” or, there is “no glory”), saying, the glory is departed from Israel.” This sense is frequent in the…”

“He, &c. - God will have so great a respect to thy innocency, that for thy sake he will deliver those that belong to thee, or live with thee, or near thee, thought in themselves they be ripe for destruction. Their hands - By thy prayers proceeding from a pure heart and conscience. So Eliphaz and his two friends, who in this matter were not innocent, were delivered by the pureness of Job's hands, Job 42:8. Next: Job Chapter 23”

“He shall deliver the island of the innocent: or, The innocent shall deliver the island, Job 42:8; Gen 18:26-32; Isa 58:12; Jer 5:1; Act 27:24 pureness: Isa 1:15; Mal 1:9; Mat 17:19, Mat 17:20; Act 19:15, Act 19:16; Ti1 2:8; Jam 5:15, Jam 5:16 Next: Job Chapter 23”