Job 5:8

“I would seek unto God, etc.] Or “truly” f194, “certainly, doubtless, I do seek unto God”, verily I do so; for so the words are introduced in the original text, and express what Eliphaz had done when under afflictions himself; for he was not without them, though he had not them to such a degree as Job had; and when he was under them, this was the course he took; he sought unto God by prayer to support him under them, to sanctify them to him, and to deliver him out of them; and this he proposes for Job’s imitation, and suggests, that if he was in his case, this would be the first step he should take; and good advice this is, nothing more proper for a man, especially a saint, than, when…”

“Therefore (as affliction is ordered by God, on account of sin), "I would" have you to "seek unto God" (Isa 8:19; Amo 5:8; Jer 5:24).”

“I would seek unto God - Our translators have omitted here the adversative particle אוּלם 'ûlâm but, yet, nevertheless, and have thus marred the connection. The meaning of Eliphaz, I take to be, “that since affliction is ordered by an intelligent Being, and does not spring out of the ground, therefore he would commit his cause to God, and look to him.” Jerome has well expressed it, Quam ob rem ego deprecabor Dominum. Some have understood this as meaning that Eliphaz himself was in the habit of committing his cause to God, and that he exhorted Job to imitate his example. But the correct sense is that which regards it as counsel given to Job to look to God because afflictions are the result…”

“I would - If I were in thy condition. Seek - By prayer, and humiliation, and submission, imploring his pardon, and favour. Job 5:9”

“5:8 To go to God meant lodging a formal appeal with God for assistance, counsel, or vindication, sometimes by way of repentance (Amos 5:4, 6) and possibly through a prophetic oracle (Gen 25:22; 1 Sam 9:9; 1 Kgs 22:8). • Job wanted to present his case to God (Job 13:3, 15, 18; 23:3-8), and later he attempted to do so (29:1–31:40).”

“seek: Job 8:5, Job 22:21, Job 22:27; Gen 32:7-12; Ch2 33:12, Ch2 33:13; Psa 50:15, Psa 77:1, Psa 77:2; Jon 2:1-7 unto God: Psa 37:5; Ti2 1:12; Pe1 2:23, Pe1 4:19 Job 5:9”