Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. Ye are forgers of lies ] Ye frame deceitful arguments: ye reason sophistically, and pervert truth and justice, in order to support your cause.
Physicians of no value. ] Ye are as feeble in your reasonings as ye are inefficient in your skill. Ye can neither heal the wound of my mind, nor the disease of my body. In ancient times every wise man professed skill in the healing art, and probably Job's friends had tried their skill on his body as well as on his mind. He therefore had, in his argument against their teaching, a double advantage: Your skill in divinity and physic is equal: in the former ye are forgers of lies; in the latter, ye are good-for-nothing physicians. I can see no reason to depart from the general meaning of the original to which the ancient versions adhere. The Chaldee says: "Ye are idle physicians; and, like the mortified flesh which is cut off with the knife, so are the whole of you." The imagery in the former clause is chirurpical, and refers to the sewing together, or connecting the divided sides of wounds; for ylpf topheley, which we translate forgers, comes from lpf taphal, to fasten, tie, connect, sew together. And I question whether ylpf topheley here may not as well express SURGEONS, as yapr ropheey, in the latter clause, PHYSICIANS. Ye are CHIRURGEONS of falsity, and worthless PHYSICIANS.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - With self-preference, Job declared that he needed not to be taught by them. Those who dispute are tempted to magnify themselves, and lowe their brethren, more than is fit. When dismayed or distressed with the fear of wrath, the force of temptation, or the weight of affliction, we should apply to the Physician of our souls, who never rejects any never prescribes amiss, and never leaves any case uncured. To Him we may speak at all times. To broken hearts and wounded consciences, all creatures, without Christ, are physicians of no value. Job evidentl speaks with a very angry spirit against his friends. They had advance some truths which nearly concerned Job, but the heart unhumbled befor God, never meekly receives the reproofs of men.
Original Hebrew ואולם199 אתם859 טפלי2950 שׁקר8267 רפאי7495 אלל457 כלכם׃3605
