Job 36:2
WEB
“Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God’s behalf.
BSB
“Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf.
KJV
Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H3803
v — enclose, crown, besiege, wait
Derivation: a primitive root;
to enclose; hence (in a friendly sense) to crown, (in a hostile one) to besiege; also to wait (as restraining oneself)
KJV: beset round, compass about, be crowned, inclose round, suffer.
vb — surround
[כָּתַר] vb. surround (in Pi.)
Pi. of surrounding an enemy
Hiph. throw out crowns, i.e. appear with crowns
H2191
n-m — small
Derivation: from an unused root (akin (by permutation) to 6819), meaning to dwindle;
small
KJV: little.
n.[m.] — a little
זְעֵיר n.[m.] a little (diminutive form)
1. of quantity, amount (of instruction)
2. of time
H2331
v — live, declare, show
Derivation: a primitive root; (compare 2324, 2421);
properly, to live; by implication (intensively) to declare or show
KJV: show.
vb — tell
[חָוָה] vb. only Pi. (poet. & late), tell, declare
H3588
conj — relative conjunction
Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
conj — that
כִּי conj. that, for, when
1. that
2.
a. Of time, when, of the past
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
3. Because, since
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
H5750
adv — iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more
Derivation: or עֹד; from 5749;
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
KJV: again, × all life long, at all, besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer, (any) more(-over), × once, since, (be) still, when, (good, the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet (within).
subst — a going round
עוֹד and (14 t.) עֹד subst. a going round, continuance, but used mostly as adv. acc. still, yet, again, besides
H433
n-m — deity, Deity
Derivation: rarely (shortened) אֱלֹהַּ; probably prolonged (emphatic) from 410;
a deity or the Deity
KJV: God, god. See 430.
n.m — god
אֱלֹהַּ 67; elsewhere אֱלוֹהַּ n.m. god, God
1. a heathen god, late usage
2. God, used in ancient poems
H4405
n-f — word, discourse, topic
Derivation: from 4448 (plural masculine as if from מִלֶּה;
a word; collectively, a discourse; figuratively, a topic
KJV: answer, by-word, matter, any thing (what) to say, to speak(-ing), speak, talking, word.
n.f — word
מִלָּה n.f. word, speech, utterance
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Verses 1–4
Job 36:1–4
Once more Elihu begs the patience of the auditory, and Job's particularly, for he has not said all that he has to say, but he will not detain them long. Stand about me a little (so some read it), Job 36:2. "Let me have your attendance, your attention, awhile longer, and I will speak but this once, as plainly and as much to the purpose as I can." To gain this he pleads, 1. That he had a good cause, and a noble and very fruitful subject: I have yet to speak on God's behalf. He spoke as an advocate for God, and therefore might justly expect the ear of the court. Some indeed pretend to speak on God's behalf who really speak for themselves; but those who sincerely appear in the cause of God, and speak in behalf of his honour, his truths, his ways, his people, shall be sure neither to want instructions (it shall be given them in that same hour what they shall speak) nor to lose their cause or their fee. Nor need they fear lest they should exhaust their subject. Those that have spoken ever so much may yet find more to be spoken on God's behalf. 2. That he had something to offer that was uncommon, and out of the road of vulgar observation: I will fetch my knowledge from afar (Job 36:3), that is, "we will have recourse to our first principles and the highest notions we can make use of to serve any purpose." It is worth while to go far for this knowledge of God, to dig for it, to travel for it; it will recompense our pains, and, though far-fetched, is not dear-bought. 3. That his design was undeniably honest; for all he aimed at was to ascribe righteousness to his Maker, to maintain and clear this truth, that God is righteous in all his ways. In speaking of God, and speaking for him, it is good to remember that he is our Maker, to call him so, and therefore to be ready to do him and the interests of his kingdom the best service we can. If he be our Maker, we have our all from him, must use our all for him, and be very jealous for his honour. That his management should be very just and fair (Job 36:4): "My words shall not be false, neither disagreeable to the thing itself nor to my own thoughts and apprehensions. It is truth that I am contending for, and that for truth's sake, with all possible sincerity and plainness." He will make use of plain and solid arguments and not the subtleties and niceties of the schools. "He who is perfect or upright in knowledge is now reasoning with thee; and therefore let him not only have a fair hearing, but let what he says be taken in good part, as meant well." The perfection of our knowledge in this world is to be honest and sincere in searching out truth, in applying it to ourselves, and in making use of what we know for the good of others.
Cross-references: Job 36:2 · Job 36:3 · Job 36:4