Job 6:24

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 6:24 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Job 6:24 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
24Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Teach me, and I will hold my tongue, etc.] Job having made his defence, and which he thought a sufficient one to acquit him of the charge against him; yet to show that he was not stubborn and flexible, but was open to conviction, and ready to attend and hearken to what might be further said, desires to be taught and instructed in the way of his duty; suggesting that, upon being convinced of his mistakes, he should ingenuously acknowledge them: good men are desirous of being taught both of God and men; they are not above instruction, or think themselves wiser than their teachers; they are willing to receive knowledge, not only from their superiors, but from their equals, and even from those…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Irony. If you can "teach me" the right view, I am willing to be set right, and "hold my tongue"; and to be made to see my error. But then if your words be really the right words, how is it that they are so feeble? "Yet how feeble are the words of what you call the right view." So the Hebrew is used (in Mic 2:10; Mic 1:9). The English Version, "How powerful," &c., does not agree so well with the last clause of the verse.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Teach me, and I will hold my tongue - That is, give me any real instruction, or show me what is my duty, and I will be silent. By this he means that Eliphaz had really imparted no instruction, but had dealt only in the language of reproof. The sense is, “I would willingly sit and listen where truth is imparted, and where I could be enabled to see the reason of the divine dealings. If I could be made to understand where I have erred, I would acquiesce.” return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Teach - Convince me by solid arguments. I will - I will patiently hear and gladly receive your counsels. Job 6:25”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Teach me: Job 5:27, Job 32:11, Job 32:15, Job 32:16, Job 33:1, Job 33:31-33, Job 34:32; Psa 32:8; Pro 9:9, Pro 25:12; Jam 1:19 I will: Psa 39:1, Psa 39:2; Jam 3:2 cause me: Job 10:2; Psa 19:12 Job 6:25”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“24 Teach me, and I will be silent, And cause me to understand wherein I have failed. 25 How forcible are words in accordance with truth! But what doth reproof from you reprove? 26 Do you think to reprove words? The words of one in despair belong to the wind. 27 Ye would even cast lots for the orphan, And traffic about your friend. נמרצוּ, Job 6:25, in the signification of נמלצוּ ( Psa 119:103), would suit very well: how smooth, delicate, sweet, are, etc. (Hirz., Ew., Schlottm.); but this meaning does not suit Job 16:3. Hupfeld, by comparison with mar, bitter, translates: quantumvis acerba; but מה may signify quidquid, though not quantumvis. Hahn compares the Arabic verb to be sick, and…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification