Job 33:9

“I am clean without transgression, etc.] This with what follows is supposed to be gathered from (<181006>Job 10:6,7 13:23 27:5,6); for this is nowhere said by Job in express words; though I rather think, since Elihu so peremptorily affirms that they were spoken in his hearing, that these words and the following did drop from Job’s lips, in the controversy with his friends, though not recorded; for we are not to suppose that everything that was said on both sides is preserved, only so much as the Holy Ghost thought fit should be: no man is naturally clean, or free from sin; man came clean out of the hands of God, by sin is become unclean. This impurity is propagated by natural generation, and…”

“clean--spotless.”

“I am clean - I am pure and holy. Without transgression - Job had not used these very expressions, nor had he intended to maintain that he was absolutely free from sin; see Job 9:20. He had maintained that he was not chargeable with the transgressions of which his three friends maintained that he was guilty, and in doing that he had used strong language, and language which even seemed to imply that he was without transgression; see Job 9:30; Job 10:7; Job 13:23; Job 16:17. I am innocent - The word used here (חף chaph) is from the verb חפף chophaph - to cover, to protect; and also, as a secondary meaning, from the Arabic, to rub, to wipe off; to wash away; to lave. Hence, it denotes that which…”

“Clean - Not absolutely, for he often confesses himself to be a sinner, but no such transgression, as might give God just occasion to punish him so severely, as is implied, where he blames God for finding occasions against him, implying that he had given him none by his sins. And thus far Elihu's charge was just, and herein it differs from the charge of Job's three friends, who often accuse him, for asserting his own innocency; although they did it, because they thought him an hypocrite, whereas Elihu does it upon other grounds, even because Job's justification of himself was accompanied with reflections upon God. Job 33:11”

“33:9 You said: Job claimed to be pure and without sin, using various terms (9:21; 10:6-7; 11:4; 13:23-24; 15:14-16; 16:17; 31:1-40).”

“clean: Job 9:17, Job 10:7, Job 11:4, Job 16:17, Job 23:11, Job 23:12, Job 27:5, Job 27:6, Job 29:14 innocent: Job 9:23, Job 9:28, Job 17:8; Jer 2:35 Job 33:10”