Job 31:35

“Oh, that one would hear me! etc.] Or, “who will give me a hearer?” f1146 Oh, that I had one! not a nearer of him as a teacher and instructor of many, as he had been, (<180403>Job 4:3); or only to hear what he had delivered in this chapter; but to hear his cause, and hear him plead his own cause in a judiciary way; he does not mean an ordinary hearer, one that, comes out of curiosity into courts of judicature to hear causes tried, what is said on both sides, and how they will issue; but, as Bar Tzemach paraphrases it, “who shall give me a judge that shall hear me,” that would hear his cause patiently, examine it thoroughly, and judge impartially, which is the business of judges to do,…”

“Job returns to his wish (Job 13:22; Job 19:23). Omit "is"; "Behold my sign," that is, my mark of subscription to the statements just given in my defense: the mark of signature was originally a cross; and hence the letter Tau or T. Translate, also "Oh, that the Almighty," &c. He marks "God" as the "One" meant in the first clause. adversary--that is, he who contends with me, refers also to God. The vagueness is designed to express "whoever it be that judicially opposes me"--the Almighty if it be He. had written a book--rather, "would write down his charge."”

“O that one would hear me! - This refers undoubtedly to God. It is, literally, “Who will give to me one hearing me;” and the wish is that which he has so often expressed, that he might get his cause fairly before God. He feels assured that there would be a favorable verdict, if there could be a fair judicial investigation; compare the notes at Job 13:3. Behold, my desire is - Margin, “Or, my sign is that ‘the Almighty will answer me.’” The word rendered in the text desire, and in the margin sign, (תו tâv), means properly a mark, or sign, and is also the name of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Then the word means, according to Gesenius (Lex.), a mark, or cross, as subscribed to a bill…”

“Had written - Had given me his charge written in a book or paper, as the manner was in judicial proceedings. This shews that Job did not live, before letters were in use. And undoubtedly the first letters were those wrote on the two tables, by the finger of God. He wishes, his friends, who charged him with hypocrisy, would draw up the charge in writing. Job 31:36”

“31:35 sign my name: Job wanted to make the proceedings official (19:23-24).”

“Oh: Job 13:3, Job 17:3, Job 23:3-7, Job 33:6, Job 38:1-3, Job 40:4, Job 40:5 my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me: or, my sign is that the Almighty will answer me, Job 13:21, Job 13:22; Psa 26:1 mine: Job 13:24, Job 19:11, Job 19:23, Job 19:24, Job 33:10, Job 33:11; Mat 5:25 Job 31:36”

“35 O that I had one who would hear me! Behold my signature-the Almighty will answer me - And the writing which my opponent hath written! 36 Truly I will carry it upon my shoulder, I will wind it about me as a crown. 37 The number of my steps I will recount to Him, As a prince will I draw near to Him. The wish that he might find a ready willing hearer is put forth in a general way, but, as is clear in itself, and as it becomes manifest from what follows, refers to Him who, because it treats of a contradiction between the outward appearance and the true but veiled fact, as searcher of the heart, is the only competent judge. It may not be translated: et libellum (the indictment, or even: the…”