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Job Chapter 27

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry 23 Verses

What is Job 27 about?

The suffering of a righteous man and the profound questions it raises about God's justice, sovereignty, and human understanding. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And Job again took up his parable, and said,
2As God liveth, who hath taken away my right, And the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul:
3(For my life is yet whole in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils);
4Surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, Neither shall my tongue utter deceit.
5Far be it from me that I should justify you: Till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me.
6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: My heart shall not reproach [me] so long as I live.
7Let mine enemy be as the wicked, And let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.
8For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, When God taketh away his soul?
9Will God hear his cry, When trouble cometh upon him?
10Will he delight himself in the Almighty, And call upon God at all times?
11I will teach you concerning the hand of God; That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
12Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; Why then are ye become altogether vain?
13This is the portion of a wicked man with God, And the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty:
14If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15Those that remain of him shall be buried in death, And his widows shall make no lamentation.
16Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay;
17He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver.
18He buildeth his house as the moth, And as a booth which the keeper maketh.
19He lieth down rich, but he shall not be gathered [to his fathers]; He openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20Terrors overtake him like waters; A tempest stealeth him away in the night.
21The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; And it sweepeth him out of his place.
22For [God] shall hurl at him, and not spare: He would fain flee out of his hand.
23Men shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Moreover Job continued his parable, etc.] Having finished his discourse concerning the worlds and ways of God, and the display of his majesty, power, and glory, in them, he pauses awhile, waiting for Zophar, whose turn was next to rise up, and make a reply to him; but neither he, nor any of his friends, reassumed the debate, but kept a profound silence, and chose not to carry on the dispute any further with him; either concluding him to be an obstinate man, not open to conviction, and on whom no impressions could be made, and that it was all lost time and labour to use any argument with him; or else being…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“(Job 27:1-23) parable--applied in the East to a figurative sententious embodiment of wisdom in poetic form, a gnome (Psa 49:4). continued--proceeded to put forth; implying elevation of discourse.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Job continued - Margin, as in Hebrew “added to take up.” Probably he had paused for Zophar to reply, but since he said nothing he now resumed his argument. His parable - A parable properly denotes a comparison of one thing with another, or a fable or allegorical representation from which moral instruction is derived. It was a favorite mode of conveying truth in the East, and indeed is found in all countries; see the notes at Matthew 13:3. It is evident, however, that Job did not deliver his sentiments in this manner; and the word rendered “parable” here (משׁל mâshâl) means, as it often does, a sententious…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Parable - His grave and weighty discourse. Job 27:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“27:1 Job continued speaking, no longer responding to the three friends but returning to the themes of his opening statement (3:1-26).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Job: Num 23:7, Num 24:3, Num 24:15; Psa 49:4, Psa 78:2; Pro 26:7 continued: Heb. added to take up Job 27:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“1 Then Job continued to take up his proverb, and said: 2 As God liveth, who hath deprived me of my right, And the Almighty, who hath sorely saddened my soul - 3 For still all my breath is in me, And the breath of Eloah in my nostrils - 4 My lips do not speak what is false, And my tongue uttereth not deceit! 5 Far be it from me, to grant that you are in the right: Till I die I will not remove my innocence from me. 6 My righteousness I hold fast, and let it not go: My heart reproacheth not any of my days. 7 Mine enemy must appear as an evil-doer, And he who riseth up against me as unrighteous. The friends are…”
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